How can you believe in a god who, every minute of every day, allows thousands of innocent children to be beaten, starved and abused. How can you bow down before such a being?
Do you HONESTLY believe that there is some magic, invisible person living up in the sky somewhere, who has got some purpose for this to happen but -for some reason- he doesn't want to discuss it with us?
Oh yes so maybe his plan is so complex that we wouldn't understand it ? Yeah right. Because it was God who made me ask THIS question.
Oh but hold on a minute, I forgot. Maybe he has spoken to YOU and you know the answer. So that's why I am asking you.
2006-08-27 21:23:06 · 30 answers · asked by Not Ecky Boy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The human being is not born as an essence but as an existence.You don't exist as an intact entity but you become, you follow a path of evolution. Everything happening in the world is ruled by laws, known or unknown.
To believe in God means different things for all the different people. People tend to create their own impressions about things. God means more to people than they think. It is impersonal, and not someone but yet not something. God is Life itself. Maybe when you will document yourself better about this thing you will abandon your prejudges and realize what is the meaning of THE CONCEPT OF GOD. You are a little closer to the truth than those who believe that a god created the world, that he sees everything and rules everything. Is not like that at all. Everything that happens in the words is related , but the way we see God as the one who makes it all happened, or not, is a matter of own perspective over the whole matter.
2006-08-27 21:47:43 · answer #1 · answered by verssy_verye 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
1) Why is there evil if God is good and omnipotent? Well, that's one classic question, and one classic answer is Theodicy ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy ); though you probably would enjoy more philosophical view of the problem of evil ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil , remember to read about the criticisms too..) But just for a thought, how would we know anything about good, if there was no evil?
2) No, I don't believe in an old man with beard sitting up among the clouds. That's quite an infantile image, isn't it? But I suppose religions are like that there where you come from.
2 & 3) Oh dear, is there something in the world we don't understand? Or maybe (gosh), can't understand? Yeah, the bearded man up there isn't going to come down and have a nice conversation with us (and drink a cup of tea or two while at it)... Maybe he would if he didn't have that long beard, eh? Why is it so hard to consider that maybe some omnipotent force who set this universe into motion has no obligation to manifest as a flaming bush in front of everyone and explain things in simple and comprehensive manner? Maybe there is no simple answer to everything, and maybe we can't get it? I mean, this kind of omniscient personal tutor for everyone would be really cool thing, but maybe this world just isn't revolving around your belly button?
4) Why do you think someone has a simple answer which he / she can just pour into your head? Now that would be really nice and convenient, but people don't usually learn even basic Newtonian physics that way. Questions about God, meaning of life, good and evil and origins of the universe sure must be easier, huh?
If you understand the limits of rationalizing (and your own lack of omniscience), it will bring you one certain type of calm and serenity you can't otherwise posses. And this does not require converting to any specific organized religion, it just gives you some perspective in things.
2006-08-27 22:00:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is also the fact that the element of good is more in the creation than the element of evil. We all see that there are more people who are healthy than those who are sick. There are more that eat well then those who starve. There are more that live decent life then those who commit crimes. Goodness is the rule and evil is the exception. Virtue is the norm and sin is the aberration. Generally trees bear fruits, the flowers bloom, the winds move smoothly. .
This is a temporary world and every thing here has a time limit. When its times comes it will die, come to an end and finish. Neither the good things of this world are forever, nor the bad things eternal. We are here for a short time and we are being tested. Those who will pass this test they will find an eternal world that is perfect and permanent. Those who will fail this test they shall see the evil consequences of their sins and corruption.
How many times it happens that we are not careful and still we reach safely to our destinations. The way people drive in some cities, it is a miracle that more accidents do not happen and more people do not suffer. Allah says: (Allah) Most Gracious! 2- It is He Who has taught the Qur'an. 3- He has created man: 4- He has taught him speech (and Intelligence). 5- The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed; 6- And the herbs and the trees both (alike) bow in adoration. 7- And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), 8- In order that you may not transgress (due) balance. 9- So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. 10- It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures. (al-Rahman 55:1-10)
Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him".
[Muslim].
2006-08-27 23:39:12 · answer #3 · answered by BeHappy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sorry i am not religous but here is some thoughts
Can you explain to me the other side of the argument, how can so many humans (of all religons and non-religons) have the same benovelent moral code without some unseen guide
how does it happen we are the only creatures on this world who have morals, a dog will find no remorse for killing another dog, yet humans ignore surival instints to act in a way we see as "good"
many a philospher have tried to answer your question with very little sucess
mabye god is not so benevolent, maybe he has a dark side just like man.
Or maybe a god who gave us free will chooses not to take that away by controlling the actions of man (good or bad). free will was an incredible gift from such a divine being, one who could create us could certainly control us.
but we were obvouisly given free will for a reason and to stop deaths and wars and terrable human actions would be to take away the free will we were given
read the first few chapters of mere christanity by c.s. lewis, they are amount the nature of morals, not christian morals, but all morals (after the first few chapters he starts to talk about christanity which you need not go into).
it amazes me the amount of uneducated people on this site. i hope you were seroius about your question and not just one of those ignorant people who just wants to stir things up because this good and serious quesion that we all would like to know the answer to.
