Is it selfish to believe in a personal God?

[discus70]

Is it egotistical and selfish to believe in a personal God?

If not, then why ( in the case of Christianity ) is heaven only granted to specific people and not everyone?

If God created all things wouldn't he want all of his creation to have eternal life in heaven?

[Amos]

Is there anything in Paul's writing which indicates that he believed in an omniscient God?

2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:23, Romans 2:6, Hebrews 4:13, etc.

Thanks. That wasn't too hard was it?

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

I don't see omniscience here. Paul claims that God will know each person and will judge them.

Just one aspect of his omniscience...

Romans 14:23
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

You might want to check your reference. This has nothing to do with omniscience.

It doesn't? You're not reading carefully. We can do something perfectly lawful and yet it still be sinful because of our state of mind. How can that be if God doesn't know our state of mind?

Romans 2:5-7
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.

I hope you will forgive me for including a bit of context. No claim to omniscience here. Paul again claims that God will know each person and each person's deeds.

Again pointing out an aspect of God's omniscience.

Hebrews 4:13
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

A little better. Who wrote Hebrews?

There is much evidence that points to Paul as the author of Hebrews. I believe he wrote it. But my point is proven with or without this passage.

OK, maybe it was too hard.

No, not really. If I put a thousand scriptures here that show Paul's belief in the omniscience of God, it wouldn't make a difference to you, would it?

Not getting what I ask for just means God says no.

In other words, I have an invisible friend who can give me anything I ask for. If I ask for something and I get it, he gave it to me. If I ask for something and don't get it, he said no. I cannot predict when he will say yes and when he will say no.

That about sums it up.

[McCulloch]

Is there anything in Paul's writing which indicates that he believed in an omniscient God?

[...] Just one aspect of his omniscience
[... ]
How can that be if God doesn't know our state of mind?
[...]
Again pointing out an aspect of God's omniscience.
[...]
There is much evidence that points to Paul as the author of Hebrews. I believe he wrote it.
But my point is proven with or without this passage.

What part of omni do you have problems understanding? I ask for evidence that Paul believed in an omniscient god. You provide evidence that Paul believed in a God that knows human minds. That is one aspect of omniscience, granted, but having one aspect is not the same as having it all.

But if you re-read the passages you provided, they do not claim that God knows human minds. The passages only strictly show that God will know the humans' minds at the judgment day. Strictly speaking, there is no claim that he knows our current state of mind. But perhaps I quibble.

OK, maybe it was too hard.

No, not really. If I put a thousand scriptures here that show Paul's belief in the omniscience of God, it wouldn't make a difference to you, would it?

Well, so far you've put only one and the authorship of that one has been questioned.

Not getting what I ask for just means God says no.

In other words, I have an invisible friend who can give me anything I ask for. If I ask for something and I get it, he gave it to me. If I ask for something and don't get it, he said no. I cannot predict when he will say yes and when he will say no.

That about sums it up.

I have an invisible friend like that too. So what good is prayer? How is it different from meditation?

[Amos]

Is there anything in Paul's writing which indicates that he believed in an omniscient God?

[...] Just one aspect of his omniscience
[... ]
How can that be if God doesn't know our state of mind?
[...]
Again pointing out an aspect of God's omniscience.
[...]
There is much evidence that points to Paul as the author of Hebrews. I believe he wrote it.
But my point is proven with or without this passage.

What part of omni do you have problems understanding? I ask for evidence that Paul believed in an omniscient god. You provide evidence that Paul believed in a God that knows human minds. That is one aspect of omniscience, granted, but having one aspect is not the same as having it all.

But if you re-read the passages you provided, they do not claim that God knows human minds. The passages only strictly show that God will know the humans' minds at the judgment day. Strictly speaking, there is no claim that he knows our current state of mind. But perhaps I quibble.

OK, maybe it was too hard.

No, not really. If I put a thousand scriptures here that show Paul's belief in the omniscience of God, it wouldn't make a difference to you, would it?

Well, so far you've put only one and the authorship of that one has been questioned.

Not getting what I ask for just means God says no.

In other words, I have an invisible friend who can give me anything I ask for. If I ask for something and I get it, he gave it to me. If I ask for something and don't get it, he said no. I cannot predict when he will say yes and when he will say no.

That about sums it up.

I have an invisible friend like that too. So what good is prayer? How is it different from meditation?

Indeed, you do quibble.