RJS

luvluv,

although I have been here for only 24 hours, let me predict the next question.

Why didnt God just make the Earth then that it didnt need Earthquakes and Hurricanes?

Sci_Fidelity

RJS

I certainly DO have kids, and your analogy shows how whacked-out your viewpoint really is. Comparing homework and timeout to the suffering in this world is absurd. For shame!!

RJS

as predicted

RJS

Let me try one more parent/child analogy. It might hit closer to home.

So do you think a 3 year old thinks that getting shots is about the most painful thing that they could experience? At least grant me that for the example.

Have you ever had a 3 year old, sitting on your lap, scream in pain as they were getting their vaccinations? Did they ever scream at you with tears in their eyes, "Daddy, make them stop hurting me?"

And were they mad at you for a while thereafter?

[ May 16, 2002: Message edited by: RJS ]

[ May 16, 2002: Message edited by: RJS ]</p>

Jeremy Pallant

Let me try an analogy. If you had the power to save an eight year old girl who was about to be gang-raped, you would, wouldn't you? Well, I know of just such an atrocity that took place in Atlanta a couple of years ago, and your loving god didn't stop it.

[ May 16, 2002: Message edited by: Jeremy Pallant ]</p>

RJS

With my incomplete earthly compassionate perspective, I would have stopped it. I, however, don't second guess what God does or does not do. The evils in the world, quite frankly, strengthen my faith tremendously - vs. many here who think that the existence of moral evil is a reason not to believe. I know many people, myself included, who have been thankful for things many would call suffering.

Jeremy Pallant

Well, lets have a look at some of the reasons a god would let a young girl be gang-raped.

1) He didn't know about it.

2) He knew about it but didn't care.

3) He wanted it to happen.

Anyone think of a few more?

How on earth does an abused child strengthen your faith?

I hope you're not suggesting that the child in question should thank god for the suffering she went through.

Mageth

Have you ever had a 3 year old, sitting on your lap, scream in pain as they were getting their vaccinations? Did they ever scream at you with tears in their eyes, "Daddy, make them stop hurting me?"

When someone gets terminal cancer or a horrible disease like Ebola, it's hardly comparable to a vaccination.

The child needed the shot; otherwise much worse things could happen to them. You, unlike god, are not supposed to be omniscient and omnipotent, and thus you don't know and can't create a less painful alternative to the vaccination.

I hear xians talking about how pain and suffering are used by god to do this or that. God is supposed to be omniscient and omnipotent, and omnibenevolent as well. Thus he should be able to come up with an alternative to pain and suffering to accomplish his goals. Since he hasn't, he either can't or won't, and thus he's one of not omnibenevolent, not omniscient, or not omnipotent, or a combination thereof.

hinduwoman

RJS, if you don't know the way of God, how can you claim that he is loving instead of being a sadistic bastard?

RJS

Because of the Truth spoken by Jesus.