Why do we habitualy say that "God wants"

[staylor2233]

Is there a point in our understanding that we relize that it is well below our given capacities to suggest so routinely that God " wants " any thing ? Doesn't a "want " suggest an unkown ? Can we apply an unknown to God ? Couldn't this line of contemplation be more the " meat " and less the " milk " ?

[mastralvarado]

Is there a point in our understanding that we relize that it is well below our given capacities to suggest so routinely that God " wants " any thing ? Doesn't a "want " suggest an unkown ? Can we apply an unknown to God ? Couldn't this line of contemplation be more the " meat " and less the " milk " ?
Hello Staylor,

What G-d wants? It depends on who you ask the question to. Televangelists will tell you G-d wants you to invest in G-d. Warmongers will tell you G-d wants war. I would say G-d's Will at present is unknown to us. Non-subjectively I could say G-d wants constancy. If you can't draw the line between theism and atheism I would suggest you read scripture in eisegesis (taking everything and averaging your own conclusion) and not exegesis (taking a critical approach). Exegesis tends to make people "know" what G-d wants at present regardless of the possible noise and interference that could have been involved. But it is your choice.

This page makes a comparison of exegesis versus eisegesis:
LINK (http://www.twopaths.com/study_HowTo.htm)
A definition of eisegesis (http://www.answers.com/eisegesis), A definition of exegesis (http://www.answers.com/topic/exegesis)

Best to you, Mastralvarado

[staylor2233]

Hello Mastralvarado ,
Thanks for the link , I will check it out . I don't know what theism is but its time to learn , I see the word used often . Its true that the answer I get will depend on the person I ask . I should have been more specific . The question is intended for those that believe ( as I do ) that G-d is in fact ALL knowing . I like to focus on the word ALL becuase it encompasses everything . I simply feel that it may be profitable to , sort of , re-arrange the way we think about our hopes in G-d's plan for us . I mean , I feel we might try to strive above the train of thought that suggests that G-d "wants" . No matter how you break it down , to " want " implies an unkown and this can not be applied to G-d if we truly believe that G-d is ALL knowing . Perhaps you can shed some light on this for me . The very contemplation of this issue has brought a sense of peace to me . It sounds so trivial a thing untill you listen to the way people try and convey thier undestandings .
They say things such as " G-d wants you to" ..... this or that . It's a great thing to poner and I would like to here how others feel about it

Stu

[staylor2233]

Hello

Also ,I do not consider myself to be a theist based on the few definitions i looked at . As far as eisegesis is concerned , I do read the sriptures in such a way , but not because I can't draw the line between atheism and theism . There is nothing atheist about me . As for the way I choose to interprete what I read from the bible , I do so because I no longer trust the mainstream interpretation of them . I broke through the " guilt " of asking questions about what I was taught years ago , which leaves me with no other way but eisegesis . ( never used the word before so perhaps I am flawed here ) However , I do love egegesis , because it helps my position in my eisegesis by providing me with ammo in showing the corruption of translations and interpretations , et. cetera .

Stu

[barnasha]

Hello

Also ,I do not consider myself to be a theist based on the few definitions i looked at . As far as eisegesis is concerned , I do read the sriptures in such a way , but not because I can't draw the line between atheism and theism . There is nothing atheist about me . As for the way I choose to interprete what I read from the bible , I do so because I no longer trust the mainstream interpretation of them . I broke through the " guilt " of asking questions about what I was taught years ago , which leaves me with no other way but eisegesis . ( never used the word before so perhaps I am flawed here ) However , I do love egegesis , because it helps my position in my eisegesis by providing me with ammo in showing the corruption of translations and interpretations , et. cetera .

Stu

hi stu... thanks for your insight. best of luck in your studies.

'eisegesis" means when you have an idea and you study something with that idea in mind

"exegesis" means when you study something to try to discover its meaning, to draw a meaning out of it.

I think that perhaps you mean 'exegesis'.

to doubt and to question is to be enabled to know the truth

"seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened...." (Matthew 7:7)

[Soyeong]

I think from reading the Bible, it is safe to say that God wants us to love Him. The problem comes when many people have different opinions on the best way to love God. Unfortunately, many of those opinions are not necessarily Biblical and are based on personal agendas. However, I do think one of the roles of a pastor and the elders is figure out what God wants their church to do through the development of their mission statement.

No matter how you break it down , to " want " implies an unkown and this can not be applied to G-d if we truly believe that G-d is ALL knowing .

I don't see how it implies that an all knowing God doesn't know something. God sent his son because He wants none to perish and all to have eternal life.

[staylor2233]

Thanks Soyeong for your reply .

As I understand the meaning of the word want , It definately implies an unknown . "To desire greatly; wish for: " To be in need of;" " the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable " and so on . I do not want what I already have . I may want to keep it , but the unknown of it is what makes me want it . You said , " God sent his son because He wants none to perish and all to have eternal life. " How about , " God sent his Son so that none should perish " . I know it must sound terribly trivial to you , but if you remove the term "want " from your thoughts of God , it is interesting (for me , enlightning ) what you come will come up with .

Thanks again ,

Stu

[barnasha]

Is there a point in our understanding that we relize that it is well below our given capacities to suggest so routinely that God " wants " any thing ? Doesn't a "want " suggest an unkown ? Can we apply an unknown to God ? Couldn't this line of contemplation be more the " meat " and less the " milk " ?

Excellent, excellent question.

[staylor2233]

barnasha

I love to ask it but seldom get any good discussion with it . I think it's a valid question that may seem trivial but it packs a pretty good punch . I have to think of a way to get this question out there so I can hear what people think . The people that post here are sharp as razors while I'm as sharp as a butter knife . The best that I can do is butter some bread ! Still , the question stands , and it's a doozy . Thanks for noticing

Stu