The Problem of Evil

[bhsmte]

Doesn't the fact that you would feel the need to ask tell you that even if god helped out with the bible, the book wasn't perfect in its purpose? If the answer to the first question was yes, I would criticize god for being lazy.

Well, what it means to me is this; the Christian story is man made and this is clear with it's; contradictions, errors and the inherent unfairness in how the world was exposed to the same, yet they are still judged if they don't believe in it. Lastly, the story does not jive with the reality of the world we live in, which is a big problem that requires mental gymnastics to overcome.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Well, what it means to me is this; the Christian story is man made and this is clear with it's; contradictions, errors and the inherent unfairness in how the world was exposed to the same, yet they are still judged if they don't believe in it. Lastly, the story does not jive with the reality of the world we live in, which is a big problem that requires mental gymnastics to overcome.

Wouldn't it be ironic if the bible was made by god, but intended as a joke? It would explain the name thing a lot of biblical characters have (where their names are pretty much puns). Who knows, to a vast being like that, a novel like that could be like "knock knock, who's there..."

 

[durangodawood]

The problem of evil is that its evil.

 

[bhsmte]

Wouldn't it be ironic if the bible was made by god, but intended as a joke? It would explain the name thing a lot of biblical characters have (where their names are pretty much puns). Who knows, to a vast being like that, a novel like that could be like "knock knock, who's there..."

If so, he should have his own late night talk show.

 

[PsychoSarah]

If so, he should have his own late night talk show.

Have you noticed the name puns?

 

[Resha Caner]

I wouldn't have god do anything different. The world with both its good and bad is fine by me. The only thing I would care about is whether or not belief mattered to such an entity, and if it did, that would be the only sentiment I would want it to change.

By "belief" do you mean belief in God's existence?

Lets assume for a moment the Christian God was real and I got to meet him, I would ask him these questions and I'm sure he would allow it, if he truly loved me:

-Did you divinely inspire the bible, or was it just a bunch of different men who wrote it?
-If you did inspire the bible, why is there so much inaccurate information and contradictions in the book?
-How do you really feel about slavery, rape, homosexuals, etc.?
-Why did you allow man to wallow on earth for over 100,000 years before you decided to send Jesus to save mankind?
-Why did you only allow Jesus to be exposed to such a small portion of the population, if believing in him was required for eternal life?
-Is it true, that a murderer can be saved/forgiven if they accept Jesus and be granted eternal life and the person who was born into a different religious belief, that lived a good life, be doomed because they don't believe in you?
-Why have you been so quiet and have not given the world clear signs that you exist?

Just a few questions of many I would have.

I could point you to answers to these questions, but I'll be honest that I think they're loaded. So, let's suppose God answers every question the way you would. For example, if He said, "No, I've never inspired anyone to write anything."

What then? What should He do?

Doesn't the fact that you would feel the need to ask tell you that even if god helped out with the bible, the book wasn't perfect in its purpose? If the answer to the first question was yes, I would criticize god for being lazy.

OK. So what would convince you He isn't lazy?

 

[PsychoSarah]

By "belief" do you mean belief in God's existence?
I could point you to answers to these questions, but I'll be honest that I think they're loaded. So, let's suppose God answers every question the way you would. For example, if He said, "No, I've never inspired anyone to write anything."

What then? What should He do?

OK. So what would convince you He isn't lazy?

Yes, by belief I do mean belief in the existence of god. And generally speaking, since I don't think that any deity was involved in any of the world's religious texts, I don't make a deity accountable for the mistakes in them. The only way I would excuse a deity if it did have involvement in the bible and intended the content to be completely conducive to a purpose would be if that purpose was for it to be a joke of some sort or for it to be entertaining. But even then, many portions of it are just bad writing.

Realize that for me to consider god lax, it would require a very narrow possible reality that I personally view as illogical.

 

[bhsmte]

By "belief" do you mean belief in God's existence?



I could point you to answers to these questions, but I'll be honest that I think they're loaded. So, let's suppose God answers every question the way you would. For example, if He said, "No, I've never inspired anyone to write anything."

What then? What should He do?



Why are the questions loaded? They are really quite simple and only an attempt to reconcile the Christian story. Is one not allowed to ask simple questions about what a certain belief claims and try to make sense out of it?

