"I would invite any Christian to accompany me to the children's ward of a hospital, to watch the suffering that is there being endured, and then to persist in the assertion that those children are so morally abandoned as to deserve what they are suffering. In order to bring himself to say this, a man must destroy in himself all feelings of mercy and compassion. He must, in short, make himself as cruel as the God in whom he believes. No man who believes that all is for the best in this suffering world can keep his ethical values unimpaired, since he is always having to find excuses for pain and misery."
2006-10-09 14:13:00 · 9 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Bertrand Russell opened my eyes to a lot of things wrong with religion. Thanks for reminding me.
2006-10-09 14:25:29 · answer #1 · answered by Gene Rocks! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mr Russell obviously did not know many Christians. There isn't a Christian alive (a real one anyway) who beleives a child or anyone for that matter deserves to suffer. We don't know why God allows suffering and at times I think God is being unfair. Evil people seem to get away with things and good people suffer. I wish I had an answer to this but I can't truthfully say I can. I have heard from many people who have gone through unbeleivable suffering that God has given them strength.
2006-10-09 15:37:24 · answer #2 · answered by Diana K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This implies a position that many Christians don't embrace. i know I don't. Dr. Russell presupposes that all Christians believe that all tragedy that befalls mankind is brought on by some fault on the part of the receiver. Where is the official Christian statement to support that claim? What Dr. Russell is doing here is called establishing a "straw man" argument. He tells someone what they do or do not believe and then attacks that assumption without any proof to support his initial claim. To uneducated people it sounds like he has made a good point. However to a careful thinker the flaw in his logic is exposed and he is seen as just another angry atheist.
2006-10-09 14:53:50 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Curious 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no moral argument a slippery christian can't find a way to dodge around logically.
Apologists will say that some must suffer in order for others to know empathy and compassion or some other codswallop. Damn, I thought once Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, we would know all that automatically...
2006-10-09 14:17:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't find Russell's philosophy of religion to be persuasive. It is outside his authority, admittedly. I don't think much of it really, given that Russell was never able to find sufficient predication for his own keen ethical observations. It falls into subjectivism, which is far less potent than an objective Christian ethics (that still requires a theodicy).
2006-10-09 14:30:11 · answer #5 · answered by BABY 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you saying christians don't feel empathy and grieve in their hearts as much as you when a child suffers? That somehow we are not capable of understanding pain and loss? How does the purpose of life meaning question dismiss the hurt christians feel for others?
I think the amish people felt as much pain as you did over their loss of children
2006-10-09 16:49:32 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
...He missed the mark, as we all have - every one of us deserves Hell..."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory (splendor) of God."
...It is interesting when confronted with our own sin and eternal destiny, many become quite concerned with the very ill or the heathen in Africa.
...And just because Mr. Russell doesn't understand Christian theology, does not make it untrue. Contrary to his belief, God is kind and compassionate and patient, giving us time to come to Him. Observe:
...2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
...To my knowledge, he never repented and trusted Jesus Christ. Read this quote from Isaiah 55:
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
...I hope you will trust in Christ while there is still time.
2006-10-09 14:35:47 · answer #7 · answered by carson123 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He is a very wise man.
2006-10-09 14:17:58 · answer #8 · answered by Hamish 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't call people fools but if i did mr. russell would be one of them. he knows not of what he speaks.
2006-10-09 19:16:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