I have a stupid question

[Freelancer]

I've read up a lot about religion and philosophy, but I've never understood the "thou shalt not tempt the lord thy God" thing. What does this mean? Does it mean you shouldn't walk on a ledge, thinking God will save you? Or is it a jinx thing? Maybe it means you shouldn't stand on a boat and say out loud something like "this can never sink!" (?) I just don't get it.

I know, I'm trying to make sense of the nonsensical. Still, I'd value your comments.

[Lordquinton]

1. You shouldn't offer him apples

Temptation is God's job, he does it all the time, the Lord's prayer even includes "lead us not into temptation" it's really perverse when you think about it, God always trying to trick you into going to hell.

[Warpy]

2. Where was that one?

I don't recall it from any of the top ten lists in either the KJV or Douay.

Whether it was made up by some ancient priest or some modern preacher, it doesn't rise to the level of a commandment. It sounds like what a parent would tell a fully propagandized child as a way to discourage him from doing something risky and stupid.

[Cartoonist]

3. I've been around for 60 years

I never heard that saying. Which cult preaches that?

[Freelancer]

10. It's something JC said. I googled it. It's in Deuteronomy chapter of the Bible -nt

[mr blur]

4. You might try asking over in the Religion group.

Some of them are very good at explaining the nonsensical as if it actually meant something. After all, they get a lot of practice.

[rurallib]

15. !

Almost makes me want to go to church tomorrow to pick up on some of that

[kdmorris]

5. So I had to look this up

And the only reference I see is to the 40 days where Jesus was wandering around in the desert being tempted by the Devil.

Roughly translated, it appears that it's basically a statement that the devil can't tempt him.

Seems to me that, in context, it makes perfect sense.

Question for you: Why are you asking Atheists/Agnostics to translate the bible for you?

[Brainstormy]

6. Luke 4:12, and Deut 6:16

It's there. Don' t tease Jeebus. And your last question: Most atheists know a great deal more about the Bible than practicing Christians do.

[kdmorris]

7. Yeah, that's fairly sad

You're probably right.

I didn't find the one in Deut, but goes to show how much attention I pay to the bible these days!

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Following up that first Deut reference, it means "shut up and don't complain, even if you're dying

thanks to following the orders of God".

Deuteronomy 6:14-16 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.

What happened at Massah?

Exodus 17:3-7 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

So the myth is that God told the Israelites to go into the desert, and that he would look after them. They obeyed, but found themselves dying of thirst. Asking for water to stay alive was the wrong thing to do at that point; that was asking God to prove that he exists, or that he cares, and one must never do that. God, being the type to hold a grudge, remembers it forever.

[Freelancer]

8. I've asked Christians before, and they don't know. I get a lot of gobbledygook. -nt

[kdmorris]

9. Sorry for being cranky, man

I ended up being atheist because Christian youth ministers could never answer my questions.

[Freelancer]

11. No problem. Ever wonder about snake handlers youth ministry? What would that be like?

Start the kids off with earthworms, and then move them up to garter snakes?

[kdmorris]

12. LOL n/t

[Curmudgeoness]

13. Well, I guess I have a stupid answer for you.

A simple search gave me this, which actually has eight things that it means. More than you probably ever cared to know.

http://wesley.nnu.edu/other-theologians/jerry-miles-humphrey/select-fruits-from-the-highlands-of-beulah-j-m-humphrey/select-fruits-from-the-highlands-of-beulah-chapter-38/

Enjoy.

[Freelancer]

17. There's some real heaviness in that one link -- a lot to unpack. Ugh. -nt

There's a feeling of heaviness that descends when you read it.

[Curmudgeoness]

18. You ask. You get an answer.

I never said that the answer would make sense. Or be easy.

The easy answer would be that it is all your fault that God is not answering your prayers, or when bad shit happens to you. Don't try to push God into anything. He will do it in his own time. Or not.

Is that easy enough?

[Freelancer]

20. I think I get it...

If a human needs proof of the big G, they're shit-out-of-luck, and probably going to hell for it.

That sound about right?

[Curmudgeoness]

23. Blind faith, babe! nt

[restorefreedom]

14. does anyone remember the episode of mash

when a patient said he was jesus, and frank burns said he "tested" him by praying for chocolate pudding at lunch?

the passage refers to when satan transported jesus to a high place (the top of a temple maybe) and told him to throw himself down and that God would catch him. the above quote was jesus's reply.

basically, don't device a test explicitily to prove the existence or power of God. as a former catholic, that is the gist I think.

it is also repeated in Luke

[Freelancer]

19. I don't remember that one. There is one quote that has always stayed with me, though.

Burns said something to the effect of "unless we follow our leaders without question, how can we possibly hope to remain free?"

Excellent.

[restorefreedom]

21. classic! burns had some great zingers. nt

[DetlefK]

22. "Don't put God into a situation where he has to obey rules."

Lucifer tempting God in the desert consists of 3 trials.

Lucifer challenges Jesus to turn rocks into bread. Jesus says it doesn't work that way. (It would only satisfy his bodily hunger, not his spiritual hunger, so he doesn't do it at all.)

Lucifer brings Jesus to a high place and challenges him to jump and have god save him. Jesus says it doesn't work that way. (Don't tempt God.)

Lucifer offers Jesus rulership over Earth if he switches sides. Jesus tells him to go away. (I find it really strange that Jesus doesn't call Lucifer a liar for that. How could Lucifer possibly offer Jesus this rulership??? Doesn't this implicitly mean that Lucifer really has the power to decide who rules Earth???)

A truly glorious victory for Jesus...





Don't tempt God. I read it as "don't put God into a situation where he has to obey rules".

1. I think, this somehow defines God as untestable. You cannot and shalt not try to find out more about God by doing experiments on God.

2. God is the Supreme Being. He is not bound by laws of nature. (Well, the concept of laws of nature was pretty convoluted back then.) He is only bound by his own will. If you set up a scenario where God has to decide between option A and option B, you are denying that God can do whatever he wants. You are forcing him into a situation where you decide what he can do. You are implicitly denying that God is the Supreme being.

[awoke_in_2003]

24. Off Topic

but every time I see "I have a stupid question" I am tempted to say "Well, I've got a stupid answer"

[Iggo]

25. "Don't you fucking test me. Don't you ever fucking test me."

With Love,

God.