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The Problem of Evil (Read 42151 times)
freediver
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #60 - May 9th, 2011 at 6:11pm
 
Sappho wrote on May 8th, 2011 at 9:08pm:
Freediver and Time are so close to the solution to this logical conundrum that I'll just tell you all.

Theologians would argue that we cannot know what good is, how good god is or how valuable good is without placing it in contrast with evil.

I find it a completely unacceptable solution... but it is a solution to the problem of evil nonetheless.



So you knew the answer from the beginning?

I would add a some more bits:

Where would you draw the line between good and evil, and what would the unintended consequences be? For example, would we be more complacents about the Hanson's in this world without the Hitlers?

Also, I would question your assumptions about omnipotence. In the example I put to you earlier, you would be omnipotent from the perspective of your creation, and would at least have access to all knowledge and would thus be 'all-knowing'. But you would not sit there and personally intervene and it is questionable whether you would be able to, even if you wanted to. If your creations demanded it of you, you would probably smite them for being so arrogant.

The question, and Hume's response seem to only allow for omnipotence and impotence - a false dichotomy. What about potence? The analogy I put to you can only be fathomed because we have a familiar analogy - computers. Prior to computers, what analogy would people have had? A real universe as a model of a universe? I am not aware of any religion that claims the nature of God's power, or even the nature of God, to be fathomable by humans. Likewise, would your creation be able to fathom you without computers?

The same thing can be said of nature. Nature is only capable of great beauty because of the ugliness and suffering it is allowed. Without that, earth would just be covered with a layer of pleasant looking green slime. You can almost use the words God and nature/evolution interchangeably in these discussions. In fact this is one reason why I say evolution is not a scientitific theory - because it can lead to the same sort of intellectual laziness as saying 'God did it' as an explanation.

This forum can be likewise viewed as a creation. It is only by allowing evil that it is capable of great good. Forum owners who try to disallow what they see as evil run into the same problems. They don't know where to draw the line. They blur the line between good and evil. Their actions often end up looking more like evil than good.

All the great stories, novels, movies, comics etc are about the struggle between good and evil. If you took away the evil, the good would go also. It reminds me of those childrens cartoons that get too 'preachy'. They are boring.

Quote:
I find it a completely unacceptable solution...


Matched only in its vaccuousness by the 'problem' it solves.
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« Last Edit: May 9th, 2011 at 6:19pm by freediver »  

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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #61 - May 10th, 2011 at 8:31am
 
freediver wrote on May 9th, 2011 at 6:11pm:
This forum can be likewise viewed as a creation. It is only by allowing evil that it is capable of great good. Forum owners who try to disallow what they see as evil run into the same problems. They don't know where to draw the line. They blur the line between good and evil. Their actions often end up looking more like evil than good.

So you never ban or moderate, then FD?

If 'evil' must exist "because otherwise we wouldn't know what 'good' is" (and, for the theist, 'we wouldn't know god exists'), should indicate to the theist only that 'god' cannot be omni-benevolent.


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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #62 - May 10th, 2011 at 9:19am
 
Yadda wrote on May 9th, 2011 at 9:32am:
Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 8th, 2011 at 7:40pm:
Even if we presuppose for a second God and evil existed, evils continuance is needed to justify God's 'good'. Good and evil, like good and bad in the real world, work in a dialectical relation. You can't have one without the other because each need the other to compare and contrast itself against. For example, something is 'good' because it has such and such effect and avoids these other 'evil' such and such effects. Something is 'evil' because it has such and such effects and avoids 'good' such and such effects. It's a simple game of comparing effects and placing more value the good and little value on the evil.

So, God needs evil people just as much as he needs good people. They both are required to justify his morality.

Time 1
God 0




Yes you can.

And [or, but ??? ], not in close proximity to each other.



I believe that in our world [within this 'reality'], both good and evil can find 'expression'.

This 'reality' is a 'construct' [err, ...a 'creation' even], where that 'expression', of both good and evil, is possible.
[...i believe].





But good and evil cannot co-exist within close proximity [i believe].

It is like, light and, darkness.

If something of the darkness were to approach light, it would be 'burned' up by the light.

If something of the light approached the darkness, it would be absorbed, 'corrupted', by the darkness.



'The light' is in the centre, the darkness surrounds the light, but is unable to overcome it.

At the centre of the light, is a 'presence', which we know as 'God'.




I want to live in the light.

I know what is in the darkness.

I do not want to live there!



That is my choice.





