Pestilence is the result of free will? Earthquakes and hurricanes are the result of free will? If the only times anybody suffered misfortune was when they had acted badly, then I would be inclined to believe that there’s a link between behavior and circumstances, such as Karma or Cosmic Justice or God.
“Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?” If God is meting out worldy well-being in order to influence Man’s exercise of Free Will, He’s going about it bass-ackwards.
And oh yeah, don’t try to weasel out of the question by saying “It’s all a test, so that only those strongest in faith will resist the temptation of worldly prosperity and focus on eternal rewards.” That’s a weak rationalization.
If there were a God who actually had humanity’s interests at heart, then righteous action would lead to earthly happiness AS WELL as eternal bliss.
God: “I’m going to allow Free Will, and I’m going to arrange events so that 90% of all the souls will be damned. Anyone who is stupid enough to fall for my con game doesn’t deserve salvation.”
I’m an atheist primarily because nobody has ever put forward a God who was worthy of being believed in…
People people…the answer to the question “why” is so simple when I was growing up the question was answered in one simple phrase “Because I say so” . Now as for deseases etc. because my life would be so boring if I weren’t taking so many drugs.
Fritzoid - the problem is people keep insisting that God has the same motivations, needs and desires as people do. When the truth is we can’t figure out God’s plan any more than the fish in my tank can figure out what I’m doing, sitting here in front of my computer. We just don’t have the same proper frame of reference. So when we’re unable to figure God out we just dumb him down and give him human traits. We make a mean, vindictive liar out of God, a god who can’t be trusted. Instead of just stepping back, accepting what happens and dealing with life as best we can, on our own. There is a mystery and beauty to the universe that only God can be aware of. We just get to peep out at it from the inside of our bowls.
Absolutely right, vasgar1! And the reason that God allows bad things to happen for now is because of what happened in the garden of Eden. There, Satan challenged God’s right to rule mankind by telling Eve that they could be like God and decide for themselves what was good and bad, and she and Adam went along with that.
Now God could have destroyed these rebels right then and there, but that wouldn’t have answered that challenge to his sovereignty , so he decided to let mankind rule themselves for a while to prove that they couldn’t do a better job than Him, and we’ve done a pretty good job of proving God right.
There will come a time, though, when God will put an end to this experiment and undo all the damage that mankind had done to the earth and themselves, and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the issue by saying things like ‘there is no god, we can do things by ourselves’.
McGehee about 15 years ago
Winslow’s the one asking the right question here.
wndrwrthg about 15 years ago
Why is there disease and pestilence and war, oh, that’s right, there is no god.
strodgers about 15 years ago
“wndrwrthgGenius said,
Why is there disease and pestilence and war, oh, that’s right, there is no god.”
Yes there is, he’s just waiting for us to get rid of ourselves to begin again. We’re the test run.
McGehee about 15 years ago
All those things happen so weak-minded people can tell themselves there’s no god because all those things happen. Look up “free will.”
fritzoid Premium Member about 15 years ago
Pestilence is the result of free will? Earthquakes and hurricanes are the result of free will? If the only times anybody suffered misfortune was when they had acted badly, then I would be inclined to believe that there’s a link between behavior and circumstances, such as Karma or Cosmic Justice or God.
“Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?” If God is meting out worldy well-being in order to influence Man’s exercise of Free Will, He’s going about it bass-ackwards.
And oh yeah, don’t try to weasel out of the question by saying “It’s all a test, so that only those strongest in faith will resist the temptation of worldly prosperity and focus on eternal rewards.” That’s a weak rationalization.
If there were a God who actually had humanity’s interests at heart, then righteous action would lead to earthly happiness AS WELL as eternal bliss.
God: “I’m going to allow Free Will, and I’m going to arrange events so that 90% of all the souls will be damned. Anyone who is stupid enough to fall for my con game doesn’t deserve salvation.”
I’m an atheist primarily because nobody has ever put forward a God who was worthy of being believed in…
caddy.1957 about 15 years ago
People people…the answer to the question “why” is so simple when I was growing up the question was answered in one simple phrase “Because I say so” . Now as for deseases etc. because my life would be so boring if I weren’t taking so many drugs.
MotherOfMoses about 15 years ago
I think I have the answer Carmen. See when we started school, one of the first things, they taught us was: A, E, I, O, U,…& sometimes WHY.
Durak Premium Member about 15 years ago
Fritzoid - the problem is people keep insisting that God has the same motivations, needs and desires as people do. When the truth is we can’t figure out God’s plan any more than the fish in my tank can figure out what I’m doing, sitting here in front of my computer. We just don’t have the same proper frame of reference. So when we’re unable to figure God out we just dumb him down and give him human traits. We make a mean, vindictive liar out of God, a god who can’t be trusted. Instead of just stepping back, accepting what happens and dealing with life as best we can, on our own. There is a mystery and beauty to the universe that only God can be aware of. We just get to peep out at it from the inside of our bowls.
D-i-c-e-R about 15 years ago
“Ours is not to wonder why, ours is just to do or die.” The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Tennyson
“It’s all too beautiful.” Itchycoo Park by Small Faces http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtVPA1bp65U
“Just do it.” Nike
Why are you just sitting there? Do something about it. Stop WHYning.
mrprongs about 15 years ago
Because god let’s them.
vasgar1 about 15 years ago
Why is there disease and pestilence and war, oh, that’s right, there is no god. “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”
Dutchboy1 about 15 years ago
Absolutely right, vasgar1! And the reason that God allows bad things to happen for now is because of what happened in the garden of Eden. There, Satan challenged God’s right to rule mankind by telling Eve that they could be like God and decide for themselves what was good and bad, and she and Adam went along with that. Now God could have destroyed these rebels right then and there, but that wouldn’t have answered that challenge to his sovereignty , so he decided to let mankind rule themselves for a while to prove that they couldn’t do a better job than Him, and we’ve done a pretty good job of proving God right. There will come a time, though, when God will put an end to this experiment and undo all the damage that mankind had done to the earth and themselves, and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the issue by saying things like ‘there is no god, we can do things by ourselves’.
Dutchboy1 about 15 years ago
Isn’t that the truth.