2007-05-22 00:41:18 · 18 answers · asked by Coxinha® Libertas Quæ Sera Tamen 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not real big on the free-will debate, but there you have it. Think about it- God destroyed the earth with a flood because He said that man was only evil continually, and alot of people today say that God tolerates too much from man. But, if God were to take global action against the atrocities being committed by man in the name of whatever, how many innocent people like you do you suppose would survive the wrath?
Believing in God or not should never be predicated on the reality of man's propensity to commit acts of evil. Man has shown that he will do so and continue to do so whether or not he takes conscious notice of God and His impending judgements. The only question is, when the smoke clears and the judgements do begin, what side of the tracks, so to speak, would you rather be on?
Alot of people say that Christians always stress the wrath of God only, but if they speak of God's love and forebearance with us, the same people then say that it can't be true because of questions just like your's- that God somehow is to blame for the free-will actions of men. If God were to personally intervene, then the battle cry would be that God is interfering with man's free-will. This vicious cycle of so-called reasoning is directly underlying alot of people's hesitation at whether or not to believe in God.
Whether or not you decide to believe in God is entirely up to you, but make sure you do your own thinking and never fail to question your own reasons for doing so. And above all else, and as much as possible, always be able and ready to explain why you believe in God, because there are alot of people out there who will no doubt try to convert you to their side of the coin by finding weaknesses in your armor.
The atrocities will continue even if you don't believe in God. Believing in God intelligently gives you a much stronger assurance that you will be able to endure what you see in the world without losing your mind in the process.
2007-05-22 01:07:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The two are not related. Our faith is not based on what we see. It's based on what we believe in our hearts.
What would you do if you were God? He created everything good. He placed us here, instructing us to take care of it. He instructed us to love each other, and care for each other. What have we done? Basically, the exact opposite. Now, we would like God to bail us out. End starvation, torture, murder and the like. But we're the ones doing it! So He should intervene when a parent is abusing their child, right? He should just supernaturally step in whenever there is a problem on earth? PLEASE!! When are we going to do something? We started this mess. We should clean it up.
To top it all off, we only want God to intervene when we want Him to. You know why? Because we think we know what He should do. We think we know better than He does. How incredibly arrogant is that? Come only when I call you, God. Every other time, leave me alone?
2007-05-22 07:56:14 · answer #2 · answered by singwritelaugh 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God didn't put us in Heaven with mindless obedience. If that were true, then there would be no atrocities. Right?
God put us on earth with free will to choose what we want. We choose to do to others out of our own selfishness (i.e. Hitler, Stalin, 9/11, etc.) or we choose to help others out of our own selflessness (i.e. Mother Teresa, Gandhi, etc.)
Not everyone can be a great saint and abandon everything to be a Mother Teresa. If that were true, then they would be abandoning their spouses and children. So God allows the natural atrocities (i.e. earthquakes, famine, floods, etc.) to occur to give us opportunities to help others. He puts the nursing home a mile from your house so you can visit someone who is lonely.
He doesn't cause the atrocities, but He allows it for the greater good. God is about relationships. Us with Him and us with each other. He wants us to, "Love one another as I have loved you."
That is the logical, not biblical, reason for the atrocities we face. Most are man-made, others just happen. God doesn't do it to us, but we have to learn to help each other through them.
2007-05-22 07:57:09 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin B 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes you should Cox...: God says there is enough evidence in creation alone to know of Him.
You should when you smell the wonderful fragrance from a beautifully painted flower as the esters stimulate special nerves in your olifactory system.
You should when you see a splendid peacock spread it's marvelous tail for your enjoyment.
You should when you see a mother puppy nursing her children, or a small sparrow build a most intricate nest yet it has no architectal degree.
You should when you wonder at the struggling butterfly whose stiffening catalysts form wings more beautiful than a 747's
You should, you should, You should because God says I will be found by those who seek me.
You should know, that there is a conflict in God's universe when you see killing and crime. You should know there is a conflict when you see the cruelties of nature. You should wonder, and pick up God's word and see that ALL THINGS WILL BE MADE NEW.
You should see that the only remedy for sin is that God had to suffer its penalty on this murderous planet.
You should see the glory of paradise and wonder exactly why so many bartered their eternity on a cheap market and traded it for a worthless treasure here.
And you should see how wonderful that God is who suffered so you may live.
And you see, Cox..., you need read God's last plea to manking that He hid in a Bible code--just so
YOU CAN SEE.
2007-05-22 07:48:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
what does the atrocities has to do with believing in God?
nothing
we are tested in this life with the good and tested with the bad to see how we will do
God bless
2007-05-22 07:50:56 · answer #5 · answered by Temsah 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look at yourself in the mirror, you are a miracle! Just think ,you came from a tiny seed planted in your Mothers womb.Now look at all the beautiful things around you! look to the sky at night time, what do you see? Look to the sky in the day time, what do you see?Look at all the beautiful things, like the grass, flowers, lakes ,oceans and all living things on earth. Who do you think created all this in the first place? God did. but now it is up to you if you want to believe in God or not! God gave us all brains to think for ourselves!
2007-05-22 07:56:01 · answer #6 · answered by Gerry 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ok you see people going against God -so you reject believing in God-does that make sense?
Jesus teaches to love even your enemies-why do you blame Jesus for those that go against his salvation and true love?
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
Jesus is approved by those that believe him, and know him as personal savior and best friend, and as promised to be the almighty God.
Isaiah 9:6 "Unto us a child is born a son is given, and he will be almighty God the prince of peace."
Jesus was born of a virgin- Isaiah 7:14 'God with us' the emanuel, Jesus never sinned (so he could die as promised our sacrifice for sins=Isaiah 52:13-53:12 "He will lay down his life to make atonement for our sins.") the greatest atrocity ever God coming from heaven spit on and rejected to die for our sins, when we simply believe him & heaven is forever-along with the second greatest atrocity =hell for those that reject the first atrocity's truth and salvation won by it for all that believe.
have a nice day friend, in John 3 repented of sin -even one lie, and born again with Jesus aas savior and best friend in the Messiah, David
2007-05-22 07:50:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
That's not a reason to believe in God and furthermore only you can decide whats right for you.
2007-05-22 07:50:22 · answer #8 · answered by ☼ɣɐʃʃɜƾ ɰɐɽɨɲɜɽɨƾ♀ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Good question, no real answer. Many people believe because it gives them hope. Belief is an individual feeling. No one can give you a scientific or even a rational answer to your question.
2007-05-22 07:47:51 · answer #9 · answered by Elaine P...is for Poetry 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Without God, how could you call them atrocities? What would be your reference point?
2007-05-22 07:46:40 · answer #10 · answered by capitalctu 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