Can God change our attitudes?

[cleve]

Can God change our attitudes?
If individuals can contribute toward positive growth in their relationships with others by means of conditioning of attitudes between each other, why can't God do the same? Personally, I think this is not only possible, but that God (assuming that God exists) can, and has, set things up so He can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.
In a recent post with Gary S., I mentioned that exchanges that I had with barbershop customers helped bring about a new kind of rapport with them. The interactions seemed to be a type of "attitude conditioning". Hopefully, the experience was something that each person enjoyed, remembered and was motivated to return because of it. In some ways, the stretching of attitudes that occurred during the exchanges/interactions had an effect of molding each individual in a way that was similar to breaking in the leather of a new pair of shoes.
Anyway, Gary wanted me to start a new disscussion topic on this.
I also thought it would be applicable and interesting to include the dimension of God to the topic. Hence the title of the discusion topic.
Sometimes I get the impression that God knew us before in some former timeframe. Where were our spirits with God before they came to earth? What did we experience? Maybe that relates to why we got the families that we have. Why do some families have certain tendencies toward certain sins more than others and have to work harder than others to correct them? Why is it that some people just don't seem to have a fair chance to correct their sins in this lifetime? Why are some people born from birth with severe problems like epilepsy, etc.? What if our spirits hated God in the past? When and how will He correct or punish us for it? Is God the only one who can know our hearts?
If you have ever considered any questions or thoughts similar to what has been mentioned, feel free to share.
In this possible situation feel free to share what you feel would be the wisest things to do.

[Dr Mundo]

Can God change our attitudes?
If individuals can contribute toward positive growth in their relationships with others by means of conditioning of attitudes between each other, why can't God do the same? Personally, I think this is not only possible, but that God (assuming that God exists) can, and has, set things up so He can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.

Is there anything we as humans can do to validate that claim? The claim being, That God can and has set things up so 'it' can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.
Is there anyway we can have sufficient evidence as to conclude that the best possible explanation for our attitude change at any particular moment in time is the result of some divine action from a specific God? And if so, what is your approach to find this out? Keep in mind that in order to do a proper scientific test on such things you mustn't start with the conclusion and work backwards, instead you must identify what attitude change you are interested in and then find plausible explanations as to how that change came about. Reason and Evidence are guidelines I must find in any such endeavor, in order for me to conclude that the best attempts have been made to find the best possible explanation for the change that you are wanting to measure.

[humanguy]

What an odd question. If the Christian God with a capital G exists then He with a capital H can do anything.

[cleve]

Can God change our attitudes?
If individuals can contribute toward positive growth in their relationships with others by means of conditioning of attitudes between each other, why can't God do the same? Personally, I think this is not only possible, but that God (assuming that God exists) can, and has, set things up so He can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.

Is there anything we as humans can do to validate that claim?

God says He knows the end from the beginning. So, for starters, one could test that God and see if what He says really represents the end from the beginning. One way to consider if the divine action from a specific God is true is to study the "time gaps" (periods of years) of what that God said with each gap period of time of scripture to see if they are relationally true in their time periods in the history of scripture. An example of a "time gap" that often gets studied is a prophecy - when it is first stated, and then tracking it through the bible to its point of fulfillment.

[humanguy]

Can God change our attitudes?
If individuals can contribute toward positive growth in their relationships with others by means of conditioning of attitudes between each other, why can't God do the same? Personally, I think this is not only possible, but that God (assuming that God exists) can, and has, set things up so He can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.

Is there anything we as humans can do to validate that claim?

God says He knows the end from the beginning. So, for starters, one could test that God and see if what He says really represents the end from the beginning. One way to consider if the divine action from a specific God is true is to study the "time gaps" (periods of years) of what that God said with each gap period of time of scripture to see if they are relationally true in their time periods in the history of scripture. An example of a "time gap" that often gets studied is a prophecy - when it is first stated, and then tracking it through the bible to its point of fulfillment.

What you're saying here is that one can find out if God exists by studying the Bible.

[Dr Mundo]

Can God change our attitudes?
If individuals can contribute toward positive growth in their relationships with others by means of conditioning of attitudes between each other, why can't God do the same? Personally, I think this is not only possible, but that God (assuming that God exists) can, and has, set things up so He can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.

Is there anything we as humans can do to validate that claim?

God says He knows the end from the beginning. So, for starters, one could test that God and see if what He says really represents the end from the beginning. One way to consider if the divine action from a specific God is true is to study the "time gaps" (periods of years) of what that God said with each gap period of time of scripture to see if they are relationally true in their time periods in the history of scripture. An example of a "time gap" that often gets studied is a prophecy - when it is first stated, and then tracking it through the bible to its point of fulfillment.

What you're saying here is that one can find out if God exists by studying the Bible.

Didn't you know that you can find out that God exists by careful examination of a group of texts that asserts that God does in fact exist? Of course you did, I'd be foolish to think you didn't.

[Dr Mundo]

Can God change our attitudes?
If individuals can contribute toward positive growth in their relationships with others by means of conditioning of attitudes between each other, why can't God do the same? Personally, I think this is not only possible, but that God (assuming that God exists) can, and has, set things up so He can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.

Is there anything we as humans can do to validate that claim?

God says He knows the end from the beginning. So, for starters, one could test that God and see if what He says really represents the end from the beginning.

Wouldn't it be wise to start with the claim on which this is all based around: That a God does in fact exist? I'd start there before moving on to questioning whether This God really "says" anything.

One way to consider if the divine action from a specific God is true is to study the "time gaps" (periods of years) of what that God said with each gap period of time of scripture to see if they are relationally true in their time periods in the history of scripture.

