Well, if the only thing we knew about God was that he
was righteous and just then I'm afraid this would
not be a pretty picture. Speaking for myself only,
of course, I would say there would be no hope with
such a God.
Anyway, apparently you were offended by what I
wrote. For this I apologize. I thought I had made
it clear enough that I was giving my own opinions.
You are welcome to yours, hopefully you will grant
me the same priveledge.
But please be careful when you quote me. I did not
say I was offended by God the Designer but rather
by the image that comes to my mind from the God
of the argument from design. It all depends on
what is meant by design, as has been discussed in
great detail lately.
Now to your assertion above. I'm not a bible
scholar or a theologian, but it was my impression
that while many names may be used to describe
God in the Bible, the name that God uses to
describe himself is YAHWEH, "I AM". When Moses
asked God who he should tell the Israelites sent
him, God did not say "God the Pyramid Engineer"
or "God the Canal Architect" but rather
"I AM THAT I AM". How would you interpret
this name? My interpretation is that God is
not reducible to the names that we might use
to describe him. He is who he is. In modern
lingo we might say he's irreducibly complex.
IMHO when we say "God the Engineer" we describe
him in terms of things made by human hands.
Maybe only a small step from idolatry. Again,
no offense intended. These are my opinions, but
I like to be direct.
This reminds of something Pascal wrote in his
"Memorial":
"'God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob,'
not of philosophers and scholars"
Again, speaking of my humble opinions, the God
of the design argument is the God of philosophers
and scholars.
Brian Harper
Associate Professor
Applied Mechanics
The Ohio State University
"It is not certain that all is uncertain,
to the glory of skepticism." -- Pascal