Are consequences signs that God exists?

Question

Why do carnal pleasures of the flesh have consequences if you over indulge in this type of behavior? Why are cigarettes bad for you? Why can't smoke be good for you? Why do drugs kill brain cells? Why is it possible to get STDs from having unprotected promiscuous sex?

I mean, why do we crave things that are bad for us? How come we don't crave things that are good for us? I don't think there are any serious consequences from reading books on a daily basis... And very few people want to do this! It's as if some creator said to himself, "I'm going to make humans crave things, but if they do it, they will suffer consequences!". And I guess this is for the purpose of finding out who is worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven? People who endulge in their carnal pleasures suffer consequences for straying from God...

What do you people think?

I hope I worded this in a way that people will understand what I am trying to say....

I understand that there are people who crave reading books and excersize, but it's not (or at least it doesn't appear to be) as common.

And I know HOW drugs are bad for you, my question is WHY

I don't think some people understood my question.

I wasn't trying to intend for people to think that I actually believe no one likes reading, or that every one likes to smoke. The word Carnal means "not spiritual; merely human". It is the things we crave that give pleasure to the body.

The point of my question was to ask, that since we suffer consequences from carnal pleasures, could this be a sign that God might actually exist? The thing that sparked my curiosity was from smoking a cigarette and saying, as I always say "I need to quit!" But this time, I actually thought about why. I know that it's bad for me, and that is why I need to quit, but WHY is it bad for me? Why does smoking, drinking, drugs, sex, gambling, junk food, etc. come with consequences? I understand that gambling can't not come with consequences. But why don't we live in a world where cigarette smoke promotes healthy lungs, or where drugs actually make you smarter (without burning you out in the near future)? Why do carnal pleasures always come with consequences?

It is not an uncommon thought to say that things that pleasure us are sins. I'm sure you've heard people say something feels/tastes/looks so good it should be illegal. This is usually said for things that should not actually be illegal, and is said to make fun of the fact that most things that pleasure us are considered bad.

Do you think the reason carnal pleasures come with consequences, is because they take you away from God?

PS, I would also like to add that I do not believe Atheists are carnal seeking demons, and I believe there are many Atheists who live very virtuous lives. So please don't take it that way when I say carnal sins take you away from God.

Answer 1

You made a number of points I would like to address. First, you made the assumption that people only crave what's bad for them, but that's not always true. I know people who crave exercise, reading, even prayer. The greater point is that - yes, it's the old cliche', but it's true - anything in excess can be bad for you. The other point you made, asking why things are bad for us, points to survival, and evolution. Cigarettes are bad because they contain carcinogens, but noone is forced to smoke them. They are produced and sold for MONEY. The same goes for drugs - people profit from them. The Buddhists - the Dali Lama in particular - talk about this frequently, about how man needs to free himself of cravings. God didn't create all of the things we crave - people did. If you believe the Bible, God created a beautiful world, and gave us all we needed - but we wanted more. And nothing has really changed since then. Hence, life is about learning to master the self and control desires through hard work and discipline. God or no God, heaven or no heaven, it is we who afflict ourselves, and we who can make the decision to change.

Answer 2

I'm sorry but I only read to the part about how reading books on a daily basis isn't something that people do.... I'm not sure what planet you're from but here on Earth there are a whole lot of people who love....yes I said LOVE to read on a daily basis, so your analogy lost me right there.
I get the feeling that you are very young or very naive to not understand that what you are calling carnal pleasures (cig smoking????) are what some of us would call choices and being human means to be faced with choices and it's up to the individual to weigh the consequences.

Answer 3

Interesting observation.
What would happen to the world if everyone acted according to the principles Jesus Christ lined out 2000 years ago?
Humanity would potentially be flawless, but instead mankind hates these principles and is slowly doing everything possible to sweep them under the rug.
STDs are a clear example, if everyone gave up fornication and adultery the diseases would be pretty much obsolete by the next generation. Will this fact stop anyone from indulging in these carnal pleasures? Doubtful.

Answer 4

That's precisely the same question that's been bugging me for quite some time... It just reminds me of a book I read , the title I cannot anymore remember, that people are somewhat placed in this world with all the trappings, to really know who will be rightfully "admitted" (if that's the correct term) to heaven. It makes me sad that the supreme creator made us in order to satisfy his need to be amused... Like we are just mere toys to be played at his pleasure... We crave things that are bad for us precisely because we have this insatiable desire to do and experience what according to our views are good and great... Bad things do look good and feel great, though not everything. But that is just my view.. You could say that I am a skeptic.

