....and man created God in his own image.

[TexTechCoug]

I think this explains both the priesthood ban and myriad other religious issues.

CUFers' God is very progressive and BY's God was certainly alright with racism and was a hardliner. The OT God had no trouble killing entire cities of people and really only cared about His chosen, the Jews.

God can't be the same because he would certainly offend our modern sensibilities.

[Ma'ake]

Here's the truly ironic thing about race & orthodox religion, and all the artwork that has Jesus looking remarkably northern European:

we're discovering human beings mixed with Neanderthals, and we even have about 6% of our DNA that originated from that line of primates.

EXCEPT Africans, who are the only population studied that didn't have any Neanderthal DNA. While supporting the "out of Africa" theory of human migration, this is also somewhat of a repudiation of the racist religious views.

(It also brings up the question (from LDS theology) of whether Jesus and God were also part Neanderthal.)

[Clark Addison]

Here's the truly ironic thing about race & orthodox religion, and all the artwork that has Jesus looking remarkably northern European:

we're discovering human beings mixed with Neanderthals, and we even have about 6% of our DNA that originated from that line of primates.

EXCEPT Africans, who are the only population studied that didn't have any Neanderthal DNA. While supporting the "out of Africa" theory of human migration, this is also somewhat of a repudiation of the racist religious views.

(It also brings up the question (from LDS theology) of whether Jesus and God were also part Neanderthal.)

Why do you assume that Neaderthal's were inferior?

[Ma'ake]

Why do you assume that Neaderthal's were inferior?

I don't, but I'm pretty sure non-human species are considered inferior by adherents of most western religions. We're God's children, and we have dominion over the animals, which are definitely not equal with us.

I'm not advocating inter-species dating - I'll leave that for residents of Idaho or Wyoming - but if you had two groups, one which was basically just regular humans, and one that were offspring of humans and chimps (for example), what would be your opinion, comparing the two?

[byu71]

I think God does communicate with his chosen leaders, but very, very rarely. That is why a lot of policies are man made.

God has a choice. Evertime one of his spokesman messes up he can take them from the earth. I imagine they would get very scared to mention anything to the faithful if that was the case.

A God big enough to put this whole thing in motion is beyond my comprehension. Therefor I don't worry about him sorting it all out eventually and everyone getting their due reward.

[DU Ute]

I think this explains both the priesthood ban and myriad other religious issues.

CUFers' God is very progressive and BY's God was certainly alright with racism and was a hardliner. The OT God had no trouble killing entire cities of people and really only cared about His chosen, the Jews.

God can't be the same because he would certainly offend our modern sensibilities.

I think CUFers' God is more in line with what God and Christ have been trying to teach all of us over the din of man's co-opting of His message through the centuries than the God of cougarboard.

[TexTechCoug]

I think CUFers' God is more in line with what God and Christ have been trying to teach all of us over the din of man's co-opting of His message through the centuries than the God of cougarboard.

I certainly don't like the God of cougarboard, but I don't think CUFers' god is anything more than a reflection of the board's combination of progressive thinking/politics and embarassment with present or past association with the LDS faith.

Of course you and others think you have a firm grip on the true nature of God because just like BRM, Carl Sagan, and the Taliban you have created a god who reflects your beliefs and desires.

The only irony is that due to historical, cultural, and familial ties CUF wants the LDS Church to conform to their view of the nature of God.

[YOhio]

My God is an Awesome God!

[YOUTUBE]38V8jnN1Kpw[/YOUTUBE]

[CardiacCoug]

I certainly don't like the God of cougarboard, but I don't think CUFers' god is anything more than a reflection of the board's combination of progressive thinking/politics and embarassment with present or past association with the LDS faith.

Of course you and others think you have a firm grip on the true nature of God because just like BRM, Carl Sagan, and the Taliban you have created a god who reflects your beliefs and desires.

The only irony is that due to historical, cultural, and familial ties CUF wants the LDS Church to conform to their view of the nature of God.

I seem to remember a little about the characteristics of God from the first missionary discussion and it said something about how He was benevolent and loving. it didn't say anything about racism or violence.

But maybe a CUF member wrote the discussions and just put his progressive/political spin on that, who knows? It's all just a reflection of culture anyway so maybe God is a violent racist for everybody except CUFers.

[The Rambam]

I think this explains both the priesthood ban and myriad other religious issues.

CUFers' God is very progressive and BY's God was certainly alright with racism and was a hardliner. The OT God had no trouble killing entire cities of people and really only cared about His chosen, the Jews.

God can't be the same because he would certainly offend our modern sensibilities.

If you believe there is an actual single being God, then he has some characteristics, some nature, some essence. Joseph Smith, who I accept as having some insight into the divine told us the three ways to come to gain a correct understanding of the character and nature of God were: 1) Prayer, 2) Scripture Study, and 3) An Intense Observation of Nature.

Since Prayer and Scripture Study are both kinds of Rorschach tests, to nature we must primarily turn if we are afraid of just making God in our own image.

And nature seems to teach, more than anything, that entropy and agency reign unmolested and unfettered. It is a jungle out there and God favors the fittest. Good luck with that.