Does God take humanity seriously?

[Road Warrior]

But if there is no eternal soul, then what a waste all that suffering & death is.
I'm hedging my bets by eschewing avoidable suffering.

If there is no soul then there is no God to blame.

 

[Reptillian]

I think the argument that suffering causes us to grow has some good points. The problem is a matter of degree. For instance, a light amount of suffering might create a situation where the benefits outweigh the negatives. But, an extreme amount of suffering would not. And theres plently of extreme suffering out there.

It is kind of interesting, because the drive to eliminate suffering has been a huge force in the development of human civilization. We try to make our lives easier by inventing new tools, technologies, and medicines. I'd suppose we owe some of our intelligence and creativity to suffering. If humanity someday solves all of it's problems, will we still have a reason to think and create? I'd like to think so personally, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm hoping that our sense of awe and wonder would be enough to keep us learning and moving forward.

There are a couple of interesting solutions to the problem of evil besides the "no God" solution. One possibility is that there are more gods than just one. Zoroastrianism, and Christianity to some extent, take the two god approach and introduce an evil deity. So you have two gods, one good one evil, at work in the world. Evil is caused by the evil god (The Devil). Another possibility is that there is one God but non omnipotent. So God basically has his own problems to deal with and his problems are related to our problems.

 

[Revoltingest]

If there is no soul then there is no God to blame.

Lack of an eternal soul wouldn't preclude God.

 

[Road Warrior]

I'd love to hear the atheist point of view on that idea. Please explain further.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

It would make one a stronger soul.

Please do tell how starving to death will make you a stronger soul because I think it makes a person dead.

 

[dawny0826]

I believe that God has bestowed upon each one of us, the ability to help others, be it in small or large ways. There is a way each person can be the hands of God to help mend a broken world.

To question why others do nothing or why God does nothing, in my opinion, is a waste of energy and time. That time can be used to research a worthy cause, so that one can make a difference in the lives of people who are suffering on a local (or international) level. Through volunteerism and donations (in-kind or monetary), people can make change and meet the basic needs of those who are suffering.

There are so many ways that people can make a difference in the lives of others - with little time and effort.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

It is kind of interesting, because the drive to eliminate suffering has been a huge force in the development of human civilization. We try to make our lives easier by inventing new tools, technologies, and medicines. I'd suppose we owe some of our intelligence and creativity to suffering. If humanity someday solves all of it's problems, will we still have a reason to think and create? I'd like to think so personally, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm hoping that our sense of awe and wonder would be enough to keep us learning and moving forward.

There are a couple of interesting solutions to the problem of evil besides the "no God" solution. One possibility is that there are more gods than just one. Zoroastrianism, and Christianity to some extent, take the two god approach and introduce an evil deity. So you have two gods, one good one evil, at work in the world. Evil is caused by the evil god (The Devil). Another possibility is that there is one God but non omnipotent. So God basically has his own problems to deal with and his problems are related to our problems.

Or there could be an incompetent creator God who has no idea what it is doing and a distant all powerful God who just lets the chips fall where they may.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

I believe that God has bestowed upon each one of us, the ability to help others, be it in small or large ways. There is a way each person can be the hands of God to help mend a broken world.

To question why others do nothing or why God does nothing, in my opinion, is a waste of energy and time. That time can be used to research a worthy cause, so that one can make a difference in the lives of people who are suffering on a local (or international) level. Through volunteerism and donations (in-kind or monetary) to a worthy causes people can make change and meet the basic needs of those who are suffering.

I think questioning is a good thing. People should question god

 

[dawny0826]

I think questioning is a good thing. People should question god

I don't disagree with you.

But I do disagree with the mindset of those that I've encountered who question God and others for not doing anything about helping those who suffer but don't anything themselves that can positively help those in need.

 

[Reptillian]

Or there could be an incompetent creator God who has no idea what it is doing and a distant all powerful God who just lets the chips fall where they may.

I'm not sure whats worse, a God with a lack of compassion, a lack of power, or a lack of knowledge. Personally, were I a believer, I'd prefer the lack of power to the other two. I'd prefer the idea that God cares and is wise & knowledgable, but has his own difficulties and hurdles. I can see God saying, "You think you've got problems? Brother, I'VE got problems."

 

[arthra]

Our planet has seven billion people, many of whom are starving, or caught in civil wars. Others who live in wealthier parts of the world are greedy and corrupt, only caring about themselves. There are diseases that kill, and diseases that cause billions of people suffering and irritation. Natural disasters sometimes takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, some with families and young children. Wars take the lives of millions. Genocide millions more.

