GPLindsey

I choose bullet D--there is no God--although I don't know if I would say a 3-year-old has free will. S/he does in the sense of being in charge of his/her actions, but I wouldn't expect the child to understand the danger it was in and to act responsibly.

As far as interjecting the notion that "if it was my wife" and piling on other conditions--I thought theists didn't believe in "situational ethics?" Of course I agree with the earlier comment that I would leave my wife in a heartbeat if she knowingly, unapologetically let a child drown which she had the power to save. There is virtually no reasonable excuses one could offer in a situation like that.

My point was that an all-seeing, all-powerful, benevolent God--if one exists--should be expected to intercede to save the life of a lost child in danger, as society would expect any rational, compassionate person to do. If one argues that there are mysterious, higher purposes at work that make the death of the child a good thing, than one could just as easily argue the opposite--a cure for AIDS or cancer tomorrow is a terrible evil at some dark, mysterious higher level. Only God knows of course.

JL

Then why in the world would anyone concern themselves with worshiping him?

MadMordigan

Did the man reading the book do anything wrong?

No, unless he had arranged prior to mind the child for the stupid moron who let her kid run around unattended.