What would I do if God said he didn't inspire the bible? Well, if a God exists, that is what I would expect him to say, considering the available realities of the world and the bible. I would not expect if a God existed, for him to be the Christian God of the bible.

 

[bhsmte]

I could point you to answers to these questions, but I'll be honest that I think they're loaded. So, let's suppose God answers every question the way you would. For example, if He said, "No, I've never inspired anyone to write anything."


If you have answers to these questions, you are clearly basing them on your own interpretation of what the answers may be, to help yourself reconcile the story. But, feel free to provide me with your answers and an explanation as to how you came to believe those answers and what evidence you based the answers on. If the answers are based on what the bible says, it is only circular reasoning or if it is based on your own personal experiences, than those are only applicable to you.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I prefer leading questions rather than loaded questions as the term. Less aggressive sounding.

 

[bhsmte]

I prefer leading questions rather than loaded questions as the term. Less aggressive sounding.

A legitimate claim, shouldn't fear any type of question.

 

[PsychoSarah]

A legitimate claim, shouldn't fear any type of question.

I fear overly personal questions from strangers. Like where I live O.O

 

[Resha Caner]

Yes, by belief I do mean belief in the existence of god.

OK. It seems obvious to me that if one is going to have a relationship with a being, one must believe that being exists.

 

[PsychoSarah]

OK. It seems obvious to me that if one is going to have a relationship with a being, one must believe that being exists.

You'd be shocked, actually. I use religion as an inspiration for many of my poems, I create characters I know not to be real but I feel connected to them as my ideas. A story, even when you know it isn't true, can still inspire you. You think this poem in my signature would exist on solely secular ideas?

 

[bhsmte]

OK. It seems obvious to me that if one is going to have a relationship with a being, one must believe that being exists.

One thing to ponder, where does the belief generate?

It could come from a strong desire to want to believe in a being and then the mind following suit by creating experiences that the person believes to coincide with that being, or it could come from objective evidence which is strong enough to not be avoidable.

With God, the belief is obviously generated by the former. Not saying there is anything wrong with that, as it depends on how the belief is used. In some, it is used in a positive ways. In others, not so much (I am better than you, you don't believe because you have shut out God, etc. etc.).

 

[Resha Caner]

Why are the questions loaded? They are really quite simple and only an attempt to reconcile the Christian story. Is one not allowed to ask simple questions about what a certain belief claims and try to make sense out of it?

It seems I have some agreement (though maybe not from you) that they are at least leading. But, maybe you want to show me what you think is a loaded question.

What would I do if God said he didn't inspire the bible? Well, if a God exists, that is what I would expect him to say, considering the available realities of the world and the bible. I would not expect if a God existed, for him to be the Christian God of the bible.

I didn't ask what you would do. I asked what you expect God to do, given there are consequences to one's belief.

 

[Resha Caner]

You'd be shocked, actually. I use religion as an inspiration for many of my poems, I create characters I know not to be real but I feel connected to them as my ideas. A story, even when you know it isn't true, can still inspire you. You think this poem in my signature would exist on solely secular ideas?

I wasn't speaking of feeling a connection to an idea. I was speaking to belief in the existence of a being external to you.

I write as well, and I know the connection you speak of, but it is not the same.

Whether or not you believe the electric company is real will determine how you respond to a request to pay your bill.

 

[bhsmte]

It seems I have some agreement (though maybe not from you) that they are at least leading. But, maybe you want to show me what you think is a loaded question.



I didn't ask what you would do. I asked what you expect God to do, given there are consequences to one's belief.

Why would I expect a God to do anything because a bunch of men decided to write some stories about theology?

Regarding the questions, if a God exists, can you give me a reason why he couldn't answer the questions?

 

[PsychoSarah]

I wasn't speaking of feeling a connection to an idea. I was speaking to belief in the existence of a being external to you.
I write as well, and I know the connection you speak of, but it is not the same.
Whether or not you believe the electric company is real will determine how you respond to a request to pay your bill.

The difference between an electric company and god is that, by having electricity, you can actually tell if it provides you with a service or not pretty easily.

 

[Resha Caner]

Why would I expect a God to do anything because a bunch of men decided to write some stories about theology?

Do you read what I write? I said "given there are consequences" ...

Regarding the questions, if a God exists, can you give me a reason why he couldn't answer the questions?

So you're not going to show me what a loaded question is?
Where did I say He couldn't answer your questions?