Creationists - Why is your god so cruel?

Question

"When Creationists talk about God creating every individual species as a separate act, they always instance hummingbirds, or orchids, sunflowers and beautiful things. But I tend to think instead of a parasitic worm that is boring through the eye of a boy sitting on the bank of a river in West Africa, [a worm] that's going to make him blind. And [I ask them], 'Are you telling me that the God you believe in, who you also say is an all-merciful God, who cares for each one of us individually, are you saying that God created this worm that can live in no other way than in an innocent child's eyeball? Because that doesn't seem to me to coincide with a God who's full of mercy'."

This is a direct quote from the naturalist David Attenborough (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/24/1048354544138.html?from=storyrhs)

I'd be interested in the opinions of people who believe in creation theory as to why your god created this creature . . .

Chesca84 - I m an atheist, and believe in the theory of evolution.

The Ace Of Spades - what do you mean, I'm not capable of truth?

Answer 1

I'm not a creationist in the sense that I think you mean. I do believe that God made this world - and I recognise that that is a statement of faith, not of knowledge, and an assertion of 'Who' not 'How'.

The very act of creation is evidence of love - and the world works best when love is used by those who live in it. Since humans of all creatures have the greatest choice about how and where to live, a great deal depends upon us for justice and equity about the use of this world's resources. It is within our power to ensure that people are not obliged to live on the banks of rivers unless they want to - and to ensure that there is adequate medical protection or treatment for those who do. It seems reasonable to me to suppose that the God whose Son always put other people first, even when it cost him his life, has enabled us, through the work of David Attenborough and others, to find out enough about the way this world works to protect those least able to protect themselves. How many of those who Question and Answer on here, I wonder, regularly support the work of children's charities?

Any species will do what best ensures its own survival; if we cared enough for others to deny this worm the opportunity to make children blind, it would have to adapt or die, as it has probably adapted before.

Answer 2

God created all kinds of scary things to demonstrate
his wrath and power from the very beginning. If humankind
had never fallen, we could have looked at these
things from a distance and not have been subject to them
like the animals. Having fallen, we are cast into that world
along with the animals.
Proverbs 1:7 defines the beginning of wisdom as the fear of
God. Jeremiah 5:22 defines what the fear of God is:
“Should you not fear me?” declares the LORD.
“Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the
sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it
cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot
prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.”

The young-earth creationist and the atheist Darwinist
have in common their belief that God would never create
killer things. The atheist removes God from the picture to
account for the natural evils of this world, while the
young-earth creationist removes the record of killer animals
from the picture to preserve the goodness of God.
Both of these views need to interact with a fully biblical
picture of God, as he is revealed in Scripture and in
nature—powerful, uncontrollable, and able to pour out
extreme violence, yet also just, merciful, and able to bless
beyond all our expectations.

Answer 3

Well the fall does account for the less positive aspects. But I would say that every creature is there for a reason. People often say wasps have no reason when in fact they clear up. And do other things.

What I really want to say to you is that sinners get worms but hmmmmmm we are all sinners so that can't be right.

The fall is the answer here. The world is out of balance and Jesus is the only answer.

By the way I am most definitely a creationist

Answer 4

There is suffering in the world.

What you have pointed out, is a valid example of how a child suffers. And why would a just and merciful God cause so much suffering. I've personally seen some of the people in the worst affected areas, and their faith in God will amaze you.

What am I getting at? Even, in their suffering they are a greater example of what human beings should be like. Their reward is assured. How and when on this earth, I do not know. Don't we have a responsibility towards them?

Answer 5

There is absoultely no way the God they depict (being all-loving, all-merciful, and so on) could let that happen.

The only Christian answer I can see addressing the issue would be that it exists because of Satan/evil/original sin. But even that raises questions. How could God, if he is all-knowing, have created what he did and ultimately make it turn out into something bad? Also, how could God let the evil exist if he was all-powerful? That implies that there is evil more powerful than him.

Answer 6

What you are asking about indirectly is why does a good God allow evil & suffering to exist. Even if you believe in God using evolution to create with, you still have the same problem.

I don't have time to go into it now, but here are a few good articles for you to read if you really want to know.

Answer 7

It's important to understand something. In the beginning, it was not like this. The only food was plants in the beginning. There was no death or suffering in the beginning. God promised there would be death for disobedience. Adam and Eve disobeyed (and indeed we have all disobeyed) and now we say it's God's fault for keeping true to His word.

Yes, now people die and suffer. We blame God for the curse that we brought on ourselves.

Notice that the only food was plants in the beginning for all people and animals.

Genesis 1:29-30 God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. (30) To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;" and it was so.

Then Adam and Eve sinned. The earth is now cursed.

Now notice what is given as food after the flood:
Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As the green herb, I have given everything to you.

Animals also eat others for food now too. Obviously, some things have changed big time.

Answer 8

Your question shows that you don't understand that God is not ONLY a God of love and mercy. Those are two of his attributes but He is also righteous and holy. God has cursed this earth and we who live on it have to suffer under the curse that our ancestors and our own disobedience to the Creator has brought to this planet.

God's love and mercy are demonstrated in the fact that He sent his only Son to make a way for all who repent and believe on Him to spend eternity in a restored paradise.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Answer 9

A creationist AND an Eddie Izzard fan? I never thought I'd see the day..

Answer 10

As far as I understand it, the old testament god is not all-merciful, and differs dramatically in its behaviour towards humans to the new testament one. In fact, it's a fairly nasty piece of work, which is why I tend to side with the gnostic interpretation that the creator deity from the old testament is a rather petulant lesser god.

That's why we have to keep praising it.