Well, at least we agree that Christianity is an invention. At least we agree on something. :)
All your "Why would God..." questions should be directed at Him
Why? God doesn't answer questions directly. He uses mortal "prophets" and preachers and self-styled God's mouthpieces, so I direct my questions to them.
I do not condemn anyone, but Jesus sure made it clear that whoever rejects him, rejects God and those who believe in him will not be condemned.
How do I know that's what Jesus said? Did he write that or did some mere mortal you never met, 2000 years ago?
Your railings against why he did things the way he did and not according to how you would have done things only shows a person whose heart is set against truth and controlled by pride.
If God gave us reason he gave us reason so we would understand and know things, not just react to things, i.e. not merely accept things blindly. Otherwise your reason is for naught.
That is why God says he HATES pride. But, hey, as long as you can put off faith you can still hope you will be granted a consolation prize, right?
I am not prideful. I claim no knowledge from "above' or "vertically" or via some special divine tractor beam. I am asking those who do and they tell me I am prideful for asking! Your own Bible says that those who believe have the "mind of Christ". Why is it pride if I ask why?
Your "invention" is more along the lines of Caesar's Messiah
Here's the "invention" boatbums is talking about.
I agree, in fact God said, "Come and let us reason together..". So the God of creation is not an enemy to reason nor to knowledge or intellect. And he has NOT left us to accept things "blindly" at all. He told the Jewish people during the Old Testament times that he would tell them things through his prophets before those things happened so that when they happened exactly like he said they would, they could then trust him. He said that the idols they worshiped were unable to do such things. Through some of these prophets he performed miracles that not only the children of Israel saw but even the enemies of God observed - and were terrified. He has left us the written revelations that told of historical events as well as future times - some we are experiencing in part only now. All these things prove that God did not expect us to blindly believe. Faith is still what he expects of us but it is not a blind faith at all.
I am not prideful. I claim no knowledge from "above' or "vertically" or via some special divine tractor beam. I am asking those who do and they tell me I am prideful for asking! Your own Bible says that those who believe have the "mind of Christ". Why is it pride if I ask why?
I don't know your heart, but I read your arguments over the years and do not see a person who has budged an inch towards the truth of God. It is NOT prideful to ask, of course not, but to ask and then respond with derision and childish sounding arguing every time someone dares try to give you answers sure can be interpreted as pride. You demand proof but then never define what kind of proof counts to you. I can prove I went to Bible college, but would you just take my word for it? I think the kind of pride God despises is the kind that refuses to trust in him and accept what he has seen fit to reveal about himself. It is a kind of stubbornness that stomps its feet at God hardening their hearts unless he responds to them on their terms or not at all. I am absolutely sure that if anyone surrenders in humility before God he will lift them up and give them every reason to be as sure of him as others have been. I have no doubts today at all about God. I may not understand all that he permits in my life and the world but I trust him completely. I know him in a personal way that is not even possible to adequately relay. It just must be experienced individually. I pray for you often and hope one day you will be able to say, "I know as I am known."