Is God Evil?

[Basementees]

The OP assumes that god is real. If we are to take the theoretical viewpoint and assume that god does exist then we have ourselves and interesting debate.

The Link to the blog does prove an interesting point with firstly the definition of evil, and secondly the exploits of the Christian god.

but before we ask is god evil, we must ask ourselves, "Do all religions worship the same god?" if the answer is yes then we have a wider range of evidence to look at; if the answer is no, then we have to see whose god we are talking about.


But why should this so-called god conform to our definitions of Good? We are talking about a higher entity that is older and wiser than us.




(written by an atheist - written as the stuff came to my head)

[Keronians]

The answer to the third question, is simply that He is willing to prevent evil, but not willing to make mankind and all other forms of life simple puppets as a consequence.

Is there free will in heaven?

I don't know.

Is there?

EDIT: Oh, I get it. But the ones who go into Heaven are the ones who do not perform evil. Thus, the problem of evil does not exist.

[Huntertopia]

God doesn't give up on anyone. We know how to live, we have the Bible to tell us, but some are so ignorant to not take the Word into their hearts.

Are you threatening me?

Anyway, that doesn't explain why God doesn't interfere anymore.

God believes we have the tools to live the right way, therefore we shouldn't have to have him interfere.

[Samuraikoku]

God believes we have the tools to live the right way, therefore we shouldn't have to have him interfere.

I don't believe there's much difference from then.

[Keronians]

God believes we have the tools to live the right way, therefore we shouldn't have to have him interfere.

I don't believe there's much difference from then.

It's a pity that we're (humanity) incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms.

[Huntertopia]

God believes we have the tools to live the right way, therefore we shouldn't have to have him interfere.

I don't believe there's much difference from then.

Back then, God interfered with our lives, now we have the Bible to tell us what He wants us to do, so He doesn't get involved.

[Samuraikoku]

Back then, God interfered with our lives, now we have the Bible to tell us what He wants us to do, so He doesn't get involved.

So he gave up teaching directly and said "Class, read from the book. Anything written there will count for the final examination!"

[Keronians]

Back then, God interfered with our lives, now we have the Bible to tell us what He wants us to do, so He doesn't get involved.

So he gave up teaching directly and said "Class, read from the book. Anything written there will count for the final examination!"

More like, he taught us, and then expects us to continue revising until the final exam.

[Genivaria]

Is there free will in heaven?

I don't know.

Is there?

EDIT: Oh, I get it. But the ones who go into Heaven are the ones who do not perform evil. Thus, the problem of evil does not exist.

But sin is inherent is it not? How can they still have free will but not still sin?

[Bleckonia]

I am an atheist, meaning that I do not believe in God, but if he exists, and is all-knowing and all-powerful, but lets all these tragedies in the world happen, then he is either neglectful or evil. So he might be evil if he exists, or he just doesn't care.

[Keronians]

I don't know.

Is there?

EDIT: Oh, I get it. But the ones who go into Heaven are the ones who do not perform evil. Thus, the problem of evil does not exist.

But sin is inherent is it not? How can they still have free will but not still sin?

I'm pretty sure that you are freed of sin when you ascend into Heaven.

I must say, I'm getting tired of defending a religion I don't adher to.

[Huntertopia]

Back then, God interfered with our lives, now we have the Bible to tell us what He wants us to do, so He doesn't get involved.

So he gave up teaching directly and said "Class, read from the book. Anything written there will count for the final examination!"

Perhaps so. I don't have all the answers. No one does.

[Farnhamia]

I don't believe there's much difference from then.

It's a pity that we're (humanity) incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms.

We've also been to the moon, eradicated disease, stopped others from committing genocide, opened our hearts to people we don't know and never will meet, written poetry and prose that speaks absolute truth and have figured out an amazing amount about how the universe works. If you enjoy part of the tribe you described, that's on you. Human nature is a work in progress.

[Genivaria]

But sin is inherent is it not? How can they still have free will but not still sin?

I'm pretty sure that you are freed of sin when you ascend into Heaven.

I must say, I'm getting tired of defending a religion I don't adher to.

Then don't. There are plenty of real theists out there, you don't need to play devil's advocate. (Irony)

[Suidwes-Afrika]

I am an atheist, meaning that I do not believe in God, but if he exists, and is all-knowing and all-powerful, but lets all these tragedies in the world happen, then he is either neglectful or evil. So he might be evil if he exists, or he just doesn't care.

See? As I've said, if God is anything other than good, he must be more apathetic than evil. "Neglectful" is not quite as proper.

Or, you could be far more optimistic and state that God gave us all free will. He would be "imposing" if he tried to solve all of the world's major problems as we know it right now (Which were actually all brought on us by ourselves).

