Why does God not stop the evil?

[Going Merry]

I believe God is benevolent and there is more a misunderstanding about this. God doesn't help because of sin. He loves you but won't help because of the evil in humanity. But he DID show his love to us while we were still sinners in that Christ died for us. He is separated from people who possess sin. The whole reason why Christ Jesus came was to remove this wall and so you will be bathed in His love for having his work applied to you. Although He did forgive the whole world of its sin through the baptism and crucifixion of Christ, therefore there technically isn't any sin in the world that He hasn't blotted out. But belief and repentance is the requirement. Doing so will make you live a life apart from sin and for Him, which is what he wants. Till then, his love will be from you and your prayers. "You reap what you sow" and sinning in heart or action causes grief to come. And imo, I see most people being unable to not sin daily, which I find ludicrous.

To say then that He didn't stop the evil is stupid. Evil stuff happens in this world, but he paid for it all already through his own life. While we live on this evil world we are surrounded not by Gods children but by Satans children. What do you expect?

 

[madaz]

While we live on this evil world we are surrounded not by Gods children but by Satans children. What do you expect?

What do I expect? Well according to the bible we are all gods children, it is the christian god who created evil, and it is this same capricious malevolent god who uses his followers to advocate this disgusting evil world concept.

 

[Going Merry]

What do I expect? Well according to the bible we are all gods children, it is the christian god who created evil, and it is this same capricious malevolent god who uses his followers to advocate this disgusting evil world concept.

Bolded is not a Christian belief.

 

[Cush]

There is one common question which is often posed....

"Why does God not stop all the child molestors and rapists and murderers, why does God not stop this or prevent that or do this or that...."

The boy scouts are doing the best they can.... all j/king aside.

This has always given me the creeps or rather the chills. Thinking that one day when God and I are present in mutual company, he may ask the same question put to me. I have no reason or excuse, I mean having an ability to do what I can, and the opportunity to "do more" about the problem of evil, I am left without an excuse! Perhaps the problem is ours and not so much God's?

 

[madaz]

Bolded is not a Christian belief.

So the remainder is?

Christians have thousands of opposing beliefs, yet they all believe they are Christian beliefs.

 

[Going Merry]

So the remainder is?

Christians have thousands of opposing beliefs, yet they all believe they are Christian beliefs.

Those who are deceived don't know they are deceived. I never said I believed most people who say they are Christian will get anywhere with their faith.

Though this is off topic now..

opa

 

[dgiharris]

So apparently God wanted there to be good and evil. The strange thing, though, is that God is complaining when He gets what He wants.

You know, I have no problem accepting that the universe works the way it does. It´s not until I´m told that it´s the intended product of an omnibenevolent CreatorGod that I start asking "Why?".
It´s the prime example for my main issue with religion/theology: At best, it answers questions that wouldn´t be there without it, in the first place (and most of the time it does not even manage to do that).

Another point: You can, practically, have sound without silence (you just can´t have a concept of sound without having a concept of silence). Actually, we never encounter and have never encountered complete silence.

Lastly: Had God created the world without the possibility of the most extreme cases of "evil", concepts of "good/evil" would still be possible.

Your post is a prime example of how the limitations of the human mind impair our ability to understand the complexities of the universe and god which is just so far beyond us...

I'll start with the end of your post first, people born deaf hear nothing, and have no concept of "silence" because they have no concept of "sound".

People born blind don't have a concept of darkness because they have no concept of light...

To give you an idea of what i'm talking about, please answer this question: How do you perceive a Magnetic field? How does a magnetic field taste? How does it smell? What color is a Magnetic field?

The reason you are unable to answer this question is because you have no sense organ that deals directly or even indirectly with a Magnetic field. However, a Carrier Pigeon could answer this question since a Carrier Pigeon does have a sense organ in the brain that can perceive magnetic fields...

Now, lets get back to the beginning of your post. God never complains about evil, that is a human interpretation.

God didn't create evil so he could have good. No. Imo, these things just "are". They are the consequence of "free will".

"Free will" is at the heart of a lot of this.

So how does this all come together???

Things "just are" and the nature of some thing can only come about by having an opposite. However, being human, our perception of the universe is extremely limited and we will often make the mistake of trying to interpret things beyond us with our very limited sensory organs and perceptions.

When we try to apply our perceptions, deductions, logic etc to a being that is beyond us (like God) we are certain to be wrong.

The reason God doesn't stop evil is because the act of him stopping evil could very well eliminate good. That is a possibility. Another possibility is that the reasoning is just far beyond the ability of a mere mortal to ever comprehend and any attempt for us to try to resolve the paradox will just result in us being in error...

 

[Cush]

When we try to apply our perceptions, deductions, logic etc to a being that is beyond us (like God) we are certain to be wrong.

The reason God doesn't stop evil is because the act of him stopping evil could very well eliminate good. That is a possibility. Another possibility is that the reasoning is just far beyond the ability of a mere mortal to ever comprehend and any attempt for us to try to resolve the paradox will just result in us being in error...

Right, our finite minds cannot comprehend or perceive God's infinite wisdom.