You're still comparing and contrasting them.
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #63 - May 10th, 2011 at 10:02am
 
NorthOfNorth wrote on May 10th, 2011 at 8:31am:
freediver wrote on May 9th, 2011 at 6:11pm:
This forum can be likewise viewed as a creation. It is only by allowing evil that it is capable of great good. Forum owners who try to disallow what they see as evil run into the same problems. They don't know where to draw the line. They blur the line between good and evil. Their actions often end up looking more like evil than good.


So you never ban or moderate, then FD?

If 'evil' must exist "because otherwise we wouldn't know what 'good' is" (and, for the theist, 'we wouldn't know god exists'), should indicate to the theist only that 'god' cannot be omni-benevolent.





helian,

That is an interesting Q. to put to FD.

I would assume that FD would need to remove posts that had content which was 'unlawful'.

But excluding those posts that had 'unlawful' content, is FD saying that all other comment is 'acceptable' ?



Personally, i find myself leaning FD's way.
...for the sake of allowing free and open debate, on any issue.

Personally, i am in favour of any and all biases being expressed in online forums [like OzPol].

And i would suggest that it is healthy to any 'open' society, for 'offensive' biases [and as many as possible!!] to be expressed,
...AND EXPOSED TO THE SCRUTINY OF OTHERS.

In that way, with evidence and argument presented, others [who view, or, make the arguments] can judge for themselves, whether any expressed bias is,
reason-able,
OR,
irrational and/or 'offensive'.




And isn't this then, coming back again, to our perception of what is good [acceptable], and evil [offensive] ?

And in such a process, don't we ourselves, then become the judges of what is 'acceptable' [at least for ourselves].



+++

p.s.

What about comments, posters, who attack 'the messenger' [abusive posts] ?

Are such 'comments' legitimate ?

e.g.
Posts which do not engage in debate, posts which do not argue the merits of the information being presented, but rather only denigrate a person [who is presenting information, or presenting an argument].



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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31
 
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #64 - May 10th, 2011 at 10:08am
 
Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on May 10th, 2011 at 9:19am:
You're still comparing and contrasting them [good and evil].




Yes i am.

I'm trying to use my discernment, trying to separate one form the other.




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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31
 
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #65 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am
 
Quote:
How do you know that your god is not, in fact, a demonic superpowerful alien who gets off on tormenting and deceiving people, but who merely claims to be good?

source


Interesting point that... but rather than refer to aliens, lets ask instead... How do you know that your god is not in fact, a demonic god who merely claims to be good?

After all, it's not as though god denies the existence of other gods, he doesn't. Rather he acknowledges other gods and demands that he be the object of worship and not them.

Quote:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery you shall have no other gods before me.


So how can a person know if it is not one of the other gods which is the good god, and that The God who claims to be good, isn't deceiving the faithful?
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« Last Edit: Jul 8th, 2011 at 2:09am by Sappho »  

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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #66 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 7:30am
 
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am:
After all, it's not as though god denies the existence of other gods, he doesn't. Rather he acknowledges other gods and demands that he be the object of worship and not them.

Only Yahweh acknowledges the existence of other gods... The Christian god does not nor Islam's Allah... Hindus acknowledge that god is one. (Most) Buddhist sects do not accept the existence of a god as such (unless oneness in itself and its ultimate nothingness is a god-like presence).
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #67 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 9:43am
 
NorthOfNorth wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 7:30am:
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am:
After all, it's not as though god denies the existence of other gods, he doesn't. Rather he acknowledges other gods and demands that he be the object of worship and not them.


Only Yahweh acknowledges the existence of other gods...


The Christian god does not nor Islam's Allah... Hindus acknowledge that god is one. (Most) Buddhist sects do not accept the existence of a god as such (unless oneness in itself and its ultimate nothingness is a god-like presence).




helian,

Yes, in OT scripture Yahweh acknowledges that there 'are' [i.e. that men have worshipped] other 'Gods'.

But, he also states in OT scripture that men have sought imbue [what are merely] idols with the characteristics of (a) God.


e.g.
There are numerous Bible passages which seem to say, that seem to to acknowledge, that there 'are' many Gods...

Psalms 82:1
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

Psalms 86:8
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

Psalms 135:5
For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

And there are many more such verses.



But also there are verses like this....

Isaiah 40:18
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19  The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20  He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

Isaiah 44:9
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.



But in OT scripture God claims that he alone is a, the, God of creation, and he states that there are no Gods beside him.

Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Psalms 96:5
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Isaiah 44:6
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
7  And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
8  Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.


"I make peace, and create evil:"
???

Now there is a contentious statement / admission !     Grin



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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31
 
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #68 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 10:13am
 
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am:

Interesting point that... but rather than refer to aliens, lets ask instead... How do you know that your god is not in fact, a demonic god who merely claims to be good?






