Is God a malevolent being?

[Jessjohnesik]

I think Yahweh is probably less malevolent than say, Quezalcoatl at any rate.

Nah, I think I prefer Quetzalcoatl.

Athena is smarter!

[BushSucks-istan]

God can do anything according to the religious.

Observation: there is evil.

Should God be able prevent evil? Yes.

Does he? No.

That makes him evil.

> implying you understand Gods will

>Implying you know what evil is

>implying you are in any position to judge God

Same Recycled "oh woes is me" problem of evil argument.

If God is responsible for this world he is reponsible for all the evil in it. YES I CAN JUDGE GOD. FUCK GOD! He is responsible for Hitler, for 9/11, child rape, genocide, ethnic cleansing, persecution and discrimination, starvation, north korea. All of it! He is the most disgusting and evil fictional character one can ever imagine.

[Alancar]

I liked Battlestar Galactica take on God: God isn't on anyone's side. He is neither good nor evil, he simply is a force of nature.

Of course that definition very much conflicts with the classical vision of god espoused by major religions. That being said if god was real it would make sense for people to believe he was intrinsically good and on their side.

[Chinese Regions]

God is...strange, in that He isn't entirely a singular entity by the human standards. Sure, in the old testatment, He killed a great many people, but Jesus actively repudiated that old methodology, declaring that no, people don't have to avoid eating the quail or die.


So...if He is one thing, He changed.

The only way it could be fair was to if he were faced with the punishments we would face for sinning; eternal damnation, Jesus was never sent to hell though.

[Liberated Counties]

God can do anything according to the religious.

Observation: there is evil.

Should God be able prevent evil? Yes.

Does he? No.

That makes him evil.

> implying you understand Gods will

>Implying you know what evil is

>implying you are in any position to judge God

Same Recycled "oh woes is me" problem of evil argument.

> Implying he is real, nobody has solid evidence to prove or disprove

>If his will has a secret twist to it by killing millions for good that's seriously fucked up

> i am in a position to judge god because out of my personal beliefs which aren't bound by evidence that he isn't real. And my judgement is that he is the the third worst book character of all time, next to Delores Umbridge and Edward Cullen

> This is fun

[The Joseon Dynasty]

From my vague Sunday School recollections, evil is just meant to be the absence of God. Since we have free will, we can choose to exist in the absence of God, but this cultivates evil. Furthermore, "God's love" would have no significance for people without the comparatively less pleasant alternative.

That's what I remember when this question was brought up. Then again, I was seven years old, so I may have botched it.

[BushSucks-istan]

I quote one of the native American chiefs right before the moment he was murdered by the European Christians. They asked him before they were going to burn him "to accept the lord Jesus Christ". He answered "If heaven is where the christians go, I'd rather go to hell".

[Nationalist State of Knox]

I liked Battlestar Galactica take on God: God isn't on anyone's side. He is neither good nor evil, he simply is a force of nature.

Of course that definition very much conflicts with the classical vision of god espoused by major religions. That being said if god was real it would make sense for people to believe he was intrinsically good and on their side.

Perhaps, but people would be more likely to follow him because of fear (of the consequences should they not follow him) rather than genuine love.

[Napkiraly]

Perhaps God is more akin to the Great Old Ones or the Outer Gods. It simply doesn't give a fuck.

[Olthar]

I think Yahweh is probably less malevolent than say, Quezalcoatl at any rate.

I don't remember Quezolcoatl throwing a hissy fit and flooding the world because the mean ol' humans didn't want to play with him anymore.

[Ritulus Terra]

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" - Epicurus
You have probably all heard the quote before, multiple times, but it's still relevant. Bravo to you OP for breaking it down like this, I've had thoughts like this for some time but there's no way I'd be able to formulate them into a coherent point.

[BushSucks-istan]

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" - Epicurus
You have probably all heard the quote before, multiple times, but it's still relevant. Bravo to you OP for breaking it down like this, I've had thoughts like this for some time but there's no way I'd be able to formulate them into a coherent point.

One of the best quotes ever.

[Big Jim P]

I am not malevolent, and I will smite the hell out of anyone who says I am.

[Yankee Empire]

Whats the point of arguing Gods Malevolence if you don't Beleive in God?

Trying to reinforce your preconceptions ponyboy?

I don't believe in God, but if I'm wrong (which I doubt), I believe that he's "evil" by my moral standards (and hopefully by the moral standards of everybody else), and thus is not worthy of worship.

Should Judgement Day come, and I have the choice of submitting to God or being cast down to hell, then let me tell you, I shall embrace the hellfire.

