I am not a Christian, but I have to say I have gotten tired of the number of times I have seen people say some variation of "why would god allow suffering" or "I don't believe in god because there is so much suffering".
We have free will, which means we have the power to choose to do evil, or to choose to do good. It is impossible to stop us from doing evil without taking away our free will. Unfortunately, that means there will be victims of the evil we choose to do. However, we are responsible for our actions!
Do you agree/disagree with this and why?
2007-11-01 08:22:35 · 21 answers · asked by bregweidd 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some of you are probably wondering why I am defending Christianity when I normally am quite critical of it. I am not defending Christian doctrine. However, I am not an atheist. I also believe in using logic when criticizing others (not that I am free from using illogical attacks, but hey, whose perfect?)
2007-11-01 08:24:56 · update #1
As far as I know, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcano eruptions aren't caused by human free will.
2007-11-01 08:26:32 · answer #1 · answered by Belzetot 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
From "Judaism for Everyone" by Shmuley Boteach
The question to pose is not, “Please, God, explain to us why bad things happen and how it fits into Your overall plan for creation,” but rather: “Master of the Universe, how could You allow this to happen? Was it not You who taught us in Your magnificent Torah that life is sacred and must be preserved at all costs? Where is that life now? Was it not You who promised that the good deserve goodness and not pain. Where is your promise now? By everything that is sacred to You, I demand that this cease.” Far from being an affront to divine authority, these words are part of the human mandate. Remaining passive in the face of human suffering is a sin against both man and the Creator.
The Garden of Eden, the perfect world that God created, had no suffering, thereby demonstrating that perfection is tied to a decided lack of suffering. Let us cease the throught that suffering is beneficent. To eternally challenge suffering is the only legitimate theological response.
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2007-11-01 15:29:18 · answer #2 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This free will of yours: consider a situation where you are offered one of four things. Select some things at random.
Now consider which of these you would choose.
Now consider what would have to happen in order for you to make a different choice.
The external change that prompts the new choice will have the following property: it will change which of the selections is now your optimum choice.
If there is no such external change, and provided the items on offer are not so similar that they have the same value to you, you will always make the same choice: the optimum item for your current situation.
That's not 'free will'. You will never select a non-optimal choice .
CD
2007-11-01 15:35:28 · answer #3 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the question is very redundant in this website.
you nailed part of the reason.
but God will bring a time when he will end evil and suffering when he makes the new heaven and the new earth.
the catch?
all the people who refuse to change will have to go to a very sad place.
change of heart now or change of mind later.
thats up to them.
many will say " i dont need god to be a good person"
i say, they should act it rather than blab it.
start with your money, be generous and start with your 10% tithe and donate it to charity or sponsor a child.
2007-11-01 15:44:52 · answer #4 · answered by bagsy84 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you certainly have me confused, How can you not believe in God, but then not be an athiest?
So I haven't read too many of your questions or answers and am not familiar if you are putting down your very creator or not!!
I agree people should not blame God for thier actions, while this is true, what would it matter to you if you don't believe in God, are you a confused person, Lost perhaps, You speak like you are saying things, but they make no sense.
2007-11-01 15:31:08 · answer #5 · answered by Lynn C 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Thank you for making a logical point, whether you believe in God or not. I have been answering those questions for a long time and it gets tiring hearing the same thing over and over! Oh, and I agree!
2007-11-01 15:31:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus learned obedience through suffering
He chose to do God's will when He went to calvary. He had a choice not to.
Job in the Bible was righteous in God's eyes, yet suffered loss of his belongings and children on a "wager" that he would not cure God.
Some is by your own choice. There are those that God brings on for a reason.
2007-11-01 15:27:31 · answer #7 · answered by n9wff 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We have free will, I agree. I do not agree that it is impossible to stop people from doing evil without taking away our free will. I also believe evil is based on perception and that the differences in perception dictate and cause the disturbances in the rivers of life.
2007-11-01 15:27:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
EXACTLY my friend. Not only that- but was life supposed to be a vacation? How do we learn anything if everything is good? I learned the most thru harder times. And i reach to God thru harder times moreso than easy times. Though I do think he knows how grateful i am everytime I look at my baby I thank Him.
2007-11-01 15:52:08 · answer #9 · answered by The Stylist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think belief in god is a form of suffering. It's a form of evil that humans are free to choose, since they have "free will".......which really there is no such thing as "free will". We learn early in life that there is no free lunch! Things that we "WILL", we all pay for one way or another. I think Christians, Jews and Muslims are all victims of the evil they choose to believe in.
2007-11-01 15:27:49 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I dont understand why you're not a Christian, you would problaby make a great teacher, you're absolutely right when you wrote that, we do have to take responsibility for our actions, two well known stories from the bible that God Got sick and tired of people foolishness. 1. Noah's ark...did you not know that Noah preach for 120 years that God would floor the earth causing death to all man kind, he did that because of all the war/violence and things that was unpleasing to him. and 2. When he destroy the city of Solomn and Gamarra (misspelled wrong), but that city was full of homosexuals, he got sick and tired of their sin so he consequently destroyed them for it. So whatever we do good or bad God will pay us for it..the Good he will reward us the bad he will evintually show you that you're wrong.. But yes you're right when you posted that, and you should consider giving your life to Christ, accepting him as your lord and savior and confessing that you're saved by his grace, try him and see.
2007-11-01 15:31:31 · answer #11 · answered by big_d_45_2000 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