Sappho,

Well God has 'fooled' me into believing that he is a good and just,   .....er, God.

But then i'm easily fooled.
/sarc off



But seriously....

Read, study, the 5 OT books of Moses.

What will you discover, if you do ???

You will discover that God hates [in the OT he often uses the words 'abhor' and 'abhorreth' to refer to...] wickedness and oppression.

And yes, he is, and will be, ruthless towards those who condone and commit those kinds of crimes.

But God is also revealed [even in his very harsh judgements against persons who are criminals] to be a fair and just God.



BUT, most men do NOT want judgement [against evil doers].

Ask yourself, 'Why not ?'





I cannot convince you, i cannot prove these things to you.

You are REQUIRED to find this out for yourself.

And, God requires that, of us.

God requires that we come to know him.



And that, is how God is clever !!!!

Those who don't know him....
....well,

Q.
WHY, DON'T SOME PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW HIM !!!

I know the answer to that question.

And so does God !!!




That is how God is separating men.


Matthew 25:31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Matthew 13:10
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.




God is very clever, and just.

The wicked are 'self selecting' themselves!     Grin






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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #69 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 11:54am
 
Yadda wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 10:13am:
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am:

Interesting point that... but rather than refer to aliens, lets ask instead... How do you know that your god is not in fact, a demonic god who merely claims to be good?


You will discover that God hates [in the OT he often uses the words 'abhor' and 'abhorreth' to refer to...] wickedness and oppression.

And yes, he is, and will be, ruthless towards those who condone and commit those kinds of crimes.

But God is also revealed [even in his very harsh judgements against persons who are criminals] to be a fair and just God.


So how does this sit with the book of Job?

For those who don't know, God was challenged by Satan who claimed that Job would not be so faithful if his life were not so blessed by God. So God allowed Satan to do what he could to strip Job of his blessings to see if his obedience to and faith in god remained. Job's faith and obedience remained and so God doubly blessed him in return.

Now, if God was so against wickedness and oppression, why on earth did he allow this wicked challenge which resulted in oppression of the kind not seen anywhere else in the bible? 

Quote:
You are REQUIRED to find this out for yourself.

And, God requires that, of us.

God requires that we come to know him.


Yep been there and done that and found God to be a collection of inconsistencies. More significantly, I cant justify his morality, which in many cases is beyond the call of justice to the point of unnecessarily cruel. (such as Lot's wife or Job).

You do realise that Job is teaching us a lesson too... that if there is doubt, you may test it. And that is what we are doing here... we are looking at scripture and comparing that to the common understanding of God as all knowing, all powerful and all good.
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #70 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 12:25pm
 
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 11:54am:
Yadda wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 10:13am:
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am:

Interesting point that... but rather than refer to aliens, lets ask instead... How do you know that your god is not in fact, a demonic god who merely claims to be good?


You will discover that God hates [in the OT he often uses the words 'abhor' and 'abhorreth' to refer to...] wickedness and oppression.

And yes, he is, and will be, ruthless towards those who condone and commit those kinds of crimes.

But God is also revealed [even in his very harsh judgements against persons who are criminals] to be a fair and just God.


So how does this sit with the book of Job?

For those who don't know, God was challenged by Satan who claimed that Job would not be so faithful if his life were not so blessed by God. So God allowed Satan to do what he could to strip Job of his blessings to see if his obedience to and faith in god remained. Job's faith and obedience remained and so God doubly blessed him in return.

Now, if God was so against wickedness and oppression, why on earth did he allow this wicked challenge which resulted in oppression of the kind not seen anywhere else in the bible? 






Sappho,

The more 'weight' and importance we give to the things of this life, the more 'injustice' and 'unfairness' we will see in God's dealing with us.

Personally, in the big scheme of things, i don't see my body as being [very] important.

I see my body, as a temporary 'house' [...or even, as a 'prison' !].

I will often look at my hand, and i will conceptualise that 'it' is not a part of me, rather i see it as merely 'something' that i can 'direct' and control, in this reality.

Yes, i know that i am 'unhinged', mad.    hehe



The more we care about the things of this world, the less we will understand about God, and the more we will separate ourselves, from him.


What did Jesus say....

John 8:23
And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.



AND,

1 Corinthians 10:1
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.


James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.



To love this world, and to love, all that it 'offers' us, is foolishness.

But who, have the eyes to see that ????

Do fools ???


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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31
 
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #71 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 12:34pm
 
Yadda wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 12:25pm:
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 11:54am:
Yadda wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 10:13am:
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am:

Interesting point that... but rather than refer to aliens, lets ask instead... How do you know that your god is not in fact, a demonic god who merely claims to be good?


