Replies

***It is true that we do not relate to Him on an infinite level, but we do relate to Him on a personal level, as God. On an infinite level, we are simply part of His creation, like rocks and trees. But on a personal level we are separated from the rest of His creation. We can actually have a personal relationship with Him.***

I think that you might be mixing up the personal touch and interaction with Jesus the man with the impersonal and largely standoffish and angry God of the OT. Part of Jesus’ mission to us was to provide that.

***The alternative would be an impersonal God, whom we would experience as unknowable, irrational, and subject to chance. No personal relationship would be possible and man would be left unfulfilled.***

Exactly. That’s what the Jews experienced throughout the OT.

***Before there was a creation there was the Trinity.***

There was no ‘before’. God existed, exists and will exist at all moments in time.

***Without a personal God we would just be rats wandering randomly through a maze.***

A ‘personal’ God in many cases is one that an individual creates.

***And no, God does not “appear” to me in physical form. He lives within Christians in the form of the Holy Spirit. While we are always taught to be discerning, we also trust in His promises that He will lead us for our good. He leads us to obey Him and He promises good gifts.***

Leads, not frogmarches. The terminology is quite clear.

***We belong to Him and no one can snatch us out of His hands.***

We can, however, walk away.

FK: ***It is true that we do not relate to Him on an infinite level, but we do relate to Him on a personal level, as God. On an infinite level, we are simply part of His creation, like rocks and trees. But on a personal level we are separated from the rest of His creation. We can actually have a personal relationship with Him.***

I'm not sure what there is to mix up. Jesus interacted with men on a personal level, and the God of the OT did the same. Are they different Gods? Of course not. God exercised His justice in the OT, but He also showed His love for His children as well. How many chances did He give the Jews? Seventy times seven, etc.? :) He disciplined them out of His profound and very personal love for them. The OT God is very personal.

FK: ***The alternative would be an impersonal God, whom we would experience as unknowable, irrational, and subject to chance. No personal relationship would be possible and man would be left unfulfilled.***

Exactly. That’s what the Jews experienced throughout the OT.

How can you say that? The evidence shows just the opposite. Do you think Job would have remained faithful to an irrational God after being through what he went through? No way. All of the OT righteous had personal relationships with God. It's right there in the text.

FK: ***Before there was a creation there was the Trinity.***

There was no ‘before’. God existed, exists and will exist at all moments in time.

Please reread. Creation was an event in real time. There was a time before creation.

FK: ***Without a personal God we would just be rats wandering randomly through a maze.***

A ‘personal’ God in many cases is one that an individual creates.

That has nothing to do with the truth or not of whether the one true God is personal and rational or impersonal and irrational.

FK: ***We belong to Him and no one can snatch us out of His hands.***

We can, however, walk away.

If you are "one" then you are saying you can snatch yourself out of God's hands. The scripture forbids this. Man's need to be independent and powerful causes additions to the scriptures, also forbidden by the scriptures. Your Catechism says that God conveyed what He wanted to convey in the Bible. How meaningless the Bible is since it doesn't include the countless number of exceptions that your tradition adds.