Some very problematic questions I have.

[AudioArtist]

If God knows everything that will happen, why did he create the universe? If he knows everything anyone will do, why did he allow people to be born who would cause suffering, or not accept Christ and ultimately end up in hell? Why did he create humans in his image when He knew exactly what every single human would ever do, and how can we have fellowship with a being like God if He knows every step we will ever take? I mean, I couldn't have a conversation with a friend if I knew everything he would say before he said it; that's obvious really-it would be an utter waste of time listening to him or him talking to me. Could God possibly choose not to look into every aspect of our futures? Or is it true what some extream calvanists imply: All of this is for God's glory, and nothing we do matters at all because we're just "puppets"? (I don't really want pro-Calvinist answers, no offence to Calvinists: I still respect and love you as people, I just find your beliefs very damaging to my personal faith in Christ!)

 

[Rafael]

If God forces everyone to do everything, then love cannot exist. They would be robots.
God allows evil to exist and created it. He does not do evil, so don't get me wrong, but the Bible does say that He created it, and for a reason.
If there is no black to the white, then there would be no defining contrast to God so that He could reveal Himself and His glory to His creation. Think about it. What artist can paint a picture with all white and call it a masterpiece? You would see nothing if it was painted white on white, but if you use black, the absence of all light, it makes the perfect outline, and then all the colors, light and dark, add character and beauty to the portrait of Himself.
God endures evil until all the Sons of God shine forth out of the darkness this world has fallen into, and then will destroy it when its use is done. God can take all things and make them turn out for good, to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

[rogsr]

Without hate how could love be known?
Without sour how could one appreciate the sweet?
Without death how could one appreciate life eternal?
Without evil how could one appreciate good?

Ask he who you are wrestling with these questions. Take your time, you need to get through these questions on your own or you'll never really know anything except on an intellectual basis.

 

[fishstix]

If God knows everything that will happen, why did he create the universe? If he knows everything anyone will do, why did he allow people to be born who would cause suffering, or not accept Christ and ultimately end up in hell? Why did he create humans in his image when He knew exactly what every single human would ever do, and how can we have fellowship with a being like God if He knows every step we will ever take? I mean, I couldn't have a conversation with a friend if I knew everything he would say before he said it; that's obvious really-it would be an utter waste of time listening to him or him talking to me. Could God possibly choose not to look into every aspect of our futures? Or is it true what some extream calvanists imply: All of this is for God's glory, and nothing we do matters at all because we're just "puppets"? (I don't really want pro-Calvinist answers, no offence to Calvinists: I still respect and love you as people, I just find your beliefs very damaging to my personal faith in Christ!)

I recommend reading the book "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. It has good discussions on at least some of those questions

 

[Vollkommen Warrior]

The answer = Watch out getting into too much infinite Q & A. I am also an analytical thinker. The most (earthly) intelligent people are the ones who have the most difficulty with faith. Some of these questions may never be answered. Don't fall into the trap of constantly asking sometimes answerable, sometimes unanswerable questions. Although we can get to know God, it is my - o that to completely comprehend it all would be like us explaining Geometry in detail to an Ant.

 

[wayfaring man]

When neither extreme perspective is clearly true .

Hold on to a moderate view .

If we as mortals ever come to comprehend God .

Then , as Enoch did , we might well vanish from this earthly plane .

The key is love , and sharing .

The difficulty is raising up , out of nothing , others with whom God can share , ( not that it's hard for God - but difficult for the nothing . )

For what God has to share is so great and empowering , that only those who have been made holy , can rightly receive and utilize God's gifts .

What God can do , and what God chooses to do , can be two different things .

God has unlimited capability ; but also has a Holy Nature .

Our part is to seek and find the Way to be in harmony with Our Heavenly Father , then all can be made plain unto us .


wm

 

[Ginga]

What i believe is that we were created, and given free choice. God didn't want people just to love him like robots, he wants us to choose to love him. That means that with this free choice, people tend to do the wrong thing which may seem more attractive to them because of our sinful nature. So, the things that suck in life like sin, God didn't create them, Satan places them into our hearts. I'm sorry that i don't really know too much more than that, but what i do know is that God wants us to love him by choice, not because that's the way that he programmed us to live, and that's why we have the free choice to do what we want.

 

[homewardbound]

I recommend reading the book "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. It has good discussions on at least some of those questions

Bravo, fishstix...that's a magnificent suggestion and I would strongly urge anyone with these questions to check it out. You won't be disappointed. I'm about half way through it and find it a fantastic resource.