When challenged about the existence of God I often hear something to the effect of:
"...this morning the sun was shining brightly and the birds were singing and the day was so beautiful, how could you not believe in God?..."
So my Q is this: when you look out onto the world and see the news filled with rapes and murders and it's pouring rain and everything seems wrong that doesn't disprove your God to you. (I'm not in any way asking for converts here) Just wondering how you take the good with the bad. When horrible things happen you seem to shrug it off as God working in mysterious ways and it being part of his plan. When good things happen it appears to be a clear cut case of him smiling down on you (to you).
I just don't get it. Please explain.
2007-11-01 07:44:40 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm sorry that you've gotten an answer like that, and I agree; it doesn't answer the question.
I'm aware that sometimes it comes across like we're only taking in the good and not the bad, but we're well aware of the bad too. And yes, God is still in control even when things like that happen. It's personally very difficult for me to hold on to my faith knowing the kinds of things that happen out there; unattached to my own life, but I have faith in the idea that it's happening for some purpose. That the pain is worth it for something greater.
I don't agree with people who "shrug it off" when bad things happen. The correct view and take on it is to hope in God to make things right, and not to blame Him for what's going wrong.
Does that explain things better? I hope that helps.
2007-11-01 07:54:00 · answer #1 · answered by twentytwo_eucalyptus_trees 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We don't "shrug it off". We are called, as an organic Body of Christ, to do our best to be Christ's hands and feet and eyes and heart and help relieve some of that suffering.
As for "evil"...the biggest question with evil is, "Why doesn't God prevent it from happening?" If God is really an all-good and all-powerful being, why doesn't he do something?" I think that's what you are asking...
First of all, God does not create evil; he allows it to occur. When he originally created the world, he created all things good. He created people, however, with the freedom to choose. This includes the freedom to make right and wrong choices. Often those wrong choices bring about consequences that end up hurting ourselves or other people, sometimes innocent victims who didn't deserve it.
My hero, C. S. Lewis said that 80 percent of suffering comes from the moral evil of mankind. So what about the other 20 percent? There are some things we will never truly understand here on Earth.
Our job...to be there to help relieve the suffering.
2007-11-01 14:49:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Night and day. Sunlight and darkness. Pleasure and pain. Happiness and sadness. Good and evil. Lost and found. Without contrast, how would anyone know one from the other? Sometimes we would probably prefer there was none of the bad and all of the good, but sometimes the greatest growth in love and understanding and compassion comes not just from the good, but from the bad. Life is a test.
2007-11-01 15:14:36 · answer #3 · answered by Someone who cares 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These were many of the issues that led to my "evolving" into a Deist.
I find beauty and order in the universe, and choose to call that "God". But I don't think that he/she/it intervenes in events on earth or listens if I pray.
We each choose to do good or evil, and whether to fully utilize or negligently waste our brains. That, and the fact that there are natural laws to how the universe operates, is what causes most horrible things to happen.
2007-11-01 14:53:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man is this horror that you speak of. God gives us free will. Unfortunately people make some really bad choices and they affect everyone. God is not only the beautiful things in this world he is in me, he is a part of me and hopefully I show his love and kindness in being who I am. This world is not perfect. It was created that way and was that way until sin was introduced. I am not saying that these things don't test my faith, but when it does I rely on my beliefs to get me through.
2007-11-01 14:52:19 · answer #5 · answered by keoh6 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God gives man the ability to do what he wants... Look how we treat what he has given us and the awful choices we make(as mankind) People blame God for everything that goes wrong in their lives but don't step back and take the responsibility for their actions... Then blame God.. It iis an easy cop out until you are judged... The term "The Devil made me do it also comes to mind" God is Love ! Period. God bless and free will to you !
2007-11-01 14:51:00 · answer #6 · answered by timmyboy26164 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you accept that humans reincarnate and carry the impurities accumulated in past lives with them as they do so - then the law of karma makes sense of such conundrums.
Best to live life so as not to offend God's laws (which are pretty universally agreed by religions around the world) and to help others - the next life will be better.
2007-11-01 15:11:10 · answer #7 · answered by Joe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the bible Paul was in the sewer up to his lags or more and he said in) Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, sat your mind in Heavenly places
2007-11-01 14:59:07 · answer #8 · answered by esther9364622 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't look to the world for my belief for God is not physical. I look to my spirit for confirmation. That is the only place to see God, right now anyways.
I have good days and bad. No matter how bad I feel and how angry I do get with God, my belief is still there.
2007-11-01 14:52:16 · answer #9 · answered by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i can assure you that i DO NOT believe in God b/c the sun is shining brightly and a rooster crows...
the evils in this world i do not take lightly nor do i shrug it off, i think about it until it festers like a boil in my heart and i've even asked questions regarding those atrocities here on r&s, but i'm not going to just say "oh well, bad things happen so there is no God"....
i can't do that, i'm still questioning, still searching
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnR2GzNG0wXFctcLz1Dmnxnty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071022071819AASStmF
2007-11-01 14:48:48 · answer #10 · answered by Hope 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