G-d and Mercy

[Clarity_over_agreement]

Is it right (do you believe) that G-d punishes someone that was deceived and made a choice contrary to their real nature?

The Traveler

Well this question of "is it right" is completly opinionated, hence the "in your opinion that follows the question, and in the final analysis does not matter. It will not matter what your or my opinions are. The only opinion that matters in the end is God's, and he will judge us riteously, all we can do is learn the best we can what he expects and if we messed up in the past then repent. This is not a democracy haha : )

However if you were asking "Does he punish those that were deceived and made a choice contrary to their real nature?" Then I really dont know if there is a solid way to answer that. But you might want to consider that punishment might come as way of prodding to get us on the right path again "See Alma 32:16"

[Moksha]

Yes, he is a God of vengence, but also of mercy, of justice and of love.

I found it interesting that the LDS Topical Guide has listed along with Vengence, see also "God, Justice of."

I wonder if He has been misrepresented on that vengence part. Like the claim that He endorsed racial bans.

[Traveler]

so I guess you could also ask

Is it right (do you believe) that someone who places their hand in a furnace gets burned, even if they thought it was a Colman x-treem cooler?

your question is flawed.

I am not talking about consequences – I am talking about the deliberate intervention of G-d. I believe the question is insightful and discloses a great deal about one’s belief and understanding of G-d. It is not flawed from my perspective.

The Traveler

[Traveler]

Well this question of "is it right" is completly opinionated, hence the "in your opinion that follows the question, and in the final analysis does not matter. It will not matter what your or my opinions are. The only opinion that matters in the end is God's, and he will judge us riteously, all we can do is learn the best we can what he expects and if we messed up in the past then repent. This is not a democracy haha : )

However if you were asking "Does he punish those that were deceived and made a choice contrary to their real nature?" Then I really dont know if there is a solid way to answer that. But you might want to consider that punishment might come as way of prodding to get us on the right path again "See Alma 32:16"

This question is directed not towards G-d but towards you and your belief in him.

The Traveler

[Traveler]

No, of course I do not. That is absurd, and is certainly not what I wrote.

Why would there be punishment in such cases? You are using "deceived" to mean a blameless action. Clearly, there is no blame in the cases you mention above.

I did not think you were actually asking this at first, because the answer is so obvious that any Primary child could tell you. If you are deceived in complete innocence, there is no moral culpability involved. I already stated that in an earlier post on this thread.

So now I'm curious: Why ask such a seemingly obvious question? I agree that if I ask someone to turn on the light, which I have secretly wired to electrocute a hundred people, the person is not guilty of the murders of those people, and God will not punish him for their murders. This seems to be an area of some concern for you. Why? Do you think that you see divine punishment against those who innocently and without guile or knowledge do acts that have bad results?

Ah my friend Vort: You are at the threshold of very interesting conflicting notions, ideas and a fascinating paradox about our earth life and individual nature. The real question concerns what is someone’s nature? What intelligent sentient being would ever commit to any sin unless they were deceived contrary to their will and destiny to be divine?

If they choose by their nature to sin with full knowledge that it is a rebellion against that which is divine with no deception – how could they be less than a son of perdition?

The only real possibility is that G-d grants all according to their true nature (perhaps that which was from the beginning) and that what is counted as punishment, in reality is a withholding of blessings.

The Traveler