Answer 5

It's called Sin. We are created in God's image, however, he gave us "free will". I'm sure you know where sin originated.

You went in a lot of directions in your first paragraph.
Smoking....God didn't say "smoking is bad, therefore these are consequences for it". That can be looked at as a whole ecosystem he created and things have cause and effect.
However, living in God's will for you may or may not result in good or bad things (however "you" define good/bad things)
Regardless, living in God's will, we are all different and we have to learn things differently....due to our world view...our unique, individual nature. People get confused and think that if I follow God, it's all sunshine and happy days. NO! Not true, you can never learn and grow unless you experience things, whether they are good or bad (again, how you define good.bad)

Why do we crave things bad for us? I think that we are living amongst good and evil. Just because you're "good" doesn't mean that evil hasn't "set a trap" for you. Sometimes you get caught, sometimes you don't. The key, I feel, is that you get back up on the horse (the horse being, following God). That's why we can be forgiven of our sins. He knew that we would fall into these "traps".

Being "worthy of the kingdom" (i feel) doesn't mean that you HAVE to live a perfect life. God knows you're heart. Your actions can be otherwise. But he knows you're heart. And I feel that if you try your best to do/say/act the "right thing", try to follow the life God has planned for you, and you believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins (as per the covenant of the New Testament), you WILL go to heaven.

We all have a place in the body of Christ. I have a specific function(s). You have a specific function(s), she has a .....etc. etc. Some people's only purpose in life may be that they affect just ONE person, that ONE person may then go on and affect 1,000's.....but it took 1 person to sew the seed that sprang into action something like that. Then the person that affected that ONE person, just goes on about their life.....they have served their purpose (whether they know it or not what they did and the result of it)....they continue on.....die...and go to heaven.

It's a trip to try and think about it. I ponder it many times myself. Can a human fathom knowing? NO.
I feel that our best bet, it to pray...not for what we want (cuz we just might get it ), rather we should pray for what God wants for us....and it will be revealed when it's right as to what we should do. If we don't....we're in a guessing game subject to "evil" (though our intentions and heart may be for the "good") I feel that that's what results in things you mentioned in the 1st paragraph, as well as many other things (that are not necessarily consequences)

Those are my thoughts and feelings. But then again, I could have it alllllll wrong.
But, at least know that you aren't the only one out there that ponders this stuff. I beat my head everyday trying to figure it out.

Answer 6

It is elementary behaviour that we want things we are told we can not have or should not do. We have to listen and obey until we are left responsible for ourselves, and then we pay the consequences. It is nor G-d that does that, every action has a reaction. Everything one does has its consequences. You smoke, with all the unmentionables they put in cigarettes that are not 100% tobacco, you're going to get sick. You get drunk and say something stupid, you'll get pummelled. You have unprotected sex, you catch a disease or create and unexpected pregnancy. Life comes full circle, so you have to watch what you ask for, cos you might get it and then some.

Answer 7

Yes - have you ever heard someone refer to "the wrath of God"?
Look what happened to Adam and Eve - they disobeyed God and lost their perfect world. Those were their consequences.
As for why we crave what it bad for us -
Because of the original sin of Adam and Eve, we are all sinners from birth. Try as we may not to sin, it will happen from time to time because it is beyond our power to be the perfect person as Jesus was. However, our sins or lack thereof do not determine who goes to heaven and who doesn't. It is whether or not you believe in God that determines whether or not you go to heaven. It is the belief, not actions that make the determination. They go hand in hand - when you believe with all your heart, you work harder to live a God-pleasing life.

Answer 8

Um, who says "carnal pleasures" are desired by means of all? Who defines those pleasures? Cigarettes are disgusting and I are not able to even stand it whilst anyone is close me smoking one. Again, I do not crave medicinal drugs or promiscuous intercourse. I'd be a lot happier in a loving courting with anyone than a one night time stand. That being stated, I disagree together with your. -Atheist.

Answer 9

If people didn't endulge in their carnal pleasures, there would be no one around to care about god. Do you really think that is a wise idea?

Answer 10

I believe, god is not some guy just worrying about us. i believe he is some superior entity, who out of charity, showed us, a way to reach a superiority similar to his.
therefore, he's not waiting to punish us.

In truth, our cravings, are animal; are things that satisfy our flesh, our animal nature. but if you believe that there's a more elevated nature in man, then god is simply showing us a door to reach it.

By my faith, i believe god allowed us to have this two sides, so we would have a chance, to choose to love. otherwise, we would be nothing but void creations.... God's purpose, was to give us free will.... to have that chance. that's what some religions mean by saying we were created similar to god.
And that's the necessity for our ambiguous nature.