Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able to? If so then he is not omnipotent
Is he able to prevent evil, but not willing? Then he is malevolent
Is the both able and willing? Then why and how is there evil.
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God
2007-02-14 11:23:21 · 14 answers · asked by keaton f 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
because He wants YOU to prevent evil ....
2007-02-14 11:28:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
He is definitely able, but He isn't always willing. The primary reason would be free will. If you wanted someone to love you, it would be meaningless unless they chose to love you; therefore, He gives us free will.
There are some things that this doesn't account for, though, such as hurricanes or other natural disasters. Sometimes bad things (you can't really call a hurricane "evil") can bring about greater good, such as spiritual awakening or a reality check. The Bible states that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose," (Romans 8:28).
You can disagree if you like, but that's how it is from a Christian perspective.
2007-02-14 19:35:54 · answer #2 · answered by Solomon's Cry 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is able to prevent evil and at times DOES prevent evil. However, He gave us free will and as such allows things to happen. Does this malevolent? Absolutely not. Unfortunately, to understand the truth of God's will a person must be willing to honestly search for the truth. Are you one of those? DO you honestly want to know? Can you allow yourself to accept the grace and wonder of God without living in a perfect world?
God created the perfect world free of sin, pain, agony and death. It was man's faulty nature that removed him from God's holy grace. This paved the way for evil to enter.
Now, it is because man has fled from God's grace and sought worldly riches that God allows evil. Bad things happen NOT because God wills it but because He allows it. Bad things happen for many reasons not least among them are.....
1) God punishing His children in this world instead of for all eternity.
2) God calling His children back to Him and "trying to wake them up."
So I ask again, can you accept that bad things happen and God is STILL good and in control?
2007-02-14 19:56:05 · answer #3 · answered by Wookie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Epicurus falls into the fallacy of believing that lack of action denotes malevolence. That all intelligences owe all others to act on their needs. This is the beginning of socialism, not reality.
When one causes evil, one is malevolent. When one observes others doing evil, one is not malevolent.
This is very close to the idea that children have about parents.
You don't save me from myself, therefore, you are bad.
Kind of silly.
At the same time, fairly insulting to the people who believe it.
I don't need babysitting. I'm responsible for myself. If he wants to help, I welcome 'a hand', but will do it myself where I can.
Why, are you needy?
2007-02-14 20:01:47 · answer #4 · answered by mckenziecalhoun 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He is able, but why should he make people act in a proper manner! If he did what would be the point to life? He gave us free will for a reason, if He did not give us free will then we would just be puppets, and He created us so that would would glorify Him in everything we say and do, but if He controls that then He no longer gets any glory from it! Its a maddening circle, but its the truth!
2007-02-14 19:30:27 · answer #5 · answered by angel122202 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That applying human standards of behavior to something defined as "infinite" is nonsense. For example, if God acts to prevent evil, then through acting He becomes imperfect. If He is imperfect, why then call Him God?
2007-02-14 19:28:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd say he is both willing and able. But in his time, not ours. I think he believes in freedom of choice. He wants us to love him because we want too, not because we don't have any choice. I don't think Satan was "evil" at first, but his pride and arrogance caused him to become that way.
2007-02-14 19:55:28 · answer #7 · answered by TJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GOD gave 100 percent Authority to Mankind through Adam--over the Creation.
Adam Kicked GOD (through Spiritual Laws, yes, GOD obeys them too, especially Contracts) out of the Creation.
GOD cannot come back and Do whatever HE wants till that Contract with Mankind is up.
Its almost Over.
Ditto................
2007-02-14 19:28:31 · answer #8 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Don't worry, God will eliminate evil soon enough. Any bets on your chances?
2007-02-14 19:29:15 · answer #9 · answered by Gee Wye 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Don't you know that it's the fool who plays it cool by making the world a little colder?
2007-02-14 19:29:58 · answer #10 · answered by metalifenow 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