Why do Atheists always ask why God lets bad things happen?

Question

I have a clear explanation to this. God is our Father. Think of it this way. If you had a child and he wanted to skateboard and dirtbike, would you mollycoddle him all the time, or would you let him learn his lessons? I personally would let my child learn his own lessons. The problem is that the human race does not learn from its mistakes and we continue to go to down the wrong path. We practice hate on a daily basis around the globe, and that hate leads to wars. God is hoping we realize what we did wrong and He is hoping we correct it. Do you see what I'm saying?

Answer 1

What about a child born with cancer? What about children like my brother who were born too early and only got to live a short time (23 hours)? What do they learn?

Answer 2

> Think of it this way. If you had a child and he wanted to skateboard and dirtbike, would you mollycoddle him all the time, or would you let him learn his lessons?

He breaks a kneecap, then I take him to the emergency room. Aren't you responsible for your child? Wouldn't Child Protective Services come and take your child away from you if you DIDN'T take your child to the emergency room?

If you didn't, then your child would grow up, and come to know that his father was an irresponsible goober.

I sincerely hope you never have children. Do you see what I'm saying?

Answer 3

Well, Athiests aren't supposed to believe in God - so they really can't blame someone they says doesn't exist, can they? Often, those types of "atheists" aren't really athiests. They're usually people who are angry with God... often for powerful personal reasons. The thing is, you can't be mad at someone you don't believe in...

As for your theory... I see your point. I think humans bear more responsibility than that, however. In Genesis, the Bible tells us humanity was given "dominion" over the earth. A better translation of the Hebrew is "stewardship" over the earth.

We were intended to take care of it and one another and we're blowing it, big time. Actions have consequences, even if those consequences don't fall upon those whom they should.

Bad things happen because we have free will and we too often choose to do harm to one another. Unfortunately, as the Bible also notes in Psalms, "It rains on the just and the unjust alike."

When people do evil, evil is "out there" and since when did evil care about justice? Since when did sin care about striking fairly? Adolf Hitler, alone, put enough evil into the world for many generations, and he was just one man.

It sounds like you are a person of faith, so take comfort in the fact that this life is only a prelude to life in the Kingdom of Heaven where there will be perfect justice and perfect love.

Answer 4

The problem is that both the atheist and often the religious person, create God in human image. Both give God the attributes of a parent, instead of transcending that "gimme gimme" attitude and growing into a deeper spiritual relationship.

God's mercy falls like rain on both the good and the evil. God is not the puppet master who manipulates or tortures us. God is not Santa Claus who makes a list and checks it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice. God is not the indulgent or the judging parent. God IS love.

God established the laws of creation and does not change them. Creation is still happening.

The lack of spiritual maturity on the part of the atheist and the religious person is at the core of this tedious question.

Answer 5

For the same reason that YOU asked THIS question: So they can preach their particular point.

Both you and they are committing the same YA violation, which is that YA isn't a forum for you to stand on your personal soap box and preach.

Face it. You aren't asking a question, and neither are the atheists that ask the question you're referring to. You are all being PUSHY, and preachy, and guilty of not respecting the beliefs of others.

I know this, because I do it all the time, myself. But, it takes an abuser to see an abuser, sometimes, and I can safely say, "You, and the atheists in question, are self-righteous, preachy, nosy buttinskis who should all just mind their own business."

Answer 6

I see what you are saying...

It is like a robot. God did not create a robot that was simply programmed to love him and do good all the time. This isn't love. I wouldn't want a wife who was forced to love me. God welcomes us with open arms, and the trials, tribulations, struggles of this world only make the faithful need God more and will one day make Heaven all the better!

Sad part is, most Americans, don't even know what true suffering is like. Some of the most faithful Christians live in China, Sudan, Middle-East, India - where they are persecuted and tortured for their faith in Jesus.

Answer 7

Yes. We do understand the child/parent metaphor. But it still doesn't fly. What parent would send even the most troubled and wayward child to hell for eternity (or permit them to go there) If any parent wished that on their child they would most likely be put away (and rightly so.)

And as for more earthly punishments, what parent would ever ever trap their child (however wayward) in a war zone or natural disaster to teach them a lesson? Again, any parent who would do that to a child is unfit to parent at best and a total psychopath at worst.

Answer 8

Ok, and the earthquakes, diseases, tsunamis?

Couldn't an omnipotent god stop that kind of thing?

Couldn't he stand between the child and his abuser? Did the child really have something to learn from his rapist?

Christians tell us that god is all powerful and all knowing. But then we look around and wonder how that could possibly be true.

Answer 9

I see.

So when infants die in disasters, they're learning the lesson that they shouldn't have been born?

Humans punish rapists and thieves seriously, but not for all eternity. Your God punishes nonbelievers eternally, yet lets murderers and rapists into heaven if all they do is say they "believe".

How is it possible that humans are both more humane and just than your God?

The only rational answer is that your God is not a God worth worshipping.

Answer 10

I would also let my child learn his own lessons. But I would have some limits. If my child would do something that might kill him, I'd stop him. Of course.

If my child would do soemthing that would hurt others, I'd also stop him.

Do you see what I'm saying?

Btw, in two acounts I've asked over 1,000 questions, and I'm an atheist. Check my questions out, there isn't even one that says "why does God let bad things happen?" So, a little less generalizing would be nice, thanks.

Answer 11

You've been reading Angels and Demons a lot apparently; why else would you paraphrase it?

Sure, maybe God is like that. But if we were to learn from our mistakes, I don't see why a baby should die from AIDS without getting the chance to learn anything.