How can you believe in God? And of the suffering earth.

[morning-star]

I’m sure this has been asked before but how can you justify your faith when so much suffering is in this world? I know it’s all down to humans actions etc. but if your God is all loving then why don’t he stop it? If he sacrificed his own son for our sins don’t you agree it’s had no affect on people whatsoever? And how can he sacrifice his only son anyway how could he let him go through so much pain and torment? That is just plain cruel if you ask me.


And another thing how can humans be so stupid? We brought all this suffering, hatred and pain to ourselves. We are rapping and destroying the thing that thing that keeps us alive; the earth. Do we really value greed for land and oil over life? Some religious faiths talk of giving love to all etc. but never practice it themselves.

Put your hand up if you really believe in unconditional love and not just saying that because you feel it’s the right thing to say. Put your hand up if you send your love to everyone who suffers to everyone on this earth. Because I know I bloody well do.

 

[maro]

well , i don't believe that god sacrificed anything for our sins
and i don't feel i have to blame god for our sins and bad deeds ,

yeah , there is so much suffering and injustice in this life , but this life is only a short journey and not eternal ,

god granted us free will and choice , and we are going to be judged for our actions and choices in the afterlife ,where justice is eventually going to be achieved

 

[NoahideHiker]

A man was in the cobbler's shop getting a shoe fixed and having some idle chat with the cobbler and the conversation turned to things of a spiritual nature. "I don't believe in all that religion stuff. G-d doesn't exist.", the cobbler says.
The man was taken aback and asked why he felt this way. The cobbler said, "If G-d did exist why is there so much trouble in the world and so many people that are hungry, hurting or dying?". The man didn't want to get into a debate while the cobbler was fixing his shoe so he let it go. When he finished his transaction he walked outside and ran right into a bum. Scraggly hair, ragged clothing and one of his shoes was held together with duct tape.

The man thought for a second and turned back around and went back into the shop. He pointed at the cobbler and declared, "You don't exist!".

The cobbler says, "Yes I do. I'm right here.".

The man pointed out the window at the bum and says, "If you exist why does that man have worn out shoes with duct tape holding them together? Why are there so many people in the world without proper shoes?".

The cobbler gets heated and says, "Hey, you can't blame me for that. It's not my fault they don't come to me for help.".

The man said, "Exactly.", and walked out of the shop.
****************************************************

Sounds like a cheesy allegory, I know, but it does show a different point of view. To understand why the world is the way it is we have to understand how The Creator operates in the relationship with us. If everyone made a six figure salary, had the perfect marriage and five wonderful kids and nothing bad every happened to them how much would they seek G-d?

The trials of life are what make us stronger. If life were rosy all the time we would be spiritual weaklings. It'd be like a Olympic boxer who didn't work out before the Olympics. He gets in the ring and get s his hat handed to him and then cries and wonders why he got beaten to a pulp. We have to work out all the time and be ready for the match.

 

[morning-star]

wasn't that what 'the food' was for? to clense the land get rid of all the 'bad' people kill thousands upon thousands of inocent people(not that it worked)(i don't believe it happened either)....you can't believe that can you? (think of the inbreading )

god granted us free will and choice , and we are going to be judged for our actions and choices in the afterlife ,where justice is eventually going to be achieved

so you saying we will be juged and to to hell? what if you the most kind and helpfull person and you've never done anything wrong but you don't believe in God and you die and find out there is what then? will they go to hell?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Sounds like a cheesy allegory, ...

And for good reason. But what I find most interesting is how such efforts to cobble together some response to the POE inevitably end by blaming the victim.

 

[morning-star]

A man was in the cobbler's shop getting a shoe fixed and having some idle chat with the cobbler and the conversation turned to things of a spiritual nature. "I don't believe in all that religion stuff. G-d doesn't exist.", the cobbler says.
The man was taken aback and asked why he felt this way. The cobbler said, "If G-d did exist why is there so much trouble in the world and so many people that are hungry, hurting or dying?". The man didn't want to get into a debate while the cobbler was fixing his shoe so he let it go. When he finished his transaction he walked outside and ran right into a bum. Scraggly hair, ragged clothing and one of his shoes was held together with duct tape.

The man thought for a second and turned back around and went back into the shop. He pointed at the cobbler and declared, "You don't exist!".

The cobbler says, "Yes I do. I'm right here.".

The man pointed out the window at the bum and says, "If you exist why does that man have worn out shoes with duct tape holding them together? Why are there so many people in the world without proper shoes?".

The cobbler gets heated and says, "Hey, you can't blame me for that. It's not my fault they don't come to me for help.".

The man said, "Exactly.", and walked out of the shop.
****************************************************

Sounds like a cheesy allegory, I know, but it does show a different point of view. To understand why the world is the way it is we have to understand how The Creator operates in the relationship with us. If everyone made a six figure salary, had the perfect marriage and five wonderful kids and nothing bad every happened to them how much would they seek G-d?

The trials of life are what make us stronger. If life were rosy all the time we would be spiritual weaklings. It'd be like a Olympic boxer who didn't work out before the Olympics. He gets in the ring and get s his hat handed to him and then cries and wonders why he got beaten to a pulp. We have to work out all the time and be ready for the match.

I was once a christian i used to pray for help when things where realy bad for me, i truned to the bible for help; and I got none. The s**t in my life got worse untill I turned away thinking this can be it there must be more in this. and i found the answer within myself I serched and serched till i found the faith i'm in now. it changed my life for the better, I became a better person and i am able to control my life. this faith stopped me from killing myself. (I'm not saying my faith is better and I'm not promoting it every one has a way of life that suites them but I'm my
experience I was never helped by God)

 

[NoahideHiker]

And for good reason. But what I find most interesting is how such efforts to cobbly together some response to the POE inevitably end by blaming the victim.

