Comment on The Bible teaches a temporary spiritual hardening of Israel by braven

Parent Post: The Bible teaches a temporary spiritual hardening of Israel · In Reply To

braven · 2/13/2026, 7:01:39 PM · permalink

Hello and thank you for this reply.  Very well done.  
I am not going to be able to reply to all of that, but I do appreciate your insights and comments....gives one a lot to think about.  
And my reply is not meant to be contentious, but it 'may' read that way, as this is a contentious topic, so I am doing my best to share my understanding of patterns that may unite us.  Something like that.  
  
That being said, I would like to discuss a few specific topics we might be able to .....improve upon....maybe?  
*if we're going to critique his theology, we should engage with his actual arguments rather than dismiss them based on character assessment.*
  
In general, I would agree with this assertion, but in this specific, I do not agree.  
Paul does not have a theology...he has lies.  And nothing but.  
  
Paul is not a believable person....no matter how accurate the writings were.  
Paul is a cautionary tale....a person so vile as not to be believed from the outset.  
Nothing he has to say...interests me.  
  
What you have to say about Paul, may be of interest, but it wouldn't prove a theocracy....it makes it less believable.  
  
*"The Deeper Logic Question:*

*You ask why God would need this "complicated method" if He can save the world directly. This touches on the fundamental question of why God allows free will at all.*

*Consider: God could force everyone to believe, but then it wouldn't be genuine faith, love, or relationship."*

Okay....so this is where the contention is going to hit hard so I hope we can build a pattern of communication around this....  
God does not 'allow free will'.    
Free will does not exist.   
It is a merely Christian term used to gaslight others.  
  
*Consider: God could force everyone to believe,*  
The above is gaslighting.  
If God could do that, he would do that.  Simple enough.  
But he can't do that, because he does not have that capacity.  
That Christians make excuses for why God is the way he is....gaslighting.  
  
Which brings us to this....  
*You see this as "gaslighting," but I'd suggest it's actually consistent with how God operates throughout Scripture—working redemptively through human failure rather than preventing it entirely. Think about Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery, yet God using it to save nations (Genesis 50:20).*
  
Your suggestion is accurate.*..*and yet...it does not negate gaslighting.

I agree that the pattern of gaslighting is consistent throughout Scripture.

*Braven, these are exactly the kinds of questions that strengthen rather than weaken faith when wrestled with honestly. I genuinely appreciate you pushing on the logical coherence. These challenges help clarify what we actually believe and why.*  
  
You have given me much to think about, and I will give this more thought.  
Again, thank you for this conversation....greatly appreciated.  
  
Peace.😇

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sacredcow · 2/19/2026, 1:21:21 PM · permalink

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