The problem of evil

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

MY pet project?? In this discussion I have been replying to YOUR comments about evolution!

What a hide!

Flamming.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Oh what rot!

You don't get to hide your appalling knowledge of scientific research behind the excuse of "you're attacking my faith"! The criticism you have received is because you know nothing about SCIENCE, not because you're a Christian.

More flamming

 

[Eudaimonist]

More flamming

That's spelled flaming. One "m".

But now you'll say that I'm "bashing" you.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

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.

The entire OP is asked with the assumption that God does exist and is not merely "philosophical" in nature. This thread, although in the Philosophy section, should be moved to the outreach section because the clear intent of the OP is to "reach out" to Christians to get a biblical explanation and not to debate christianity in general to "prove" or disprove the existence of God.

 

[HitchSlap]

You do understand the purpose of "outreach"...right? Undoubtedly, I believe there are open minded non-believers who genuinely come to the "outreach" section of a Christian forum because they truly want Christians to "reach out" to them and answer their questions. Christians come to the "outreach" section to "reach out" to non-believers in order to teach them about Christianity with the hope that non-believers may become saved. Not to be "reached out" by atheist activists in order to be "deconverted".

The point is this, if you or anyone else come to this forum for the sole purpose of arguing with Christians, you are in the wrong place. There are plenty of atheist forums you can choose that will allow you to "bash" christianity all you like and you would have plenty of like minded individuals to pat you on the back and tell you what a good boy you are. I recommend going to "the thinking atheist". I have been on that forum for a while and there are a lot of good people there who are far more respectful of Christians than many of the atheists here. There are also a lot of Christians there to harass too.

So, why are you on a Christian forum? What is your end state?

Is it your opinion that only non-believers who secretly wish to become Christian activists should be here?

 

[FireDragon76]

That OP is me. The topic should just be closed now. It has served its purpose. I was never looking for arguments against God's existence, I was just looking for Christian input on the problem of evil. And as I said many times, I think I understand better how to deal with it as a Christian.

 

[Eudaimonist]

The entire OP is asked with the assumption that God does exist and is not merely "philosophical" in nature. This thread, although in the Philosophy section, should be moved to the outreach section because the clear intent of the OP is to "reach out" to Christians to get a biblical explanation and not to debate christianity in general to "prove" or disprove the existence of God.

No philosophy board is ever going to avoid having give and take in discussion. There's no such thing as philosophy where one side is above question or criticism.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Chriliman]

The entire OP is asked with the assumption that God does exist and is not merely "philosophical" in nature. This thread, although in the Philosophy section, should be moved to the outreach section because the clear intent of the OP is to "reach out" to Christians to get a biblical explanation and not to debate christianity in general to "prove" or disprove the existence of God.

Great objective analysis, you'd make a great mod

 

[Eudaimonist]

Great objective analysis, you'd make a great mod

*facepalm*

 

[HitchSlap]

Great objective analysis, you'd make a great mod

You mean "subjective."

 

[Chriliman]

You mean "subjective."

When I say "objective", I mean the ability to pull back and look at the big picture in light of all available evidence to see what's actually true. If you want to call it subjective objectivity, then that's fine.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Is it your opinion that only non-believers who secretly wish to become Christian activists should be here?

So what is your purpose for being here?

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

That OP is me. The topic should just be closed now. It has served its purpose. I was never looking for arguments against God's existence, I was just looking for Christian input on the problem of evil. And as I said many times, I think I understand better how to deal with it as a Christian.

Thank you for clearing up the confusion.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

So what is your purpose for being here?

This being the philosophy board, I imagine he is here to participate in philosophical discussion. Why are you here?

 

[FireDragon76]

I still think the problem of evil is an issue that is difficult and not easy. Simplistic answers will not do. But at the same time, I think I understand what my problem was. I was alienated from Christian practice, for many reasons (for one thing, I'm a natural liberal-minded person living in an area where liberals are not always comfortable in religion). If you are alienated from Christian practice, the issue becomes much more pertinent and stinging. Faith can't be something that lives only in your head, it has to be embodied in the way you live.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Great objective analysis, you'd make a great mod

Perhaps I should put in my application.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

I still think the problem of evil is an issue that is difficult and not easy. Simplistic answers will not do. But at the same time, I think I understand what my problem was. I was alienated from Christian practice, for many reasons (for one thing, I'm a natural liberal-minded person living in an area where liberals are not always comfortable in religion). If you are alienated from Christian practice, the issue becomes much more pertinent and stinging. Faith can't be something that lives only in your head, it has to be embodied in the way you live.

I am sorry to hear about how you were alienated. Did you get the biblical explanation you were looking for?

 

[bhsmte]

Promote your pet project elsewhere. It has no place on these forums.

Does this mean, view points that are different from your own should not be allowed on this site?

 

[Chriliman]

I still think the problem of evil is an issue that is difficult and not easy. Simplistic answers will not do. But at the same time, I think I understand what my problem was. I was alienated from Christian practice, for many reasons (for one thing, I'm a natural liberal-minded person living in an area where liberals are not always comfortable in religion). If you are alienated from Christian practice, the issue becomes much more pertinent and stinging. Faith can't be something that lives only in your head, it has to be embodied in the way you live.

If we truly believe Christ has overcome the world and is Lord, then we know evil is actually not a problem for God and therefore we should not fear evil, but rather overcome it through Christ who strengthens us.

 

[bhsmte]

Just a note: purposefully undermining or insulting Christianity, the Bible and the faith of individual Christians is not permitted on this forum.

I see way too much of this happening here. There are enough other sites on the Internet to engage in such behaviour/arguments. Honest questions asked of Christians regarding their faith is one thing. Disputing the Bible and calling its teachings false, or an outright lie, is another. (Suggesting that the Biblical creation account is an outdated myth because it's not supported by current scientific evidence for instance).

This site holds to very specific Christian beliefs and has a very specific purpose. Non-Christians who come here do not have to agree with the beliefs of Christians, and they are welcome to honestly dialogue and even debate, but what is unacceptable is to instead call any or all of the Christian faith, the Bible or God a lie or a fairytale.

People are merely disagreeing with your viewpoints on science and stating why they disagree with evidence.

This is not an attack on any religion, but the content of your posts, which display a clear ignorance of well evidenced science.

If you are this sensative about your science views being challenged, this isnt the part of the site for you.