 

[madaz]

Right, our finite minds cannot comprehend or perceive God's infinite wisdom.

No, our primitive human minds struggled to comprehend reality, so we invoked a god hypothesis to try and rationalize reality. The problem is this primitive mindset legacy continues to this day.

 

[Cush]

No, our primitive human minds struggled to comprehend reality, so we invoked a god hypothesis to try and rationalize reality. The problem is this primitive mindset legacy continues to this day.

Well, I guess that's ultimately your own reality, however, why agree or disagree when your mind is already made up -- the irony about this whole thing is that the primitive side or sin nature reduces people to the level of animals; people allow their lower nature to defeat the higher -- thereby making themselves less than human.

 

[Davian]

<snip>
When we try to apply our perceptions, deductions, logic etc to a being that is beyond us (like God) we are certain to be wrong.

So you yourself could be wrong.

The reason God doesn't stop evil is because the act of him stopping evil could very well eliminate good. That is a possibility. Another possibility is that the reasoning is just far beyond the ability of a mere mortal to ever comprehend and any attempt for us to try to resolve the paradox will just result in us being in error...

How would one tell the difference between god that does not stop a certain act (such as child rape) and a god that does not exist?

 

[Cush]

So you yourself could be wrong.

How would one tell the difference between god that does not stop a certain act (such as child rape) and a god that does not exist?

In the mind of a God fearing believer.... that man will stop the rape for fear of the consequences between God and himself.

To the man who does not fear what he does not believe exists -- why bother? This kind of man fears the consequences imposed upon themselves by other men, or nature rather than from Godly consequence.

Now I ask the same thing about being here upon the earth, knowing full well my purpose -- to bring about the kingdom of God as it is in heaven.

The rape occurs, and I am left without excuse -- rather I think about all these people, not only myself on the earth who have rejected the will of God or His calling. Reverse the question, why have you let the rape occur? Perhaps it goes deeper to that unbelief or no fear of Godly consequence... it propagates.

 

[quatona]

Your post is a prime example of how the limitations of the human mind impair our ability to understand the complexities of the universe and god which is just so far beyond us...

And let me guess: Your post is a prime example of thoughts that are not limited by the human mind " impair our ability to understand the complexities of the universe and god which is just so far beyond us..."?

I'll start with the end of your post first, people born deaf hear nothing, and have no concept of "silence" because they have no concept of "sound".

Agreed. However, that neither supports your claim that there´s no sound without silence, nor does it refute my objection.
So, what´s your point?

People born blind don't have a concept of darkness because they have no concept of light...

So?

To give you an idea of what i'm talking about, please answer this question: How do you perceive a Magnetic field? How does a magnetic field taste? How does it smell? What color is a Magnetic field?

The reason you are unable to answer this question is because you have no sense organ that deals directly or even indirectly with a Magnetic field. However, a Carrier Pigeon could answer this question since a Carrier Pigeon does have a sense organ in the brain that can perceive magnetic fields...

Sure.

Now, lets get back to the beginning of your post. God never complains about evil, that is a human interpretation.

Ok, so God is fine with evil. That was my point.

God didn't create evil so he could have good.

Well, my point was a different one. According to your reasoning ("good cannot exist without evil") God can´t even exist without evil, and God wasnt good until evil came up.

No. Imo, these things just "are".

So - as opposed to your recent claim - there are things that god didn´t create but that "just are"?
So prior to creation there was evil?

And while we are at it: Please tell me something about the Christian concept of Heaven. Will there be evil in Heaven?

They are the consequence of "free will".

"Free will" is at the heart of a lot of this.

Yes: God´s "free will".

So how does this all come together???

Things "just are" and the nature of some thing can only come about by having an opposite.

Except that when we don´t want a particular thing to occur, we aren´t actually expecting it to change its nature - we would just like it to not happen.
I don´t want there to be war. The argument "without war we wouldn´t perceive a warless state as non-war" is just sophistic trickery.

However, being human, our perception of the universe is extremely limited and we will often make the mistake of trying to interpret things beyond us with our very limited sensory organs and perceptions.

Yes, apparently God wanted us to be limited that way.

When we try to apply our perceptions, deductions, logic etc to a being that is beyond us (like God) we are certain to be wrong.

So you are postulating the end of theology? Because I am not the one who starts all this human talk about God, God´s attributes and motives.

The reason God doesn't stop evil is because the act of him stopping evil could very well eliminate good. That is a possibility.

No, it isn´t. If e.g. a warless state is good, the absence of war or the impossibility of war doesn´t eliminate this "good".
Btw., what did you apply here? Your "perceptions, deductions logic etc" or some special super-human facilities that are exclusive to you?

Another possibility is that the reasoning is just far beyond the ability of a mere mortal to ever comprehend and any attempt for us to try to resolve the paradox will just result in us being in error...

IOW you are unable to explain what you have been trying to explain.

 

[Davian]

In the mind of a God fearing believer.... that man will stop the rape for fear of the consequences between God and himself.

To the man who does not fear what he does not believe exists -- why bother? This kind of man fears the consequences imposed upon themselves by other men, or nature rather than from Godly consequence.