2006-08-27 21:52:30 · answer #4 · answered by balrog_tc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He does not 'allow' those things to happen. All those things you mentioned are man made, not by his hand. In making man and woman, there was also Satan, and he has lead many people away. Satan has many who believe in not caring that children are starving, beaten, and abused. Sure every once in a while you actually here of someone 'doing a good deed', but that kind of stuff is going on daily. Those people that are doing it will answer to God when the time comes.
2006-08-27 21:51:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can you not believe? Faith in things that you know nothing about, that is what keeps us all humble.
Without faith there would not be much left for us to live for. How do you know there isn't a God?
Do you believe that God is responsible for children being beaten and starved and abused, I think you are in the wrong ball park. I believe the devil has some play in that. Not everyone is following God, the devil is playing his hand also...Again, faith in something. It can either be good or bad, but faith. You have faith in the fact that you will get a paycheck at the end of your pay period right? You have faith in the fact that you will go to sleep tonight and wake up in the morning right? My point...faith is the answer.
No one said God was magical, invisible, or living in the sky. Interpretation is how you are perceiving this. Devil lives in the ground, fire and is holding fireside meetings, another perception in what could or couldn't be.
I think you have been affected by something that is really disturbing, sounds like it is very violent also. I don't think God is responsible for all of this, we are put on this earth to do the best we can and to be kind and loving to our fellow man. However like everything else in life, there is a good and a bad side. Just like humans, there are good and bad in all of us, sometimes the evil side shows up and there is nothing that can be done.
There are serial killers that were in my opinion...and it is only my opinion, were simply bad eggs, that wasn't God who did that. God gave us the power of free will and that my friend is what is going on, not the other things that you have addressed here.
Use your free will to help stop some of this, be passionate about the abilities you have and use your free will to help those that can't help themselves. I trust that you will and you will be rewarded for your compassion toward these children...
2006-08-27 21:38:44 · answer #6 · answered by teddybearloverus 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It's a good question but it probably has aready been answered. God has given man free will. We can do good or bad, if we choose to follow Him we live by His rules. Yes we make mistakes but if we didn't have free will the we would be robots, then we would have something to complain about. We can't have it both ways, it not God who causes all the suffering in the world, if you trace it all back it's usually caused by greedy governments or self seeking people. I guarentee if we all lived the way God asks us to the troubles would cease
Andy
2006-08-27 22:24:53 · answer #7 · answered by Andy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God created everything, the whole universe and then created ‘you’ and gave you the knowledge of good and bad. So do good, because God wants you to do good to meet the good of God.
Righteous men and women always attempt to gain prosperity through positive decisions. That’s why they commit good deeds, follow all kind of laws of humanity and are not a hindrance for anyone. The book of their deeds is the record of their life___ by the will of the Lord___ good deeds. These men and women will gain prosperity by the will of the God__ Our Lord, here and hereafter.
on the other hand
Evil men and women always attempt to gain prosperity through negative decisions. That’s why; they commit sins and break the law__ of course, all wrong. The book of their deeds is the record of their life___ and is nothing but evil and evilish (devilish) acts. These men and women will gain nothing but loss here and hereafter.
God has given man a freedom of choice and freedom of choosing any way which seems right to him. God created good, all the evil is a produce from satan and his evil folowers who abuse, beat and starve innocent people and children to death. actions of people are actions of people and cannot be termed as will of God. everyone is responsible for his or her own deeds and everyone will be presented before God. when God has commanded in the Torah that do good deeds, and if still poeple are bent on committing evil deeds then they themselves are responsible for their deeds and they will reep as they sow, by being in the depth of hell with the condemned ones who made fun of Gods commandments and did not obey and respect God and Gods order.
2006-08-28 00:59:42 · answer #8 · answered by ibn adam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of it this way: God having created the entire system left man to live in this material world. From then on, man is to be governed by the cause and effect aspects or physical laws of this world. you may question the need for such a God. But such a concept exists in many religion. It is the all pervading, all powerful God, who is passive ; neither pleased by prayers nor angered by the lack of it..
2006-08-27 21:40:08 · answer #9 · answered by Olga 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm a Christian, and I abhorr child abuse in any form. Everytime I see a report on the news about a child suffering abuse or neglect, I always imagine my son's face. How could anyone do that to a defenceless child? I don't know what to do about it. I weep over it, and I'm sure that God does, too. God hasn't called me up to allow me to dictate the solution, so maybe we should do something with the time we have left here on earth. I don't know God's plans, but I know He gave me the strenghth to fight for what's right and just. Rather than just protest what's wrong with the world, why don't we do something about it?
2006-08-27 21:37:53 · answer #10 · answered by traydenma 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