While all this is constantly happening, God does nothing. He doesn't lift a finger to stop a natural disaster. He doesn't intervene in genocides, and millions are butchered. Drought stricken countries don't get rain, and while God could make it rain, he doesn't.

It's very fashionable and has been for awhile to blame God for the human condition..if not blaming God then maybe the "devil".

You could just as well substitute the noun man for the above such as

"Our planet has seven billion people, many of whom are starving, or caught in civil wars. Others who live in wealthier parts of the world are greedy and corrupt, only caring about themselves. There are diseases that kill, and diseases that cause billions of people suffering and irritation. Natural disasters sometimes takes the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, some with families and young children. Wars take the lives of millions. Genocide millions more.

While all this is constantly happening, Men do nothing. They don't lift a finger to ameliorate a natural disaster. They don't intervene in genocides, and millions are butchered. Drought stricken countries don't get rain, and while men could do something to help their fellows, they don't do anything."

 

[Road Warrior]

Please do tell how starving to death will make you a stronger soul because I think it makes a person dead.

Dead in a mortal sense, not a spiritual one. If one only believes "When you're dead, you're dead", then, yes, I can see how that can be very distressing. However, since we're all going to die, it isn't so much about when or how we die but how we live.

What do atheists think life is all about? "He who lives the longest wins"? "She who dies with the most boyfriends wins"? What?

 

[839311]

I don't think God even knows we exist

As I understand the term God, I don't think that kind of being qualifies for the title. Though, if theres any word out there that means different things to different people, its God.

 

[idav]

I'm not sure whats worse, a God with a lack of compassion, a lack of power, or a lack of knowledge. Personally, were I a believer, I'd prefer the lack of power to the other two. I'd prefer the idea that God cares and is wise & knowledgable, but has his own difficulties and hurdles. I can see God saying, "You think you've got problems? Brother, I'VE got problems."

A God that suffers along with its creation is likely. Nobody likes to see loved ones suffering.

 

[839311]

So starving to death makes a person stronger? I think it does the opposite.

Thats an example of extreme suffering. Still, even starvation might have some benefits, even though on balance the negatives outweigh the positives.

 

[Reptillian]

What do atheists think life is all about? "He who lives the longest wins"? "She who dies with the most boyfriends wins"? What?

I don't think atheists pretend to know what life is all about. They search for meaning. In some sense, that might be what an atheist's/agnostic's life is about; the search for meaning in an apparently meaningless cosmos.

 

[839311]

Actually, it's the gods doing these things in the first place.

Doing what things? You mean like stopping rain from falling on drought-ridden countries?

 

[839311]

While all this is constantly happening, Men do nothing. They don't lift a finger to ameliorate a natural disaster. They don't intervene in genocides, and millions are butchered. Drought stricken countries don't get rain, and while men could do something to help their fellows, they don't do anything."

But people do help others. Many people do a lot, some do a bit. The difference is that humans are relatively weak creatures compared to God. Too many flaws. So lots of people don't help for one reason or another. God, on the other, is supposed to be all-powerful and compassionate, and perfect to boot. So whats going on? Wheres the cavalry?

I think there were some good ideas posted here, like God actually being lazy or uncaring, or weak, or unknowledgeable. God could even be evil, or just a joker who laughs at humanity every day when he tunes in at 8:00pm to watch his favorite reality show

 

[Road Warrior]

I don't think atheists pretend to know what life is all about. They search for meaning. In some sense, that might be what an atheist's/agnostic's life is about; the search for meaning in an apparently meaningless cosmos.

An excellent statement and one in which I think is not only applicable to atheists or agnostics, but common to all mankind.

Some people use religion as a crutch to explain the apparent chaos of the cosmos, but many others use it as a tool. IMO, the statement "Once you're dead, you're dead" is as closed-minded as saying "Ignore science. The world is only 6000 years old". Both perspectives claim to know things which it is impossible to know or completely ignore things which are readily apparent.

 

[dawny0826]

But people do help others. Many people do a lot, some do a bit. The difference is that humans are relatively weak creatures compared to God. Too many flaws. So lots of people don't help for one reason or another. God, on the other, is supposed to be all-powerful and compassionate, and perfect to boot. So whats going on? Wheres the cavalry?

I think there were some good ideas posted here, like God actually being lazy or uncaring, or weak, or unknowledgeable. God could even be evil, or just a joker who laughs at humanity every day when he tunes in at 8:00pm to watch his favorite reality show

So, what if God was lazy or uncaring? Ultimately, the responsibility would lie on humanity to step up and fix the world's problems. Weak, flawed creatures would need to get off their butts and do something as opposed to bellyaching about what others aren't doing.