Suffering is often explained as something God "allows" to happen (where God has a passive role).
But if you look at a poxvirus (including smallpox), it has a highly complex structure, which seems intelligently designed. This means God would have had an *active* role in creating it and putting it on earth, knowing that smallpox would kill so many people.
Does this mean God is not all-good, or does it mean that there was some other origin for the virus?
2007-11-20 20:36:52 · 12 answers · asked by Surely Funke 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
treats, it still seems that the virus was not a direct consequence of sin. It was something that God put some thought into. He could have not made it altogether, or He could have made it less deadly, but that's not what happened.
psychologist, I appreciate your honesty and thought. I wonder, though, how people would have been able to deal with these diseases back before the improvement of sanitation.
2007-11-20 21:07:33 · update #1
I've seen some (I stress *some* not all) Christians and Muslims claim that God created HIV/AIDS to kill off homosexuals.
In that case, why allow innocent parties such as unborn babies with HIV positive mothers to contract the virus?
If you want to follow that line of reasoning, the intelligent design behind it seems rather cruel.
2007-11-20 20:53:16 · answer #1 · answered by . 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-08-23 22:35:57 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God, should there be one, is rather apathetic towards us simple creatures. Better things to do, being all seeing and all knowing. If indeed there is God in the sense that theists would have us accept on faith, then I think it could only be ego which tells this petty conglomorate of atoms, otherwise known as mankind, that God cares about man at all.
So a virus.. evolving from a single cell organsim over millions of years.. or a virus designed by God and set upon us for reasons only known to God.... either way.. it is up to us to find a way to protect ourselves and prayer just doesn't cut it.
2007-11-20 21:50:32 · answer #3 · answered by Icy Gazpacho 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Commonsense dictates that God DID create every living thing.
It is because we are IMPERFECT that these viruses affect us.
We do not know, but maybe these viruses have another role or purpose OTHER than making us sick.
In the near future, God will do away with all sicknesses...and death.
(Revelation 21:4) And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
the benefits, though, are only for those being obedient. Sadly, not the wicked.
(Psalm 37:34) Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, And he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked ones are cut off, you will see [it].
2007-11-20 21:00:52 · answer #4 · answered by pugjw9896 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What as awesome question ! Very thought provoking. As a believer in God I must accept that He did, indeed 'create' viruses. However, He also gave us clear guidelines on lifestyle, hygiene,etc., so, not being an expert on viruses, I also assume, if everyone lived a 'clean' God inspired life they would not have been troubled by viruses ? Therefore I view them as another 'test' from God, to encourage us to live a Godly life . Wonderful question tho' !
2007-11-20 20:52:09 · answer #5 · answered by psychologist_4u 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Viruses are naturally based - God had nothing to do with it. I'm not sticking up for the man but i'm saying that viruses are either nature based or man based.
And for the last time and i'm so tiredof explaining this - "God" is not all good. we just want to believe that so we dont expect s*** to hit the fan every day.
2007-11-20 20:44:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you follow the ridiculous I.D hypothesis then he must have, as well as flesh eating bacteria, cancer, and indeed every disease know to human, animal and even plant kind. Now either he is greatly evil, or the more likely non existent.
2007-11-20 21:02:12 · answer #7 · answered by Birdy is my real name 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is part of curse that man upon himself for his disobiendence in the Eden that all. So it all intelligently designed. But don't forget that Jesus did away with the curses by paying of His blood. So good health is our right as believers and I even believe good science is there to support our discovery of medicine that help in having good health.
2007-11-20 20:49:16 · answer #8 · answered by treatsinlife 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you knew how important viruses were to the evolutionary process, you wouldn't play that card. Just a friendly Atheist paradigm.
2007-11-20 20:40:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe some were and some weren't. Like AIDS i think was definitely created by man in a lab, not by bumping uglies with chimps.
2007-11-20 20:48:40 · answer #10 · answered by bezsenný 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