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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: 'Who is bigger, Jesus or God?'
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Eirenist
Shipmate
# 13343
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Posted
Can anyone suggest an answer comprehensible to my 5-year-old grandson?
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'I think I think, therefore I think I am'
Posts: 486 | From: Darkest Metroland | Registered: Jan 2008
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Mudfrog
Shipmate
# 8116
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Posted
Tell him that God is so big that Jesus is God made little so we can see him.
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"The point of having an open mind, like having an open mouth, is to close it on something solid."
G.K. Chesterton
Posts: 8237 | From: North Yorkshire, UK | Registered: Jul 2004
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SusanDoris
Incurable Optimist
# 12618
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Posted
My non-believer's response here is probably not one you will welcome, but a child who comes up with a question like that has already heard and picked up a lot about the subject, so may I suggest that perhaps this would be a good time to mention something like:
Well, some people believe that God is everywhere in the universe, some think he is very much attached to our planet Earth and its people and many others don't believe in god at all, or believe in all sorts of other gods.
'Bigger' in the context of the OP would seem to indicate 'more important'? Obviously, the child requires only a simple response at present, but it will be interesting to see how the discussions develop and change over the years.
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Posts: 3083 | From: UK | Registered: May 2007
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Arch Anglo Catholic
Shipmate
# 15181
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Posted
Neither! God is Jesus and Jesus is God.
At the risk of monstrous heresy (always a risk when trying to explain difficult things simply!) I would be tempted to try and explain a little bit about the Trinity and that the three persona are still one God; they act in different ways but are the same God.
When I go out to work, I'm Dad with one job, when I was the car I'm Dad the car washer, and when I go home and play with the children I'm still Dad and still the same size!
Posts: 144 | From: Shropshire | Registered: Sep 2009
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Mudfrog:
Tell him that God is so big that Jesus is God made little so we can see him.
Nice.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
Well, Jesus is a rather tall guy with shoulder-length hair and an Anglo-Saxon nose. God is an old, slightly fat bearded man who sits on top of a cloud.
The answer seems simple.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Adeodatus
Shipmate
# 4992
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Posted
I'm with Mudfrog on this one. Incarnation with a side order of kenosis - you can't beat it.
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
Posts: 9779 | From: Manchester | Registered: Sep 2003
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
Aye Arch Anglo Catholic, not JUST a modalist but you are a car too!
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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the long ranger
Shipmate
# 17109
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Posted
Well, put it this way, if there was a fight between Jesus and God, God would win because he has the advantage of being in several places at once.
But then it might be a points decision, based on that time when God had that controversial win against Jacob when God delivered a low, winning, blow.
Jesus is slippery and can't be held down, but God is bigger and harder and meaner. My money is still on God, I think.
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"..into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” “But Rabbi, how can this happen for those who have no teeth?”
"..If some have no teeth, then teeth will be provided.”
Posts: 1310 | Registered: May 2012
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balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Arch Anglo Catholic:
Neither! God is Jesus and Jesus is God.
At the risk of monstrous heresy (always a risk when trying to explain difficult things simply!) I would be tempted to try and explain a little bit about the Trinity and that the three persona are still one God; they act in different ways but are the same God.
While you're at it explain that Jesus is not the Father, Jesus is not the Holy Spirit and the Father is not the Holy Spirit.
Confused yet? A five year old would be.
For a five year old I think what Mudfrog said is brilliant. For everyone else it's more complicated than that.
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Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
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Gwai
Shipmate
# 11076
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
My non-believer's response here is probably not one you will welcome, but a child who comes up with a question like that has already heard and picked up a lot about the subject, so may I suggest that perhaps this would be a good time to mention something like:
Well, some people believe that God is everywhere in the universe, some think he is very much attached to our planet Earth and its people and many others don't believe in god at all, or believe in all sorts of other gods.
While I would imagine that many if not most children who are interested in religion these days are already aware that different people believe different things. My daughter is a year younger than the child mentioned here, but she has been exposed to Islam and Judaism that I know of, and I have mentioned that some people don't believe in God too.
Re Jesus and God, Mudfrog I think you killed this thread! (By posting the right answer) ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea.
If they think they ha’ slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.
