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Griz

- 3 years ago

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If the attributes of God don't come natural to us Humans, how are we expected to emulate them??

The attributes of God -- deep and unfailing love, matchless grace, profound mercy, forgiveness -- don't come naturally to us. They are -- supernatural. So how do we as humans expected to emulate them? What enables it?

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A quote from Bahaullah: Exert thyself

The attributes of God do not come to me naturally. But I believe that all the attributes of God are within me. I just need to bring them out and nurture them. Just like a seed that is planted in soil needs nurturing for it to grow until its roots are strong enough to stand firm by itself, but even then it is dependent on the bounties of God (rain and sunlight) to stay alive. In the same way, I need to make a mighty effort in order to reflect the attributes of God and once I succeed in that I still am dependent on God's favors and bounties to maintain those attributes, which I believe praying would supply. And it may be a good thing that the attributes of God do not come naturally to me, otherwise of the many who are called all would be chosen instead of the few. ie. if it came naturally, then there would be no point for God to test us, we would all pass.

I really, really like the picture for this question!

I think it is up made up. They were stories told in order to control the masses.

Nothing worth achieving comes easily.

I think that these attributes do come natural to us. I think humans were born noble and that we bring outselves down by our choices. I think that part of our purpose in life is to become closer to God. I believe that God possesses all of the qualities and by learning more about the attributes of God by practicing them, we are getting to know who God really is and in that way we can become cloer to Him. I think that it is possible to have some of these qualities, but at the same time God is unknowable and we can in no way be as perfect as He is. But if we have nothing to progress to then we are just going to remain stagnant, or worse, move backwards.

Boy, the time alignment of these posts can be bugger sometimes, huh. Taking into account what Blue Crayon and Dali have to say, the desire to improve that I was talking about has to do with my being better today than I was yesterday. I know I can be more compassionate than I currently am, for example, but I don't even see it as a competition within myself, much less with anyone else. Just growth into a better individual. As to the enabler, I guess Dalis' intimation that it's God and Blue Crayons' present moment awareness for natural flow suggestion work well. Sorry Griz, I'm goose-egging here; I don't know.

I always enjoy what you three think and have to say.

Spiritual growth IS different. And the same. Strong physical growth requires input; the food, the sleep, the exercise and so on. When these inputs are lacking, our physical growth suffers and we stunt to whatever degree. Spiritual growth also needs input or we remain infants like you say. Input from the mind AND the heart. I don't think it's a purely intellectual undertaking. By the way, I think the word "failing" is too harsh. Not as successful as you'd like? Oh yeah. That's what I see in my mirror too. But you're consciously making an effort, so in my opinion you're not failing. Hmm. A stronger enabler than just desire. Let me ponder awhile Griz.

I was thinking along the lines of what Dali said. I think desire puts us in the wrong place mentally/spiritually by implying we aren't good enough as is, and therefore we must exercise will to become something better. But exercises of will do not necessarily come from the heart; will usually originates with the ego. If, on the other hand, I work on present moment awareness, then responding with love flows more naturally--and if there is love there is also mercy, forgiveness, peace, and joy.

I don't think we are expected to emulate them at all. Nor does desire bring anything but suffering. We cannot emulate God and to desire to is setting us up for a fall. Being who you are warts and all is what pleases God. Do we have to wear our Sunday Best to go sit on mummy's knee. All this contest religion is wrong.Coming to God as we are each day is true faith. Not cringing brfore him but saying hello I am come.God if and when he wants will work through you then. When God works through you you get to enjoy a sense of all those wonderful graces but you remain yourself, small, limited, His.

Could one of the possible answers to the question be part of the question itself? That we aren't capable of duplicating so we emulate, and the enabler is desire to improve the attributes we're emulating?

Wow! Now THAT is a cool picture! Did you capture that? I'll be back to discuss your question in a minute or two; haven't had my first cup yet.

@Griz

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SoulPancake

Griz

If the attributes of God don't come natural to us Humans, how are we expected to emulate them??

DAISYDO

A quote from Bahaullah: Exert thyself

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LovedOne

I really, really like the picture for this question!

Hummingbird

I think it is up made up. They were stories told in order to control the masses.

bkmiller

Nothing worth achieving comes easily.

Zarrin

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I always enjoy what you three think and have to say.

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BlueCrayon

Dali

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Could one of the possible answers to the question be part of the question itself? That we aren't capable of duplicating so we emulate, and the enabler is desire to improve the attributes we're emulating?

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Wow! Now THAT is a cool picture! Did you capture that? I'll be back to discuss your question in a minute or two; haven't had my first cup yet.

If the attributes of God don't come natural to us Humans, how are we expected to emulate them??

A quote from Bahaullah: *Exert thyself*

I really, really like the picture for this question!

I think it is up made up. They were stories told in order to control the masses.

Nothing worth achieving comes easily.

I always enjoy what you three think and have to say.

Could one of the possible answers to the question be part of the question itself? That we aren't capable of duplicating so we emulate, and the enabler is desire to improve the attributes we're emulating?

Wow! Now THAT is a cool picture! Did you capture that? I'll be back to discuss your question in a minute or two; haven't had my first cup yet.

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A quote from Bahaullah: Exert thyself