You will discover that God hates [in the OT he often uses the words 'abhor' and 'abhorreth' to refer to...] wickedness and oppression.

And yes, he is, and will be, ruthless towards those who condone and commit those kinds of crimes.

But God is also revealed [even in his very harsh judgements against persons who are criminals] to be a fair and just God.


So how does this sit with the book of Job?

For those who don't know, God was challenged by Satan who claimed that Job would not be so faithful if his life were not so blessed by God. So God allowed Satan to do what he could to strip Job of his blessings to see if his obedience to and faith in god remained. Job's faith and obedience remained and so God doubly blessed him in return.

Now, if God was so against wickedness and oppression, why on earth did he allow this wicked challenge which resulted in oppression of the kind not seen anywhere else in the bible?  






Sappho,

The more 'weight' and importance we give to the things of this life, the more 'injustice' and 'unfairness' we will see in God's dealing with us.

Personally, in the big scheme of things, i don't see my body as being [very] important.

I see my body, as a temporary 'house' [...or even, as a 'prison' !].

I will often look at my hand, and i will conceptualise that 'it' is not a part of me, rather i see it as merely 'something' that i can 'direct' and control, in this reality.

Yes, i know that i am 'unhinged', mad.    hehe


It was more than the body (and the purse strings for that matter) that were affected Yadda, it was Job's relationships had with his sons that he lost too. They died remember? And he gave back to Job double the sons, but they were not the same sons with which he had meaningful relationships. And then again, Lot lost his wife.
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #72 - Jul 8th, 2011 at 10:11pm
 
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 11:54am:
Yadda wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 10:13am:
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 1:44am:

Interesting point that... but rather than refer to aliens, lets ask instead... How do you know that your god is not in fact, a demonic god who merely claims to be good?


You will discover that God hates [in the OT he often uses the words 'abhor' and 'abhorreth' to refer to...] wickedness and oppression.

And yes, he is, and will be, ruthless towards those who condone and commit those kinds of crimes.

But God is also revealed [even in his very harsh judgements against persons who are criminals] to be a fair and just God.


So how does this sit with the book of Job?


Ah Job! The great lyrical ode to endurance required to apprehend the sensibility of conviction and courage.
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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #73 - Jul 9th, 2011 at 12:53pm
 
Sappho wrote on Jul 8th, 2011 at 12:34pm:

It was more than the body (and the purse strings for that matter) that were affected Yadda,

it was Job's relationships had with his sons that he lost too.

They died remember?

And he gave back to Job double the sons, but they were not the same sons with which he had meaningful relationships.

And then again, Lot lost his wife.






Job 1:20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.


Psalms 103:14
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.


Psalms 144:3
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4  Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.


Sappho,

Do you really believe that Job has lost his sons ???   [<----yes, present tense ]

Do you believe that Job and his sons, do not exist, now ???


Matthew 22:31
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.


Yes, Job bore a great deal of loss and pain, in his life.

Is God unjust ???

Psalms 62:8
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9  Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10  Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11  God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12  Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.


Yes, it is difficult for us to comprehend what is the purpose, of our suffering here.

Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.


Ecclesiastes 11:8
But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
9  Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.


Of the days of men's lives, here in this life, the Preacher says...

Ecclesiastes 3:10
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12  I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.


This world, this life, is a distraction to us.

And if that is true, it begs the question;

Why doesn't God want us to be aware, of who we really are ???





Do you think that the 60-70 years, which you 'invest' in this life can produce 'anything' of worth ???

The consequences of our choices is all that will remain.

Are, were, your choices, good choices ?



Sure, while we are here we love our families, and we do the best that we can for them.

e.g.
Alexander the Great had a cousin [perhaps], that person fathered 6 children [perhaps].
That man, loved his children and his wife.
That man invested all that he had, in his relationship with his children and his wife.
Where is that man today ?

He is dust [at least, everything 'of' him, which was tangible, is now dust].

Should that man have worried about what he would leave here, within this world ???



And what is the point, my point, in presenting that little scenario ?

My point is that we should not love this world.

Matthew 6:19
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


+++

Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Is that explanation too simple ???

If you have children, don't you challenge them [as they are growing up], to help them grow?

And doesn't how we [ourselves] respond to hardships and challenges, define who we are ?

Love God.

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« Last Edit: Jul 9th, 2011 at 1:05pm by Yadda »  

"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31
 
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Sappho
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OzPolitic

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Re: The Problem of Evil
Reply #74 - Jul 10th, 2011 at 9:55pm
 
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"Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables."
 
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