He would be getting 'involved' with us after 'leaving us to it' by giving us free will. Or is it that he doesn't mind getting involved in Christian's petty prayers but won't 'get his 'hands dirty' saving babies being raped in Africa by men who think it will cure them of AIDS-a disease that seems to have originated on this perfect creation of his. Therefore he doesn't exist or if he does he is evil. What do you think?
2007-07-20 10:59:02 · 14 answers · asked by thethinker 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God answers prayers according to His will, not ours
Haha! That's like me saying. I can do back flips but only when I want to. Then stand there for 4 hours trying assuring you that when I feel like it I will do one...Would you believe me?
2007-07-20 11:04:57 · update #1
lookn2cjc
He doesn't do anything because he doesn;t exist!
2007-07-20 11:06:36 · update #2
Pray, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy.
— Ambrose Bierce
Here is a conversation between Ned Flanders and his son, Ron:
Rod: Dad, can I have this shirt that says "Get Bent"?
Ned: Well, if that means to bend down and pray, sure!
Christians say that – without exception – their God answers all of their prayers; it's just that He sometimes says "yes" and other times "no," "maybe," or "wait." Of course the same could be said of the rain-god,"Bob."
— Rev. Donald Morgan
The idea that He would take his attention away from the universe in order to give me a bicycle with three speeds is just so unlikely I can't go along with it.
— Quentin Crisp, (1908-1999)
This doctrine of the material efficacy of prayer reduces the Creator to a cosmic bellhop of a not very bright or reliable kind.
— Herbert J. Muller
To imagine that God wants prayers and hymns of praise is to make him out to a sort of oriental potentate; while praying for favors is an attempt to get him to change his allegedly all-wise mind.
—Barbara Smoker
I remember when the Columbine tragedy struck and they interviewed a mother of one of the girls that escaped a barrage of bullets unscratched. Her girl was a devout Christian and the mother beamed that God was looking out for her daughter. I kept thinking what about all the other DEAD kids? Were they somehow not deserving? When you start thinking this imaginary being is directly responsible for what is nothing more than blind luck, it’s a slippery slope on the climb down from the throne of self-righteousness and make-believe.
"Christians! shake off the supineness which your priests have created in you; dare to think for yourselves, nor suppose your God can be pleased with the sacrifice of your reason. The bended knee is not the attitude for study. Read the Bible with the eye of criticism nor of faith. Suspend your devotions, and reflect on the reception of your past petitions. Ask no more till they are granted."
— Emma Martin, (1812-1851)
A great many men believe in providence until they get caught in a railroad accident.
— Lemuel K. Washburn
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
— The Riddle of Epicurus (ca. 341-270 B.C.E.)
Put another way...
"Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; Or he can, but does not want to; Or he cannot and does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. But, if God both can and wants to abolish evil, then how come evil is in the world?"
2007-07-20 12:49:35 · answer #1 · answered by HawaiianBrian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bad logic
You declare God 'nonexistent' because He doesn't 'get his hands dirty' by championing a cause YOU find important?
So what criterion does HE need to fill FOR YOU>?
How about the salvation of your very soul from the penalty of your own choice against HIM ? Guess you'd rather trivialize and rationalize away THAT one.
You declare He must be evil because a disease caused by the fall of man from grace has affected creation?
YOU ARE GOING TO DIE, face it. If you have ever lied, cheated, stolen or even LOOKED at a pretty girl and had dirty thoughts, you are DOOMED. The LAW demands it.
is the LAW evil? NO. The LAW is a reminder of the COST of your decisions apart from GOD.
You have no hope, in yourself and your logic.
The only hope you have is the DIRECT INTERVENTION of God HIMSELF for you. Now ask yourself.. has that been done?
The answer is a resounding YES!!!
Jesus PAID the price that the LAW demanded.. blood and death, so that you could have life.
Your free will has a choice NOW.
Choose the accepted price for the LAW (Jesus) and live;
Choose the LAW, never triumph and DIE in SIN apart from God.
Like it or not, that is your choice.
2007-07-20 11:16:17 · answer #2 · answered by watcherd 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have asked quite a few questions here. I'll try and respond.
