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That is not what is being said. So many people have turned to Satan in their ways that is where Satan is getting his power. It is through one's actions and not their words that determines where their loyalty lies and I see just as many Christians possessed by the spirit of Satan as I do "others" through their selfishness, greed, etc. God gave man "free will" which he has made poor use of. I don't get this blame God for everything and shows a true lack of knowledge of the word of God. I don't think you can make a none believer find God. God finds you by your actions being in alignment with his law.
So your god created flesh-eating viruses to invade the organs of infant children and kill them slowly, because so many people worship Satan?
Could you have a world where there was absolutlely no physical or biological or chemical threat to man, let alone every other creature? Don't we need bacteria to live?
If you never experienced pain or suffering you'd almost certainly be indifferent to it in others. If you never suffered anger sadness or hate you'd also never
have compassion or empathy. We'd be pretty stunted beings developmentally and emotionally. Humans have already seriously thrown the planet out of whack( Which evolution is at a loss as to explain exactly how we advanced so quickly) if we were completely unchecked we'd be in a real mess.
Being angry at God is not disproving God. Trying to disprove him by saying he allowed this or that doesn't cut it. Maybe he cares enough to not interfere or be over protective.
Maybe he's prevented a whole host of catastrophes that we are unaware of. That doesn't prove God exists but by the same token our limited understanding doesn't prove he doesn't exist.
It comes down to faith. You have faith God exists or you have faith he doesn't.
Could you have a world where there was absolutlely no physical or biological or chemical threat to man, let alone every other creature?
That's a very important concept you've brought up here, Icy Tea. According to Jewish belief, when Adam and Chava (Eve) were in Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden), that's exactly the world they experienced. No pain. No threats. No suffering, etc. When they chose to eat the fruit from the Eitz Ha Das V Tova Ra, this "ideal" situation vansihed.
But I suspect once the "damage was done," Hashem had a choice. Either destroy the world and start over with a new man and woman, or let this "thing" keep on rolling, because as you so eloquently pointed out:
Quote:
If you never experienced pain or suffering you'd almost certainly be indifferent to it in others. If you never suffered anger sadness or hate you'd also never
There are several conclusions to draw from this. You could say
- it means there is no God
or
- there is a God, but He is uncaring, arbitrary and capricious
or
- argumentam ad ignorantium: The Lord works in mysterious ways.
We can logically dismiss the last one above, it's not an explanation, but a surrender to ignorance.
I think the facts show that if there is a God, He's a lot more like an ADD kid with an ant farm than a kindly grandfather.
Why do you operate on the assumption that you aren't deserving of a painful, slow death? We all deserve to die--because we've all offended God and we're all guilty before him.
Col 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him."
Perhaps the bible writers forgot to add…… ‘Except for the bad stuff’……. at the end of this verse.
Col 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him."
Perhaps the bible writers forgot to add…… ‘Except for the bad stuff’……. at the end of this verse.
The believers prefer to believe that god created all the flowers, rainbows, chirping birds, healthy babies, butterflies, etc., but no one wants to take responsibility for the evil things in creation.
That is not what is being said. So many people have turned to Satan in their ways that is where Satan is getting his power. It is through one's actions and not their words that determines where their loyalty lies and I see just as many Christians possessed by the spirit of Satan as I do "others" through their selfishness, greed, etc. God gave man "free will" which he has made poor use of. I don't get this blame God for everything and shows a true lack of knowledge of the word of God. I don't think you can make a none believer find God. God finds you by your actions being in alignment with his law.
It's not God's fault, and now you're saying it's not Satan's fault either, but it's humans' fault. That makes no sense. Pretty sure organ-invading parasites came before humans. You think God created them as punishment because humans "disobeyed"? or what? And If God didn't create them, "who" did? It makes a lot more sense to say there is no all-powerful, all-loving god than to play mental gymnastics like you and many other theists like to do.
Could you have a world where there was absolutlely no physical or biological or chemical threat to man, let alone every other creature? Don't we need bacteria to live? If you never experienced pain or suffering you'd almost certainly be indifferent to it in others. If you never suffered anger sadness or hate you'd also never
have compassion or empathy. We'd be pretty stunted beings developmentally and emotionally. Humans have already seriously thrown the planet out of whack( Which evolution is at a loss as to explain exactly how we advanced so quickly) if we were completely unchecked we'd be in a real mess.
Being angry at God is not disproving God. Trying to disprove him by saying he allowed this or that doesn't cut it. Maybe he cares enough to not interfere or be over protective.
Maybe he's prevented a whole host of catastrophes that we are unaware of. That doesn't prove God exists but by the same token our limited understanding doesn't prove he doesn't exist.
It comes down to faith. You have faith God exists or you have faith he doesn't.
Some forms of bacteria are useful. Some are destructive with no benefit for anyone.
Good point about the empathy.
However, by believing that those who suffer deserve it due to sin, as the believers would point out, is the opposite of empathy. If you see a suffering person, would you tell him it's all good and that he deserves it?
From observation it seems that the most devout christians are the least empathetic about human suffering. They rally to defend god regardless.
That god "cares enough not to interfere or be over protective" is absurd. Especially, if he created the viruses to cause suffering, which is the theme of the thread.
The guy covers the whole "if it weren't for evil, we would never understand/appreciate good" argument.
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