[Samuraikoku]

But sin is inherent is it not? How can they still have free will but not still sin?

I'm pretty sure that you are freed of sin when you ascend into Heaven.

I must say, I'm getting tired of defending a religion I don't adher to.

If you're getting paid, you now know what it means to be a lawyer.

[Keronians]

It's a pity that we're (humanity) incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms.

We've also been to the moon, eradicated disease, stopped others from committing genocide, opened our hearts to people we don't know and never will meet, written poetry and prose that speaks absolute truth and have figured out an amazing amount about how the universe works. If you enjoy part of the tribe you described, that's on you. Human nature is a work in progress.

A feet we took almost a 40,000 years to accomplish, and have only begun to accomplish recently.

Deterring from the worst of humanity's traits in the last few hundred years (and, even then, with notable exceptions, and downturns) is a poor result for a species which has been in existence for over 40,000 years.

We're pretty much a textbook "best of the worst".

[Bleckonia]

I don't believe there's much difference from then.

It's a pity that we're (humanity) incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms.

I'm atheist, but if God exists and created humans, why did he make us incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms? That's part of the reason of why I don't believe in God or intelligent design.

[Vitius]

Who determines what is right or wrong?

As I understand it, how it affects others. Murder and rape, as I pointed out, are wrong because it inflicts damage unwillingly upon others for no good reason.

And I also believe that.

However, the rapist may not. The rapist may think he is somehow (in a twisted way) helping his victim or 'gracing' them. I had a friend that had such a high self-esteem that he though his mere presence at a social event was an honour and benefited others.

But I liked how you said 'how it affect others'. I respect your views, but in terms of God's judgement (again, just my views, I apologize if I am inflicting upon your beliefs or lack of), I believe that he judges us by our deeds which have affected those around us and the Earth rather than if we were 'good or evil'.

[Keronians]

It's a pity that we're (humanity) incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms.

I'm atheist, but if God exists and created humans, why did he make us incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms? That's part of the reason of why I don't believe in God or intelligent design.

That's the point, He didn't.

We became that way after the Fall of Man.

Grr... whenever I see that, I always think of what an awesome videogame that could make.

[Tannarabia]

ISo, NSers, do you agree that God is evil?

God, I believe, depends on the person who believes Him. I do not believe in Him, yet I have that spiritual sense of there is a higher being, so therefor my God is nuetral.

[Bleckonia]

I am an atheist, meaning that I do not believe in God, but if he exists, and is all-knowing and all-powerful, but lets all these tragedies in the world happen, then he is either neglectful or evil. So he might be evil if he exists, or he just doesn't care.

See? As I've said, if God is anything other than good, he must be more apathetic than evil. "Neglectful" is not quite as proper.

Or, you could be far more optimistic and state that God gave us all free will. He would be "imposing" if he tried to solve all of the world's major problems as we know it right now (Which were actually all brought on us by ourselves).

Yes, "apathetic" is probably better word choice now that you bring it up.

[Farnhamia]

We've also been to the moon, eradicated disease, stopped others from committing genocide, opened our hearts to people we don't know and never will meet, written poetry and prose that speaks absolute truth and have figured out an amazing amount about how the universe works. If you enjoy part of the tribe you described, that's on you. Human nature is a work in progress.

A feet we took almost a 40,000 years to accomplish, and have only begun to accomplish recently.

Deterring from the worst of humanity's traits in the last few hundred years (and, even then, with notable exceptions, and downturns) is a poor result for a species which has been in existence for over 40,000 years.

We're pretty much a textbook "best of the worst".

No, we aren't. For however many tens of thousands of years we cooperated, explored, fed each other and lived through the ice as it came and went. Could such "incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms" do that?

[Keronians]

A feet we took almost a 40,000 years to accomplish, and have only begun to accomplish recently.

Deterring from the worst of humanity's traits in the last few hundred years (and, even then, with notable exceptions, and downturns) is a poor result for a species which has been in existence for over 40,000 years.

We're pretty much a textbook "best of the worst".

No, we aren't. For however many tens of thousands of years we cooperated, explored, fed each other and lived through the ice as it came and went. Could such "incompetent, irrational, genocidal, discriminating, malevolent, lying, idiotic life forms" do that?

When was this?

[Ceannairceach]

As I understand it, how it affects others. Murder and rape, as I pointed out, are wrong because it inflicts damage unwillingly upon others for no good reason.

And I also believe that.

However, the rapist may not. The rapist may think he is somehow (in a twisted way) helping his victim or 'gracing' them. I had a friend that had such a high self-esteem that he though his mere presence at a social event was an honour and benefited others.

It doesn't matter what the rapist believes.