Quote from: Rassah on May 28, 2013, 11:48:35 AM

Quote from: BitChick on May 28, 2013, 02:31:30 AM

Quote from: Rassah on May 28, 2013, 02:16:13 AM

And of course, an oldie, but always a goodie:

God doesn't prevent terrible things because:

1) He can't
2) He doesn't want to
3) He causes them
4) He doesn't exist.

Which one do you think is the right answer?

5) He gives man free will.
6) Some people deserve punishment.

#6 = #3. Also, fuck those starving African children. They never heard of God, so they deserve todie horrible deaths, right?

As for #5, if God knows everything that happened, is happening, and will happen, then everything that will happen is already predetermined, and despite the illusion of "free will," god already knows who will sin and go to hell, and who will not, even for those who aren't born yet. So why the charade? Why not just stop sinners from being born in the first place, if he knows he's just going to torture them for ever?

I believe God causes the things we consider as suffering or bad things. Sometimes something appears bad to us, but is actually better for us. For example a ship sinks, but the survivors make it to land, whereas if they'd continued something worse could have happened.
As for starving African children, no one has sympathy for the people at Walmart drowning in fat because they are so addicted to twinkies- both are suffering, and all of the suffering makes sense in the afterlife- supposing all souls, including children, get credits in the other world for their suffering. But since we can't conceive of the afterlife with our brains and senses, the suffering doesn't make sense to us. A good quote in the bible(though I believe the book has been extensively corrupted) is when some people as Jesus (peace be with him) about a blind guy and ask him if he is blind because he sinned or because his parents sinned. Jesus said he is blind that God's work will be manifest through him.