i hate dumb questions. this is just annoying.
2006-06-29 20:27:30
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Evil happens because... hello! We do not live in "Heaven on Earth!" Mankind has invented evil. Is it God that kills innocent people? No. It is Man. If the world was truly perfect and there was no sickness and poverty, then it would be easy to believe in God. The whole point of believing is that you do it out of sheer Faith - not because everything is going good for you. In an imperfect world, Christians see that we must make the best of it according to his Word. It would be too easy, and really pointless, to live in a "utopia" where everyone would believe in God! You choose to believe out of Free Will. You can choose the other way - God is not going to stop you.
Also, Christians do go live in other countries - it's called Mission Work. Christians have worked hard to give clean water and food to others and put schools in places where no one else cared.
I pray that you will some day not hate those that have the guts to submit themselves to an ultimate authority.
And remember, God will love you even if you hate him!
2006-06-29 20:34:28
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answer #2
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answered by classical_maniac101 3
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A theodicy is an attempt to justify why there is evil in a world created by an all good and all powerful god. There is no theodicy that works, including the "free will" one which so many theists will bring up the second anyone asks this question. The reality is, either god doesn't exist or god is evil (most likely the former).
2006-06-29 22:41:45
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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This is a profound and not a dumb question. We question God's nature or attributes such His goodness and all-powerful nature from human being's point of view which some times may not be correct.
If God wants to create an ideal loving, caring, rich world, He can do it. In fact He has created the world and named it heaven. However for human being, before we can enter heaven, God created this world (this earth) with all it's problems as a test for human being.
Human beings are different from angels. God created angels without the the nature of desire and lust. Hence, angels don't commit sins. But we are brought into life with human characteristics such as desire and lust. We are put here in this world (earth) as a test of our faith.
Whoever passes the test will enter heaven. Whoever disregard God's teaching to do good, then hell will await for the sinners in the hereinafter.
2006-06-29 22:00:53
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answer #4
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answered by Ray Mystery 3
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Bono's a rich Christian, and he's spent plenty of time in Africa. It has only strengthened his faith. Just because we live in America doesn't mean that we don't experience adversity. For some, that adversity causes them to lose thier faith (but those were never really Christians in the first place. See Matthew 13). For the rest of us, we see God's work most clearly when we are at our lowest point.
Evil exists because we live in a fallen and dying world. It is caused by our attempt to make ourselves into gods.
It's wrong to assume that God isn't doing anything about this. He is working to redeem the world, and it will happen in His time. The Church (meaning the body of believers, not a particular denomination) is one of the tools God uses to end evil.
There's a very good article on this subject called "Merciful Rain." It's listed in my sources.
2006-06-29 20:40:22
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answer #5
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answered by jasoneheath 1
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Hmm. No one has really paid any attention to the all-powerful aspect of your question. It is a good one.
I believe that God is sovereign, and so all things happen according to his will and purpose (though he is not always the originator of the action), and yet he treats us as responsible for our decisions. I don't know how these paradoxes exist together, but we'll find out one day.
The Bible says that God allows evil and poverty exist (as opposed to eradicating them) because he is patient. If he removed evil, he'd have to remove evildoers (i.e. all people). Because he has made a way of forgiveness open, he allows the world to continue so that more people can be saved.
2006-06-29 20:59:15
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answer #6
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answered by zeropluslessthan 2
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God never wanted anything evil ,but when our first parents disobeyed him people began to sin.
Poverty is another way that God tests us ,when people do not have anything to eat some of them will turn away from him so poverty also strengthens us and gives us blessed assurance
I am an African girl ,and it annoys me so much when people think that Africa is the only poverty stricken area ,even Asia ,south America and other continents .
2006-06-29 20:32:38
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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first to say that Christians if moved to Africa in poverty lands would loose faith because of it is an ignorant remark. IF they hold true faith then nothing is going to shake them, and that goes for anyone of any religion if they have a Strong faith in their belief then nothing will lead them astray. Mate what ya got to remember is this, weather ya believe in god or not realize this that there is good and evil, light and dark. with out the one the other can not exist. people in other parts of the world who are of many religions have strong faiths. its how much faith you have in what ever you believe that's so important, faith will give you the power to over come your situation or die trying. and this is from a pagan mate not a christian! as far as poverty etc, that's from greedy leaders, people who cant see past their nose to help anyone, and people who just don't care, it also comes from areas where money and wealth is more important to people then the welfare of their county men. my opinion.
2006-06-29 20:36:54
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answer #8
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answered by zex 1
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If the sun is all light, then why do we have darkness? that darkness is lack of light. in the same way, evil is lack of God or its goodness. Would you appriceate the light if we never had darkness? no, because you would always see it and not realize what it is like without that light.
Why is there poverty? is human greed Gods fault? God let it exsist, yes, but we let it run rampant. Most people know what is right and worng in terms of wealth and poverty-but they do not follow their moral instincts to feed the hungry-as God asks us to do. i do not see in the bible that god praises the rich-nay, rather he says it is easier for a camel to go throught the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into heaven. You think God likes rich people more than poor people from that quote?
I have traveled to poor countries, and you knw what i have found? that people have a stronger belief in God when they suffer. That those people are often happier than americans.
I was in Armenia- and in the capital city, there were still piles of rubbel from an earthquake years before. My friends had no central heating, and it was below zero. their apartment was falling apart, but they were happy. they had not been paid for months, but they got by, stressed, but happier than the people who live in my town with BMWs, mercedes, 4000 sq ft homes, excess food, excess money, excess everything. My suffering friends, all the people i met there, had more joy in them than the people i see in America.
Same with Africa-Christianity is strong there, because they know there is more to life that material weath. Money can't buy friendship, family or community, but you can have that even when you are poor.
I bet those Chrisitans would stay Christian, but be moved to actually be Christian and help those people. But its not up to America to fix Africa, we can help, but it is longstanding issues of colonialisim, tribal units, and corruption that cause problems there. There are few countires with stable governments-and if their government is stable, it often is a dictatorship. Thats Gods fault? If people focused on the morals that Jesus put forth, like love they neighbour, feed the hungry, health the sick, do not steal what is not your own, then our governments would be better run. That stuff about abortion, contraceptives, a womans place is in the home-all that is after Jesus. Focus on what Gods messenger said, and you see there are not as many Chrisitans and you think there are. But those who are true Chrisitans and wonderful people who help change the world. And god is to be blamed for our evils? No, I think God told us waht to do, we just ignore him.
I personally feel that Americans need to suffer some to see how great they have it-and its not Gods fault they are unhappy. Joy comes from within-but the more you have the harder it is not to want.
2006-06-29 20:42:58
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answer #9
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answered by MonicaRThompson 2
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We have a special little thing called free will. Without free will we would not have any lessons to learn and life sure would be boring. Evil exists solely because we created it out of ignorance to the truth. God is not evil but knows everything about evil. Like us knowing about other galaxies yet not being able to travel to them.
2006-06-29 20:29:31
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answer #10
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answered by Tsuki 2
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Evil exists because of free agency. We are tried with evil and hardships to prove if we will follow God no matter what. By the way there are plenty of Christians of Africa. You should try becoming one it will save your soul and when you go before the judgment bar you can't say you weren't told.
2006-06-29 20:36:25
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answer #11
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answered by # one 6
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