Whatever you say, you put your hand in a hot flame or better yet ignite yourslf on fir for a few seconds you won't beleive how fast you change your tune.
Not that I believe in the strict Christian conception of hell.

What Arrogance! Who cares what your Morals Standards are in comparison to God?

So much is implied in this line of thinking it just makes me laugh, I mean if I cane see the obviously holes in it makes you think it's some how fullproof against all Wisdom.

[Condunum]

I feel like I made a thread like this last year at some point.

...

Your OP is a lot better than mine was.

[Mavorpen]

If god exists, he's a dick, but so am I. That's probably why we get along so well. We play chess on Thursdays for the souls of mortals.

So God creating us in his image is literal in your case.

[Napkiraly]

I am not malevolent, and I will smite the hell out of anyone who says I am.

God is Satan now? Or are you guys conjoined twins?

[Nationalist State of Knox]

Perhaps God is more akin to the Great Old Ones or the Outer Gods. It simply doesn't give a fuck.

The Bible claims otherwise.

You have probably all heard the quote before, multiple times, but it's still relevant. Bravo to you OP for breaking it down like this, I've had thoughts like this for some time but there's no way I'd be able to formulate them into a coherent point.

*takes a bow*

Thank you.

[Big Jim P]

I am not malevolent, and I will smite the hell out of anyone who says I am.

God is Satan now? Or are you guys conjoined twins?

In this economy, even omnipotent beings have to work two jobs.

[Of the Free Socialist Territories]

Whatever you say, you put your hand in a hot flame or better yet ignite yourslf on fir for a few seconds you won't beleive how fast you change your tune.
Not that I believe in the strict Christian conception of hell.

What Arrogance! Who cares what your Morals Standards are in comparison to God?

His moral standards are considerably higher than God's, as he has never committed genocide or murdered men, women and children.

So much is implied in this line of thinking it just makes me laugh, I mean if I cane see the obviously holes in it

You might want to point them out, then, because all that you've put up so far has been more full of holes than a piece of Leerdammer at a firing range.

makes you think it's some how fullproof against all Wisdom.

Source that God is all-wise.
Source that God never makes mistakes.

[Yankee Empire]

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" - Epicurus
You have probably all heard the quote before, multiple times, but it's still relevant. Bravo to you OP for breaking it down like this, I've had thoughts like this for some time but there's no way I'd be able to formulate them into a coherent point.

One of the best quotes ever.

No it's a terrible quote because it implies knowing, it implies this man has all knowledge of absolute truth, morality and value in order to make a judgement of God.

[Cetacea]

First all these antitheist arguments are dumb and pointless and based on so much self important supposition and biased misintepretation that they are laughable, but being NSG I will respond regardless:)

No where does the Bible claim the Yahweh is omni-benevolent, from the start he is a 'jealous god', Yahweh Sabaoth is the Lord of Host, literally "Lord who Musters Armies" and he imposes a firm hand to guide his 'people', including punishing the wicked and seeking retribution against his enemies. In this regard his personification is similar to that of a King/Emperor or the US President responding to 9/11

Sure sin exists, but the creator instilled within people the capacity to choose either to follow the rules or to suffer the consequences of not following them, exactly the reason most progressive nations have police, courts, prisons and (in parts of the USA) the death penalty

Yahweh is a loving father but many will explain that a fathers love requires firm discipline too.

[Blazedtown]

(Image)

Whatever you say, you put your hand in a hot flame or better yet ignite yourslf on fir for a few seconds you won't beleive how fast you change your tune.
Not that I believe in the strict Christian conception of hell.

What Arrogance! Who cares what your Morals Standards are in comparison to God?

So much is implied in this line of thinking it just makes me laugh, I mean if I cane see the obviously holes in it makes you think it's some how fullproof against all Wisdom.

If South Park has taught me anything, heaven is full of Mormons, so you probably wouldn't want to be there either.

[Mavorpen]

Ponies is in second place.

Faith in NSG: restored.

[Condunum]

Perhaps God is more akin to the Great Old Ones or the Outer Gods. It simply doesn't give a fuck.

The Bible claims otherwise.

You have probably all heard the quote before, multiple times, but it's still relevant. Bravo to you OP for breaking it down like this, I've had thoughts like this for some time but there's no way I'd be able to formulate them into a coherent point.

*takes a bow*

Thank you.

Oh so you get praise, and all I got was a bunch of grumpy theists saying "you can't judge god" and atheists going "meh, no point."

I see how it is, NSG. I see how it is.