"Um, why do so many people believe that God's way is always the 'right' way? Why is He considered the end-all be-all of righteousness?"
I know Christ through his influence in my life, and his endless knack of bailing me out when I needed to be. At least thats the way I see it. I honestly believe that I wouldn't be here right now, or I would be a very bad person if it wasn't for that influence.
I believe his way (not the way of men) is the perfect way for us, because he is the only spec of light and guidance in an otherwise dark world. Unlike many "christians" (I use the term loosley because it was one coined by the Romans when they were executing followers of Christ) I can't tell you the Bible is infallible (Emperor Constantine chose which books went into the New Testament, and left many of the so-called "gnostic gospels" out). It was written and put together by men after all, and men are indeed fallible. I still believe it is the most amazing book ever written, although man's interpetation of it (More appropriatley their misuse of it) has made alot of people cringe at the mention of it. I don't think it's the book's fault personally.
"We *are* talking about a being that goes around drowning folks and causing frog rain and plagues when He gets ticked, after all. If your mom threw frogs at you I doubt you'd trust her judgement about your life."
The Wrath of God? In some cases. A natural occurence in others. Let's stop and consider why God would get so pissed off, I'll use the same example you did: "causing frog rains and plaugues". The Israelites we're put into slavery by the Egyptians, and continuosley worked to death, beaten, tortured, starved, and what have you. To put it bluntly: Dad got pissed. Let's not forget too that the egyptians were warned prior to this. Let's also not forget that the plagues were mild before they were severe. They had plenty of warning as to what would happen if they continued to fail to "let my people go". And also if someone harmed your children I'm certain you'd throw much more then a frog at them to start with. I think God showed great restraint in that situation.
"God obviously makes weird decisions, at least from the human point of view. Famine, mass drought, suffering, Gigli...all kinda rough to understand as positives."
I could go on all day about this:
Famine: Do you know how much food is simply wasted? We could more then make up for a famine anywhere in the world if we worked together to control it.
Mass Drought: If there is a draught in one place there is always water in another, again if we all worked together we could prevent people from dieing of lack of thirst.
Suffering: 99.9% of the time is caused by human beings (yes I do believe Satan does his part to influence that). Disease spread by pollution and uncleanliness, wars causing innoccent people to die simply to thicken the pockets of the powers that be. Murder, rape, child abuse, suicide, child abandonment, theft, rinse, lather, repeat all these things we do to each other and ourselves.
"So why are people so compelled to follow the plans of such a faulty planner? How do we 'know' that His way is the best way for us, and if we don't why do so many follow along anyways?"
I don't think he's a faulty planner, I think we fucked his plans up, plain and simple. Do I "know" his way is the best way? I think it makes a hell of alot more sense then going off the logic of other people(yes the Bible might of been written by other people, and yes I believe most of it is divinley inspired, perhaps not all of it, however without the relationship with God I wouldn't have any interest in the book at all, it is Christ himself whom has inspired me far more then the Bible has) I'd rather have his guidance then that of those who destroy.
And yes I know many have done so in God's name, but that's not his fault now is it?
" But to worship Him and do *everything* His book says even if it sounds ridiculous and makes you miserable(or just picking what you like and ignoring the rest) always confuses me."
I actually find myself with far more misery when I stray from Gods path, and I don't pick what I like and ignore the rest. I have done plenty of things I did not enjoy doing, or did not nessecarily agree with at the time. It's kind of like when you work out: you feel the burn the shortness of breath, all you want to do is stop and go relax, but the results present themselves to you, and you end up feeling and looking better then you ever did.
Or what a woman must feel when she gives child birth (I've heard described as pushing something the size of a lemon through something the size of a watermelon), but the reward is that of an overcoming joy that (from what I've been told) is unmatched and makes every moment of the pain worth it.
I hope I've enlightened you to the best of my meager ability. Have a great evening!