Posts: 11914 | From: Chicago | Registered: Feb 2006
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Mudfrog
Shipmate
# 8116
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Posted
Yay! I'm glad I got something right eventually ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
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"The point of having an open mind, like having an open mouth, is to close it on something solid."
G.K. Chesterton
Posts: 8237 | From: North Yorkshire, UK | Registered: Jul 2004
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Freddy
Shipmate
# 365
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Posted
In my experience this question never comes up because the children are taught that Jesus is God come to earth.
I like Mudfrog's answer.
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"Consequently nothing is of greater importance to a person than knowing what the truth is." Swedenborg
Posts: 12845 | From: Bryn Athyn | Registered: Jun 2001
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
I'm sorry for trying to make a bit of fun earlier, I like Mudfrog's answer too.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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no prophet's flag is set so...
Proceed to see sea
# 15560
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Posted
Does the child actually want a theological answer? What you do is figure out a bit what the child really wants to know, figure out what you might clarify, and probably get out a book or the crayons. I'd start out with a "what do you think?" and go from there.
Not strictly comparable, but I'm reminded of the child who asked about "vagina", got a rather detailed explanation, looked more and more puzzled, and then said "but we have cousins in Vagina and there's a mall there." (meant Regina, Saskatchewan) It is really a good idea to understand what the child is really talking about!
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Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.
\_(ツ)_/
Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010
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mousethief
Ship's Thieving Rodent
# 953
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Posted
It is a brilliant metaphor.
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This is the last sig I'll ever write for you...
Posts: 63536 | From: Washington | Registered: Jul 2001
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Gamaliel
Shipmate
# 812
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Posted
Nice one, Mudfrog. You've earned your stripes. One of the best posts I've read for a long time.
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Let us with a gladsome mind
Praise the Lord for He is kind.
http://philthebard.blogspot.com
Posts: 15997 | From: Cheshire, UK | Registered: Jul 2001
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bib
Shipmate
# 13074
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Posted
Kid's ask curious questions and often just need a simple answer - they don't need deep theological argument. My young grandson(5) asked me how God cuts His toenails. My answer was 'the angels do it for Him'. This was a pefectly acceptable answer for him. He is forever coming up with questions eg 'does God like eating spinach (child hates spinach). If he doesn't then why did he make it? Do I have to eat it if God doesn't like eating it?' etc. [good try kid]
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"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"
Posts: 1307 | From: Australia | Registered: Oct 2007
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Lietuvos Sv. Kazimieras
Shipmate
# 11274
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Posted
If you recite the Quicunque Vult to the lad, that'll teach him to ask such daft questions in the first place. ![[Devil]](graemlins/devil.gif)
Posts: 7328 | From: Delaware | Registered: Apr 2006
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Grokesx
Shipmate
# 17221
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Posted
quote:
Tell him that God is so big that Jesus is God made little so we can see him.
Hm, can't see Ben and Karen being impressed with that one.
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For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. H. L. Mencken
Posts: 373 | From: Derby, UK | Registered: Jul 2012
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balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by bib:
He is forever coming up with questions eg 'does God like eating spinach (child hates spinach). If he doesn't then why did he make it? Do I have to eat it if God doesn't like eating it?' etc. [good try kid]
God made all the fruit and vegetables and said they were good*. If God said they are good you have to eat them.
(* Except for peaches, God says they are horrible.)
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Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
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Eirenist
Shipmate
# 13343
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Posted
The reply I gave, thinking quickly, was 'When he was grown up, Jesus was the same size as God.'
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'I think I think, therefore I think I am'
Posts: 486 | From: Darkest Metroland | Registered: Jan 2008
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the long ranger
Shipmate
# 17109
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Grokesx:
Hm, can't see Ben and Karen being impressed with that one.
Heh, I bet Karen would have ripped apart Mudfrog (if he'd said this) in about a second.
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"..into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” “But Rabbi, how can this happen for those who have no teeth?”
"..If some have no teeth, then teeth will be provided.”
Posts: 1310 | Registered: May 2012
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Mark Betts
Ship's Navigation Light
# 17074
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Gamaliel:
Nice one, Mudfrog. You've earned your stripes. One of the best posts I've read for a long time.
Hear hear! The lad is only 5!
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"We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary."
Posts: 2080 | From: Leicester | Registered: Apr 2012
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