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Mephi: What's the problem with saying that God exhibits unsurpassable goodness in his speech and actions RATHER THAN saying that God is omnibenevolent (philosophical or otherwise)?

Doc: Because to suppose that God is not what he says he is is to suggest that he is a liar. I think it best to take God at his Word. He says he's perfectly good. Hence, he's perfectly good. And that's all I mean by "omnibenevolence."

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Hmm. Ok. Then let's see what God "says" I really have to make this brief...but, I'm going to be bold right about now.

Challenge: Present to me a BIBLICAL argumentation using ALL the Scripture that you can muster that shows UNQUESTIONABLY how asserting OMNIBENEVOLENCE rather than God's unsurpassable goodness is a NECESSARY conclusion.

Now this should be very simple, yes? Just give sufficient Scriptural backing according to the whole of Scripture that shows that claiming God's unsurpassable goodness vis-a-vis the face of sinful humanity is NOT ENOUGH. Consider me fundamentally ignorant of all this. Teach me as if I were a babe who has never read a blessed thing.

PLEASE...BE...THOROUGH! This means give your scriptural backing and give the proper reasoning to show how said scriptural backing builds your case. Take your time, y'all. If you really believe me to be that wrong, then it should be quite obvious when we look deeply at Scripture. If my error is really that major, then it should be quite important to the Church to fix my wrong thinking. And you know me. If it's good, I'll admit it...and possibly change my mind. So...Let's have it. Because I view this so importantly, ALL ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE!!! (This INCLUDES Writerdad!) Remember, you have to defend the thesis of OMNIBENEVOLENCE. I think that I have pretty well explained what this ENTAILS on the "Omnibenevolence" thread and for the most part, Doc seemed to agree with that assessment. God always doing the most that He could do, and all that. Let the games begin.

[Hint: I think that this will inexorably come down to how certain ideas are described. But we'll deal with that later.]

Waiting on Pins and Needles,


PS: Don't expect much to any interaction from me here. I want to really give y'all a chance to explain stuff and perhaps enhance each other's explanations. Just to let you know.

Edited by - mephi2K on 01/08/2002 1:52:01 PM