I heard this from a pastor once in regards to why God allows bad things to happen sometimes. Now, before anything else is said, I would like to say that I am not advocating either side of this. I just want to see what people's thoughts are about it.
"If God were to just zap you out of every single bad situation, you would never need God."
So, what do you think?
2006-12-30 04:08:33 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Another poor attempt to rationalise the problem of evil. A baby dying of leukemia, child abuse, earthquakes and ....... I could fill the page. His glib answer does not even begin to address these things.
2006-12-30 04:12:29 · answer #1 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You would still need God, even if only to zap you out of the situation, right?
There is a very simple answer to the question of evil and suffering :
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
2006-12-30 12:16:01 · answer #2 · answered by revulayshun 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is actually what they call a circular argument. You see, if god zapped you out of... you would never need god... who could then not have zapped you out of.... so you would need god...
Etc ad infinitum.
The real truth is quite simple, God makes it rain on the just and the unjust. He never promises a life without situations, he just promises to help you out of those situations. He can't help if you get yourself in them.
2006-12-30 13:48:47 · answer #3 · answered by ManoGod 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a better answer to your question is that God allows bad things to happen because when Adam and Eve rebelled against God, they basically were saying they didn't need him. So they, and we by extension, got exactly what was asked for...God allowing us to suffer the consequences of our own imperfections and the imperfections of others. Fortunately for us, God made povisions to set things straight in the future. Through the scriptures we learn of a future time when God will remove from the earth all those who are destroying it and who choose to live life alienated from him, bring back to life those who have died, bring about paradise conditions on the earth, help us attain human perfection, and have the possibility of eternal life.
2006-12-30 12:15:55 · answer #4 · answered by Kelly L 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think he is proposing a paradox to try to confuse people.
People like me who have a great deal of trouble with the "way do bad things happen to good people" problem aren't expecting life to be like a day at Disneyland (with no lines and no rides closed for repair). But if there is a god as described by most religions then he is allowing way, way, way too much suffering. It's one thing for a college student to suffer through his or her midterms. It's another thing for a baby to be born with cancer.
Happy New Year,
2006-12-30 12:13:02 · answer #5 · answered by Alan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By human nature WE NEED God, but HE doesn't need us. We were created by Him, for Him, and to love Him as He loves us. What does theee Word of God state?
After God created man, and saw it was good. God said "let US make man in OUR image"
Now you may ask who US is. US is the Father, God, and His Son, Jesus Christ. By Him was nothing not created. Read the 1st Chapter of Genesis. Adam and Eve also were NOT the first man and woman as I have read some of the answers in here. Man was created on the 6th day, God rested on the 7th. THEN GOD created the garden of Eden and formed A MAN from the dust of the ground because He did not have a tiller of the soil. The woman was created from the DNA of man, NOT A RIB. Take it back to the original languages and you will see. For those who do not think this, read the Book of Genesis, first chapter. It is so simple a child can understand. I am not being rude, or want it to come across that way, but there is alot of false teaching going on. IF one believes thee Word of God, read it for yourself IF you have not seen this before. I do not know how to put it any other way any simpler. If I have got just one person to check this out,and read it in the Word of God I am happy. Not for me, but for them. Some people say that the 6th day was a continuation after the Sabbath where God rested from His work. (no I am not a seventh day adventist) But if that is true, why is it that when we go to bed say on Monday night and get up Tuesday morning it is not still a continuation of Monday to put it simple. Opps I got carried away. The ones who do get by with everything as you say and have it "good have their reward now in this life. They are not laying up treasure in heaven. Let them have it now, they surely cannot take it with them.
2006-12-30 13:03:59 · answer #6 · answered by Ex Head 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"If God were to just zap you out of every single bad situation, you would never need God."
NOT very good.
If THE GOD zapped us from all problems HE would be SANTA , not THE GOD.
HE would have eliminated FREE WILL in a small way by removing us from every time we screwed up.
2006-12-30 12:12:19 · answer #7 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very circular argument. People call upon God to help them through bad times. This argues that God exists solely to rescue you from bad times.
A better argument would be that good cannot exist without evil. If there were no evil how could you be praised for chosing the good?
2006-12-30 12:27:00 · answer #8 · answered by Rance D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree 100%. I am an atheist and I think god was invented for exactly that reason...to give people a reason (to be scared) to act morally since it's absolutely normal for 'bad' things to happen (and 'good' things) as well.
So that your preacher for being insightful...he/she just explained why god was invented.
(And I'm saying it was a fantastic invention...I think god is the best invention, not the wheel or language.)
2006-12-30 12:12:36 · answer #9 · answered by flignar 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because God doesnt 'run' our lives... He gave us free will and sometimes, things happen because of choices we make, sometimes they happen as a result of someone elses sinful choices... I think i 'get' what that pastor was saying, but it was kind of a strange way to put it.
2006-12-30 12:14:26 · answer #10 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