Assuming: (1) God knows what we're going to do before we do it and (2) All children who die before the age of 8 will be exalted, would Hitler be exalted had he died before 8, even though God knew what he would have grown to become? If so, how is that a just God? I'm still a Mormon myself. I ask this because I'm having a hard time understanding this and I haven't found a good answer yet.
2007-02-05 19:43:43 · 13 answers · asked by Art Student 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is my opinion, not doctrine:
I believe that we all have a certain number of days on this earth, that God knows what we are capable of and ultimately what we will do with our life. I believe that children who die before the age of accountability already proved themselves in the pre-mortal existance (in a way) and only had to come here basically to gain a body. Like little ones that die in infancy or ones that are miscarried or aborted. God puts those spirits, His children, where they need to be. He knows the circumstances and the outcomes.
And yes, in my opinion, Hitler would have been "saved" since he would have not done all those awful things... but then, he would not have been "Hitler" either...so...it's hard to grasp. We cannot understand the ways God works or the power, so there really is not point in trying to understand because we never will during this life. When you say "eventhough God knew what he would have grown to become" that would be like God saying "Well, I know he is going to be a mass murderer so I better just take his life." He couldn't do that, that would have been taking away his agency.
Don't worry so much about this...just know that God has a plan, we have our agency and are responsible for the choices we make.
2007-02-06 04:17:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just because God knows that you will do something, does not mean you aren't exercising your choice; many go against what God has planned for them. Just because Hitler would grow up to be one of the most wicked men of all time doesn't mean he could make a calculated and conscious decision before age 8. If God judged us based on what He is certain we will do He would not be allowing us our choice. It may be a difficult thing to understand, but we must act before we are judged. As far as it being "just"...think of it in logical terms: God has set forth a law (just like any law of the land we have), and when we break a law we are judged according to the law. This is called justice. There are those people you meet or see that you know who will remain in the system (legal system), but you don't just keep them in jail because they keep committing silly crimes. We must be judged according to each act. Hope this helps. I'm always glad to try a longer explanation if you want it. Good luck.
2007-02-06 11:17:12 · answer #2 · answered by straightup 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Presumably if Hitler died before he was 8, then god would have known he was going to die, not commit all those atrocities.
Since he didn't commit them, god knows he didn't.
Saying "if he would have survived he would have..." is irrelevant, because if he died before he was 8 then he didn't survive, and nobody would have known what would happen. If Hitler hadn't died at the end of WWII he may have gone on to regret the holocaust and start a centre to help those affected by it, but as he didn't survive we don't know
2007-02-06 03:50:00 · answer #3 · answered by Tom :: Athier than Thou 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a tough question. I would encourage you to read the book The Sovereignty of God by AW Pink. As you can tell, I am not a Mormon. Those of us in the historical Christian church also have troubles of this nature to contend with as well. God is a just God and it is the grace of God that keeps us from following down the same path as Hitler.
2007-02-06 06:41:39 · answer #4 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can only give you my opinion ... it is not always our place to question how God works, or his motivations, that's why it's called faith. I know that sometimes things seem unfair and unjust, but we don't have the ability to see and know all, so it is hard for us to make accurate judgements. There are people in this world that will do evil things and create massive destruction and loss of innocent lives. People who will commit such atrocious acts that we find it incomprehensible to understand how God could let it happen, but there is a plan behind everything. And sometimes horrific events need to happen in order for great things to result, not always directly. No-one deserves to be on the wrong side of evil, and i pray daily for anyone in sufferings salvation, but God does have a plan and evil deeds do not neccessarily mean an evil person. If you have faith in God then you must trust that He knows what He's doing and if that means taking lost souls and deviants to heaven for redemption at any stage, be it 8yrs old of 80, then so be it.
Having said that i encourage you to continue and question until you feel your faith restored, there are alot of opinions out there and sooner or later one will resonate within you. xxx
2007-02-06 03:59:34 · answer #5 · answered by emmyfog 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he died before he became eight he would not have grown up to have became the Hitler he did so God could not have known that he would because he would not have. Thank about what you are asking before you just sound silly.
2007-02-06 03:59:12 · answer #6 · answered by GODZILLA CHICKEN 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not morman but
if anybody dies before the age of eight [by your rules] they couldnt become hitler because hister is older than the rule of eight.
eight is that god set down for the alloted years for this immagined child
not the many years alloted to hister
there is no quandry because age prevents the other
you are looking for reasons not to believe
whatever our belief system ,it is our belief and our works that are the fruit
oh any of us [with little belief ],will doudt
we all trust in the highest good of god ,
the rite and ritual of all else is nothing to the truth [faith] in the one god.
2007-02-06 03:57:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Other Christians will never give you a straight answer. Your question obviously is "why would god let a child with a bad heart into heaven just because of his age?" You need to get away from your religion of lies man. I mean, come on. You really think Jesus came to America and turned white people red as a punishment? Please.
2007-02-06 04:26:27 · answer #8 · answered by Alucard 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to your assumption, it applies to the one who dies at or earlier to 8 years. There are lot other characters like this, the fate is destined to a person while s/he enters this globe!! Some enjoy and some suffer and some too much!!!!
2007-02-06 03:53:09 · answer #9 · answered by SESHADRI K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You assume that about God. I figure He doesn't know all things, therefor we have freedom ourselves too choose our path in life. I don't have that high of an opinion of God. If He really 'knew' these things, would it not be unjust for Him too allow such characters too live and exist?
2007-02-06 03:55:02 · answer #10 · answered by BIGUS_RICKUS 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