Now I ask the same thing about being here upon the earth, knowing full well my purpose -- to bring about the kingdom of God as it is in heaven.

The rape occurs, and I am left without excuse -- rather I think about all these people, not only myself on the earth who have rejected the will of God or His calling. Reverse the question, why have you let the rape occur? Perhaps it goes deeper to that unbelief or no fear of Godly consequence... it propagates.

Can you address my question?

How would one tell the difference between god that does not stop a certain act (such as child rape) and a god that does not exist?

 

[madaz]

Well, I guess that's ultimately your own reality, however, why agree or disagree when your mind is already made up -- the irony about this whole thing is that the primitive side or sin nature reduces people to the level of animals; people allow their lower nature to defeat the higher -- thereby making themselves less than human.

There is only one reality. Humans are animals, that is the reality. They are no higher or lesser. In fact I find it rather degrading to other animals to compare them to humans.

 

[Davian]

On second thought...

In the mind of a God fearing believer.... that man will stop the rape for fear of the consequences between God and himself.

To the man who does not fear what he does not believe exists -- why bother? This kind of man fears the consequences imposed upon themselves by other men, or nature rather than from Godly consequence.

Now I ask the same thing about being here upon the earth, knowing full well my purpose -- to bring about the kingdom of God as it is in heaven.

The rape occurs, and I am left without excuse -- rather I think about all these people, not only myself on the earth who have rejected the will of God or His calling. Reverse the question, why have you let the rape occur? Perhaps it goes deeper to that unbelief or no fear of Godly consequence... it propagates.

What would be the consequences of rape, as you understand it? What is there to fear? Would it preclude the rapist from entering heaven?

 

[Cush]

Can you address my question?

How would one tell the difference between god that does not stop a certain act (such as child rape) and a god that does not exist?

We could always arrange the meeting between God and the rapist so that the question can be fully answered.

God prevents me from performing such an act, however, mankind in general exercises a will foreign to God. That may allow God off the hook, but that doesn't necessarily allow any of us off the hook.

The second part of your question is what is throwing me. God does exists, but not necessarily everywhere to bless. I think, there is something greatly mistaken here, God is patient and slow to anger, and that may be confused with not doing anything. Last part of the confusion, the non capitol G or g in god, are you referring to power wielding men? If so the question strikes, why are liberals passing laws that lack the fear of consequence in rapists?

 

[Davian]

We could always arrange the meeting between God and the rapist so that the question can be fully answered.

God prevents me from performing such an act,

So you believe.

however, mankind in general exercises a will foreign to God. That may allow God off the hook, but that doesn't necessarily allow any of us off the hook.

The second part of your question is what is throwing me. God does exists,

No, that has not been established. I am speaking hypothetically.

but not necessarily everywhere to bless. I think, there is something greatly mistaken here, God is patient and slow to anger, and that may be confused with not doing anything. Last part of the confusion, the non capitol G or g in god, are you referring to power wielding men? If so the question strikes, why are liberals passing laws that lack the fear of consequence in rapists?

I am asking you: what do you think the rapist has to fear from God? Do you think his actions will prevent God welcoming the rapist into heaven?

 

[Cush]

So you believe.

No, that has not been established. I am speaking hypothetically.

I am asking you: what do you think the rapist has to fear from God? Do you think his actions will prevent God welcoming the rapist into heaven?

To answer the latter question. What I think, is that God knows whether we are repentant of any sinful act. If God were to extend our days, by one day, a decade, another lifetime, He only knows whether that same act of sin would be committed by an un/repentant person.

I can't see how, in all seriousness, one could say that they believe in Jesus, and have by their action denied Jesus' lordship in their life by going against His will -- in so committing an act such as rape.

What do I think the rapist has to fear from God? Total separation from God. God is light, love, justice, amongst other attributes. So being separated from God would result in darkness, hatred, strife, amongst other voided Godly attributes.

I reflect on this hypo., by recalling the story of Lazarus. The people must have thought about Jesus' inaction. How he could of prevented the death of Lazarus should he have went to him in a timely manner. The glory of God, however, was revealed in the end. I think that there is a higher purpose, although that purpose may not include all of us.

Questions back to you, what are you thinking?

 

[Davian]

To answer the latter question. What I think, is that God knows whether we are repentant of any sinful act. If God were to extend our days, by one day, a decade, another lifetime, He only knows whether that same act of sin would be committed by an un/repentant person.

I can't see how, in all seriousness, one could say that they believe in Jesus, and have by their action denied Jesus' lordship in their life by going against His will -- in so committing an act such as rape.

What do I think the rapist has to fear from God? Total separation from God. God is light, love, justice, amongst other attributes. So being separated from God would result in darkness, hatred, strife, amongst other voided Godly attributes.

I reflect on this hypo., by recalling the story of Lazarus. The people must have thought about Jesus' inaction. How he could of prevented the death of Lazarus should he have went to him in a timely manner. The glory of God, however, was revealed in the end. I think that there is a higher purpose, although that purpose may not include all of us.

Questions back to you, what are you thinking?

That you are making this up as you go along.

So the rapist, if they are repentant, has nothing to fear from God?