I used to just think he chose me because I was special for some reason. I, again, took it on faith. I didn't question his motives because who am I to question the motives of the creator of the universe?Pointedstick wrote: If faith is a gift from God, why has He not seen fit to give it to me?
It's when I started questioning those motives and looking at what I considered to be the complete immorality of the concept that I came to the conclusion it can't be true. Something can't be so contradictory and still be true. If I am truly loved regardless of what I do then why am I to be tortured for eternity? Why do I have to suffer every indignation here without opposing it? If someone strikes me on the right cheek I should offer my left? Who would give such advice to their children they loved? If you love me then why do you think I should be abused by others or by you dad?
It seemed to me like the morality of God or Jesus was not up to the standard of even some of the worst parents here and so how or why would they deserve my love? Why would I owe them? Do your kids owe you anything? You made them. You are responsible for them for a time. You owe them. Anything you get back in return is great but they don't owe you because you did your job. If humans, especially little ones are hurt and suffer horribly, what does that say about God as a parent? Tell me again why those people owe him?
The morality is so contradictory I just concluded it couldn't be real or true. It has to have been something for slaves to console themselves with (the meek shall inherit, the rich will be punished in the afterlife) or something to enhance the power of the rulers (render unto Ceasar, trust that God is in control and put your king/president in place....)
I hope no one takes offense. I'm just expressing the rationale for the conclusions I came to, just 3-4 years ago in fact. It actually started when I started studying philosophy and logic/morality. My "conversion" is not evidence that I'm right and anyone else is wrong.