Even if we could conclude that a God exists. How does this validate the claim that God changes attitudes which was your original statement that I questioned how I could validate?

An example of a "time gap" that often gets studied is a prophecy - when it is first stated, and then tracking it through the bible to its point of fulfillment.

I will direct you to a few good videos done by people far more articulate that I am and how they present the prophecy aspect of the bible to show that there are far more reasonable conclusion than, God is real because a series of books canonized into a story has events that were predicted at the beginning of said collection of books.

[mitchellmckain]

Can God change our attitudes?
If individuals can contribute toward positive growth in their relationships with others by means of conditioning of attitudes between each other, why can't God do the same? Personally, I think this is not only possible, but that God (assuming that God exists) can, and has, set things up so He can cause changes in our attitudes to take place.
In a recent post with Gary S., I mentioned that exchanges that I had with barbershop customers helped bring about a new kind of rapport with them. The interactions seemed to be a type of "attitude conditioning". Hopefully, the experience was something that each person enjoyed, remembered and was motivated to return because of it. In some ways, the stretching of attitudes that occurred during the exchanges/interactions had an effect of molding each individual in a way that was similar to breaking in the leather of a new pair of shoes.

Yep, I think it is entirely possible that God can change our attitudes even if He doesn't exist. Our attitudes is one of those areas of reality that most certainly is affected by our beliefs.

Sometimes I get the impression that God knew us before in some former timeframe.

I do not.

Where were our spirits with God before they came to earth?

nonexistent.

Why do some families have certain tendencies toward certain sins more than others and have to work harder than others to correct them?

Habits are learned quite often by children from their parents, both good habits and bad habits.

Why is it that some people just don't seem to have a fair chance to correct their sins in this lifetime?

People can correct their sins?

Why are some people born from birth with severe problems like epilepsy, etc.? What if our spirits hated God in the past? When and how will He correct or punish us for it?

Oh yeah that is wonderful philosophy. Very Hindu, very middle ages. The sick and handicapped are just getting what they deserve, eh?

Is God the only one who can know our hearts?

A lot of the time yes.

[cleve]

Mitch,
Making claims here isn't the main intention/focus here. I don't see a way for finite man to truly limit an infinite God. If God wants to be "all in all," God can be whoever, whatever, and whenever He wishes.

[mitchellmckain]

Mitch,
I don't see a way for finite man to truly limit an infinite God. If God wants to be "all in all," God can be whoever, whatever, and whenever He wishes.

With regards to God's freedom of choice I quite agree, I don't believe that there are any limitations to God's power, will and freedom of choice. But with regards to what kind of God can inspire my worship there certainly are limitations, for there are choices in the use of power that inspire only my contempt. But just as such choice in a man would indictate the values of a smaller, less wise and more petty human being, such choices in a god would make it smaller than me in character and wisdom also. I am prepared for the possibility of such a being for after all there is also evil in the world, but my prepared response is rejection, for I will not admire or worship an evil god.

[cleve]

Mitch,
I don't see a way for finite man to truly limit an infinite God. If God wants to be "all in all," God can be whoever, whatever, and whenever He wishes.

With regards to God's freedom of choice I quite agree, I don't believe that there are any limitations to God's power, will and freedom of choice. But with regards to what kind of God can inspire my worship there certainly are limitations, for there are choices in the use of power that inspire only my contempt. But just as such choice in a man would indictate the values of a smaller, less wise and more petty human being, such choices in a god would make it smaller than me in character and wisdom also. I am prepared for the possibility of such a being for after all there is also evil in the world, but my prepared response is rejection, for I will not admire or worship an evil god.

Mitch,
Since God is generous with learning experiences for us to learn to apply to life, we have many opportunities to look back and become aware of how narrow our perspective had been prior to the learning experience. The widened perspective helps us to encompass more of God's intent in a positive way than before the experience occurred.
Also, I think all of us should fear the tempations of being influenced into following and believing in evil gods.

[humanguy]

I think all of us should fear the tempations of being influenced into following and believing in evil gods.

Do you really think that, or you just being metaphorical?

[cleve]

I think all of us should fear the tempations of being influenced into following and believing in evil gods.

Do you really think that, or you just being metaphorical?

Humanguy,
Haven't read or heard of anyone who has actually experienced evil gods in a tangible form. Using that as a starting point, we could interpret them to be more likely to occur when we experience some sort of spiritual battle in our mind that makes our own spirit adversarial or opposed to God's spirit because of our thinking or heart.

[Keep The Reason]

Haven't read or heard of anyone who has actually experienced evil gods in a tangible form. Using that as a starting point, we could interpret them to be more likely to occur when we experience some sort of spiritual battle in our mind that makes our own spirit adversarial or opposed to God's spirit because of our thinking or heart.

Well yeah but I would include Yahweh in that list of "evil gods", though "tangible" is from the humans, not from the asserted God's.

[cleve]

Haven't read or heard of anyone who has actually experienced evil gods in a tangible form. Using that as a starting point, we could interpret them to be more likely to occur when we experience some sort of spiritual battle in our mind that makes our own spirit adversarial or opposed to God's spirit because of our thinking or heart.

Well yeah but I would include Yahweh in that list of "evil gods", though "tangible" is from the humans, not from the asserted God's.

Keep The Reason,
Where did you find that list of "evil gods"? What is your reason for wanting to include Yahweh in the list?
If you want, I would be interested in hearing you expound on what you consider to be the purpose of the God of the bible. It would work better if you limited your answer to just one finely-tuned escapade that can be presented in the format of a historical biblical context. No limit on the length of the biblical context that you opt to cite.