1. God is not a genii who changes the physical world at our command. He is Spirit and Spiritual.
Did he create the universe? Does he answer prayers?
2. You did not recognize that your dog was in your loving hands; hands willing to work for and serve the needs of a special dog.
I am uncertain what you mean by this comment though it look as if you're attempting to diss me without cause. I was ten years old or less. We had been caring for the partially blinded dog and we contined to care for him after he become completely blinded.
3. Speaking of work and service--those are the components of worship, along with thanksgiving and praise.
The core of worship is accepting that your god exists, that he created the universe and that you owe him praise, service and obedience. If your god told you to murder your children and you attempted to do so, he would praise you for it. If your god told you to kill yourself and you attempted to do so, he would praise you for it. At least that is what the Bible tells us.
Did you want to serve God in caring for one of his creatures...or, did you want God to serve you as your genii?
As a young boy, I wanted the god I'd been taught about to show his caring for my dog. My family and I were capable of caring for our dog and did so. What we weren't capable of doing was curing his sight. That was the purpose of my prayer.
Did you thank God for bringing that dog into your life, and did you praise Him for the opportunity to learn about lessons about serving other, perhaps later not a dog, but a fellow human being.
Are you suggesting that god punished my dog in order to punish me? Would you find that acceptable? Would you find that believable?
Is your own spirit stronger or weaker from caring for your dog?
I reject all supernatural. There are no "spirits". I learned from caring for my dog. I learned from watching him suffer. I learned from watching his suffering needlessly increase.
Could it be God answered your prayers in a way a small child wouldn't yet perceive or understand.
My prayers were not answered in any way that I have ever perceived and the arguments that many have made require your god be willing to make my dog suffer for the rest of his life to serve your god's wants in ways that a caring, omnipotent being could have easily accomplished
without making our dog suffer for the rest of his life. That made no sense. What did make sense is that there never was a god there. My dog was partially blinded because it was struck by a car and was completely blinded when it was struck by another car. There is no god involved anywhere in the process because there simply are no gods.
You loved your dog. You say you respect the Golden Rule. What more do you wish--a genii or an even stronger spirit.
You seem to be suggesting that I don't respect the Golden Rule. Please explain.
What I wished as a young boy is that the caring, ominpotent god my parent's church had told me about would help my dog. You may not be aware of this but your distinction about geniis would seem to make your god less than omnipotent. You also seem to suggest that I should have been grateful for god's attempt to give me "a stronger spirit" even were the price the lifelong suffering of my dog. I reject that utterly.