As opposed to blaming it all on the Creator?

 

[NoahideHiker]

I was once a christian i used to pray for help when things where realy bad for me, i truned to the bible for help; and I got none. The s**t in my life got worse untill I turned away thinking this can be it there must be more in this. and i found the answer within myself I serched and serched till i found the faith i'm in now. it changed my life for the better, I became a better person and i am able to control my life. this faith stopped me from killing myself. (I'm not saying my faith is better and I'm not promoting it every one has a way of life that suites them but I'm my
experience I was never helped by God)

I too was once a christian. I didn't have some terrible thing happen in my life to make me turn away. I had a good relationship with G-d then and I still have one that is even better and closer. I have what is called emuna. The unshakable belief that every single thing is from G-d. The good and the bad. And every single thing is for my ultimate good. When good things happen to me I thank Hashem. When bad things happen to me I thank Hashem.

But this is my walk, not yours.

 

[may]

I’m sure this has been asked before but how can you justify your faith when so much suffering is in this world? I know it’s all down to humans actions etc. but if your God is all loving then why don’t he stop it? If he sacrificed his own son for our sins don’t you agree it’s had no affect on people whatsoever? And how can he sacrifice his only son anyway how could he let him go through so much pain and torment? That is just plain cruel if you ask me.


And another thing how can humans be so stupid? We brought all this suffering, hatred and pain to ourselves. We are rapping and destroying the thing that thing that keeps us alive; the earth. Do we really value greed for land and oil over life? Some religious faiths talk of giving love to all etc. but never practice it themselves.

Put your hand up if you really believe in unconditional love and not just saying that because you feel it’s the right thing to say. Put your hand up if you send your love to everyone who suffers to everyone on this earth. Because I know I bloody well do.

Do you know why people make the mistake of blaming God for all the suffering in the world? In many cases, they blame Almighty God because they think that he is the real ruler of this world. They do not know a simple but important truth that the Bible teaches.
The real ruler of this world is Satan the Devil.
the Bible clearly states: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) When you think about it, does that not make sense? This world reflects the personality of the invisible spirit creature who is "misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Revelation 12:9) Satan is hateful, deceptive, and cruel. So the world, under his influence, is full of hatred, deceit, and cruelty. That is one reason why there is so much suffering.

 

[morning-star]

Do you know why people make the mistake of blaming God for all the suffering in the world? In many cases, they blame Almighty God because they think that he is the real ruler of this world. They do not know a simple but important truth that the Bible teaches.
The real ruler of this world is Satan the Devil.
the Bible clearly states: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) When you think about it, does that not make sense? This world reflects the personality of the invisible spirit creature who is "misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Revelation 12:9) Satan is hateful, deceptive, and cruel. So the world, under his influence, is full of hatred, deceit, and cruelty. That is one reason why there is so much suffering.

God can NOT be pure good and satan can not be pure EVIL. either God is satan or they both have good and evil in them.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

As opposed to blaming it all on the Creator?

Actually, there's a third option.

 

[morning-star]

Actually, there's a third option.

yourself?

 

[Halcyon]

I’m sure this has been asked before but how can you justify your faith when so much suffering is in this world? I know it’s all down to humans actions etc. but if your God is all loving then why don’t he stop it? If he sacrificed his own son for our sins don’t you agree it’s had no affect on people whatsoever? And how can he sacrifice his only son anyway how could he let him go through so much pain and torment? That is just plain cruel if you ask me.

I guess this is aimed just at Christians?

I gave up the idea of an omnibenevolent God ages ago. I've found the only way people justify such a belief is via flawed allegories reliant upon other assumptions about God, equally unfounded in themselves.

And another thing how can humans be so stupid? We brought all this suffering, hatred and pain to ourselves. We are rapping and destroying the thing that thing that keeps us alive; the earth. Do we really value greed for land and oil over life? Some religious faiths talk of giving love to all etc. but never practice it themselves.

I agree, humans are selfish and arrogant and as a whole, quite stupid and shortsighted.

 

[morning-star]

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I agree, humans are selfish and arrogant and as a whole, quite stupid and shortsighted.

it's sad isn't it?

your the first person to put there hand up in agreement.

and yes it was realy just aimed a christians.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

yourself?

Was that evidence of humor attempted or confusion revealed?

 

[Mister Emu]

I know it’s all down to humans actions etc. but if your God is all loving then why don’t he stop it?

Because free will is one of the many expressions of His love.

If he sacrificed his own son for our sins don’t you agree it’s had no affect on people whatsoever?

No, I wouldn't.

Some religious faiths talk of giving love to all etc. but never practice it themselves.

Do you mean some religious faithful?

wasn't that what 'the food' was for?

Heh heh, I read this and thought, "What food?" "What the heck?" then saw you meant the flood

God can NOT be pure good and satan can not be pure EVIL. either God is satan or they both have good and evil in them.

I don't know if Satan is PURE evil(though he very well may be)... but God is pure good.

 

[morning-star]

Was that evidence of humor attempted or confusion revealed?

It is a case of: if you can't blame the victim or God then blame yourself for not helping.

 

[morning-star]

Heh heh, I read this and thought, "What food?" "What the heck?" then saw you meant the flood

sorry i type quick and didn't check.

I don't know if Satan is PURE evil(though he very well may be)... but God is pure good

how can you justify that God is pure good?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

It is a case of: if you can't blame the victim or God then blame yourself for not helping.

Good point - thanks.

 

[Mister Emu]

how can you justify that God is pure good?

Because, in my view, what God does/wants is the definition of good.

Aside, I wasn't getting on you are anything... I was more laughing at my reaction What? food? What food was meant to wipe out thousands and thousands... and DON'T LET ME EAT IT