1) God is not evil. Yes, he created us. But he gave us "free will", like you stated. We are not robots and have the ability to make our decisions, both good and bad.
Any sin, you see, including the one done with children, is by man because he has fallen to the ways of the devil. Jesus clearly said, that anyone who harms this little ones, will see God's wrath.
2) Answering prayers, is not a way of affecting free will. That's why sometimes when we pray, it is said, let your will be done. God's answer is "Yes", "No', or "Wait".
As Christians, our obligation is then to align ourselves with His perfect will, because that is ultimately going to give us joy and overflowing of the spirit.
2007-07-20 11:12:16 · answer #3 · answered by ann 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You assume that God put the evil here.
Actually, the evil was put here by Satan. Satan wants us to turn away from God, so he puts all sorts of hurts and sorrows on the world, hoping that we will give up our free will and succumb to his will.
God does not tamper with our free will, nor that of Satan. Answering a prayer does not interfere with free will at all, but it does remind us of the power that God holds. And, non-christian prayers get answered from time to time, too. Again, it is a demonstration of power.
Those people that willfully refuse to acknowledge God are "given over" to their evil desires. That is why you see human on human desecrations as you have described.
2007-07-20 11:14:36 · answer #4 · answered by Barry F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a child and they are sitting in the living room watching TV and ask you to get them a glass of juice from the fridge would you refuse because "You would be getting 'involved' with your child after 'leaving your kid to it' by giving your kid free will." Probably not. Prayer is communication with God as is talking, IM, text, chat, etc. is communication with people. So when you pray for something you are asking God for something.
2007-07-20 11:09:41 · answer #5 · answered by crwmknapp 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are judging God by the standards man has established for Him. (I capitalize His name out of respect for the reader, not as an article of faith.)
If God exists, He is farther than you, conceptually and intellectually, than you are from bacteria. (Otherwise what's the point.) Do you care about the bacteria in your gut, the ones that help you digest? Would you hear their single-celled prayers if they made them? And if you did hear, would you listen?
What you describe are atrocities inflicted by men on mankind. Before you blame God, ask what you can do to stop it.
2007-07-20 11:37:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God answers prayers with a "yes, no or wait". Praying to God is communicating with him and putting our total dependence and trust in Him. I am a post stroke and post MI victim, but it does not diminish my love for Him, nor does it His love for me. He just wants me to talk to him and be grateful for new mercies each day. What a great loving God we have.
God gave you free will. You can have your choices but depending on those choices, you either will suffer the consequences or enjoy the outcome. The best resource for guiding you in your choices is the Bible.
2007-07-20 11:20:01 · answer #7 · answered by Olinad 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you don't understand free will and God; BOTH!!!
He also doesn't smite people who participate in taking the life of a baby in the mother's womb....do you really think He agrees with THAT, TOO?
Payday isn't always every Friday, Honey......
Edit:
I'll be sure to pass the message along to Him from you....lol
I'm sure He's waiting with baited breath for affirmation from YOU!!!
2007-07-20 11:05:29 · answer #8 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
According to the Christians, God knows all and sees all. TO ME this means he knows veryones past, present and future. If God knows everyones future... then he knew what Hitler would do the moment he created him. He knew that Hitler would order the slaughter of 6 million Jews. Thusly God knew that Hitler would go to Hell the moment he created him. So according to the Christians, God created Hitler for the express purpose of going to Hell. That doesnt sound like a very loving god to me. The god who frowns on Gambeling but took a bet with the Devil and allowed Satan to torment and kill Jobs family and farm. Allowed Satan to afflict Job with horriable lesions to make him curse Gods name. Now the Christian argument to all this is,"Well job got rewarded 10 times over again for his faith." My rebuttal to that is, how does getting some kind of reward make your entire family being killed for no damn good reason, OK? There are many, many, many inconsistancies in the bible that I have NEVER had ANYONE take on the task of explaining to me.
2007-07-20 11:11:35 · answer #9 · answered by Gobyknows 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
God answers prayers according to His will, not ours
2007-07-20 11:02:32 · answer #10 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