rainbow walking

There appears to me to be a distinct conflict of interest between several specific attributes of the christian God. The conflict is most notable between the attribute of omniscience and omnibenevolence.

If God is omniscient and thus knows every choice I'll ever make in my lifetime by simply moving ahead on the timeline and observing me in action then why did he create me to begin with?

For instance he must have foreseen that I would reject my faith and walk away from christianity. Now since this, according to christian theology, equates to me being destined for hell and eternal torment, and since God obviously foreknew this outcome, how can he still claim the distinction of being omnibenevolent by creating me anyway knowing I would end up in hell?

Was I created as fodder for the furnace? Would a genuine omnibenevolent being create a creature in his image for such a purpose?

Obviously somethings amiss here. Anyone care to enlighten me?

not a theist

rainbow, is this just a hypothetical?
Are you playing devils advocate with us?
Or is this an autobiographical statement?

Indifference

Well, I agree with you completely.

But a theist refute might sound something like this...

God does have omniscience but... he also gives us free will. Free will, i guess, can account for why you chose to reject Him, therefore releaving Him of any accountability for your eternity in hell.

Not that this makes much sense, but i've heard someone explain it this way before.

rainbow walking

autobiographical statement

rainbow walking

Yes, I know the freewill aspect holds me accountable for my decision, however, God's omniscient attribute would have provided him with this knowledge before he created me so the final blame rests squarely in his court for creating a creature he already knew would reject him which casts a serious shadow over any claim of omnibenevolence.

not a theist

Well, let me play devil's advocate then.

What if your existence would be the cause of others not rejecting God who otherwise would have?
Perhaps your "bad example" will cause many others to see from your mistake and thereby be saved from hell.

Why isn't that an acceptable explanation?

Indifference

Rainbow Walking,

I agree. I was just providing an argument I was once given. The reasoning is obviously absent.

[ April 26, 2002: Message edited by: Indifference ]</p>

Indifference

This is where omnipotence should come in. Why can't he just make everyone believe in the first place?

rainbow walking

Because, though sounding good for those un-named "others", it still leaves me as furnace fodder. Surely an omnibenevolent God would not wish to sacrifice me to save someone else? And if this is true, seeing how Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to save the world, shouldn't I be rewarded with something besides eternal torment in hell?

not a theist

Well, that's my take on it too, so my playing devil's advocate is over.

Nice to see you back!