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Way to miss the point...From what I've heard, Sanders has some interesting ideas. Whether a candidate is democrat or republican or independent doesn't matter to me, if I see Christ like qualities in them then I'll be interested to hear more about what they have to say.
In the case of your friend, I already said I don't know her and therefore I won't judge her. As for the suffering children, I know of some that I've helped to eleviate their suffering I hope others help as well, that's all I can say with certainty.
I don't ask for you to finalise the case for all humanity, so you're off the hook there
The question, as asked, is the only possible conclusion which can be drawn from your response that 'god helps those he loves'. It's such a profoundly awful prospect ... that the creator of the universe might act in the way alleged, that it demands consideration. If of nothing else, then of the humans who indulge such ugly vanity.
We may not be able to know why a god would behave thusly, but we can know ALOT about a person who travels that path. They're either spectacularly stupid, or have become so twisted by their lust for immortality that they've effectively become sociopaths.
True blessings from God deal with the eternal not with the perishing physical world. When someone thinks God has blessed then with tons of money they then realize the true blessing is when they give it to others in order to help them, it pleases God when we help the poor or anyone in need, but again it's not all about money either, there are many ways to bless people who are poor in spirit by showing them the love of God in whatever particular situation.
I want to know if you are comfortable with a rich man claiming god rearranged the universe in order for him to gain a first world boon, while knowing that god is not rearranging the universe to feed a starving child?
The point that you're not addressing is that for many people, myself included, it's not possible to see your god as loving at all. i find it the heights of insanity to believe in a god that on the one hand can help someone find their car keys, and on the other fails to prevent a child from being molested and murdered. Especially since that god could have created a universe in which people never choose to molest and murder children...
No, I'm not comfortable with that.
Pride.
Destroying evil would be the same thing as undoing evil.If God undoes all evil wouldn't that be like evil never happened? It seems more accurate to say that God stops evil and destroys it.
Your belief in number 1 seems to go against everything human beings understand about morality. Unnecessary suffering is bad. An omnipotent god can prevent unnecessary suffering. Therefore, an omnipotent god desires human suffering more than its abolishment. Applying the term "good" to such a being stretches the definition beyond the breaking point.
Number 2 is equally a mess. You can't "undo" suffering, even for an omnipotent god. It exists as it's happening. Any action after the fact is immaterial to the suffering that occurs, as it's happening.
Really? Simple pride?
I suspect it's considerably more and considerably worse than that. Pride is almost benevolent by comparison.
Are you able to do things that you are logically able to do? If so, are you omnipotent?1) God himself says that he cannot abolish evil without harming the elect. "Omnipotent" is only defined by being able to do things that you are logically able to do.
What word would you use then?
As previously mentioned - spectaculatly stupid,
or consumed by lust (for immortality).
Please.Are you able to do things that you are logically able to do? If so, are you omnipotent?
1) God himself says that he cannot abolish evil without harming the elect. "Omnipotent" is only defined by being able to do things that you are logically able to do.
2) Your very sentence contradicts itself. If God is omnipotent he can obviously undo an action; in fact, that's the entire point of the doctrine of purgation of sins.
If this is true then we should try to help them by educating them, while not trying to force our own worldviews onto them, but rather explain to them why we believe what we believe.
I've never met anyone who's admitted they are consumed by lust for immortality. I have met many who are in love with God and who are loving and caring people who choose to serve others in humble ways as Jesus did.
Thanks for the conversation, it's been interesting.
So you are capable of doing things that you aren't logically capable of doing then, in which case you are not omnipotent?Please.
It seems to me the problem of evil is a real problem, and it is my main barrier to faith. I just have trouble believing in a benevolent creator that cares about people- I see no evidence for it in this world. There is gross unfairness and suffering in the world and I don't believe Christians can account for it.
I grant that I could be wrong, that somehow there is a God in charge of it all and its just like the Christian God and is beyond my understanding. But it would be pretty cruel for such a being to hold honest doubts against me, given the quality of evidence he's left.
And honestly, if it is the case that God exists and he has such a mysterious plan, what does that say about Christian epistemology? How could we take any religious authority seriously if God's will is so inscrutable? It seems to me much more skepticism of religious claims are warranted, regardless of whether or not the Christian God exists.
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