Is God good?

[Loverofknowledge]

I am not Jewish but I can give you my perspective as a Druze follower.
God is the ultimate good and I hope I can explain it properly. Firstly, for the sake of the argument and to back up the claim that God is all good, reincarnation exists. Your soul must travel a path that brings it closer to the oneness of God. This path will have all the trials and tribulations a soul could encounter in human life. From life to life, the soul grows, learns, and advances down the path. Now, regarding the all good question.
When we consider the worst case scenario for the "bad" things that could happen which some would say is death, first, the person that died needed to continue their journey with a different family and thus continue the growth and oneness of the soul with God. The family of the deceased needed to go through the sorrow to come out of the other side stronger. The family recieveing the deceased as a new baby also needed to have this baby for their own growth. In one life we may be kind and generous, another greedy and selfish. We may be oppressed in one and the oppressor in the other. A murder in one and murdered in another. The goodness of these scinerios comes from the "goodness" learned from them, whether you are conscience of the teaching or not.
I look back at certain moments in my life that were tragic, and today I believe I am stronger and enlightened because of it. I would not be where I am or who I am if not for those good times or bad times I went through.

 

[stvdv]

Well, you're the one who said, "Why blame God?" Implying he's not worthy of blame. But how can you assume he's not worthy of blame if he's something that is unknown or unknowable? According to the Christian concept of omnipotence, If god chose to he could end all killings and sufferings with the snap of his fingers. But he doesn't. Instead he let's the mayhem and suffering continue.

Then don't make crazy implications. Your analogy implies that humans are responsible for their misery because of the poor choices they make, whereas I pointed out that a lot of their misery comes from things that have nothing to do with their choosing.
.

Well, you're the one who said, "Why blame God?" Implying he's not worthy of blame.
But how can you assume he's not worthy of blame if he's something that is unknown or unknowable?
.

There you have a good point. I am not the Agnost. So I can say "why blame God?". You are the Agnost [so I agree you should not say "Why blame God (not)"].

Then don't make crazy implications. Your analogy implies that humans are responsible for their misery because of the poor choices they make, whereas I pointed out that a lot of their misery comes from things that have nothing to do with their choosing.
.

I already explained this very clear. Again you start calling it now "crazy implications". You don't inspire me much to continue this conversation

whereas I pointed out that a lot of their misery comes from things that have nothing to do with their choosing.
.

This remark would have been enough to "have me explain why this happens"

IMHO.

 

[Kenny]

Hello guys, I'm new here and I have no clue how this works... Anyways, if anyone can see this, I want to ask about something.

God sees the future, so he already knows if we are going to heaven or hell. If we are good or bad.
But God is also almighty, so he can change it. Or he can choose only good people to be born.
So why does he let bad people be here among us? People who are killing other people.
I mean, if God is good, why does he allow wars, terrorist attacks and stuff like this?

It would be cool if I get answers from different religions, but I would be mainly interested in the Jewish view on this issue.

From the Christian perspective...

It was man to whom God gave the world to... to dress it and keep it. Free will. (Since He is Almighty, He had the power to give it to man)
Man decided that there was a better way. (LOL Have I done that before) and gave the authority to a fallen being who steals, kills and destroys.
God did something about it with and through Jesus Christ who gave back to man the domion both in authority and power.
We are still messing things up but we have the capacity to change it.

 

[tayla]

God sees the future, so he already knows if we are going to heaven or hell.

In my view, there is no heaven or hell based on the Christian model.

 

[tayla]

why does he let bad people be here among us? People who are killing other people.
I mean, if God is good, why does he allow wars, terrorist attacks and stuff like this?

I wonder the same thing. I strongly believe God is good, beautiful, etc. I also realize that humans and animals experience pain, suffering, and evil. The only answer I have so far is that God created a free will spiritual creature having the power to design the universe (I don't want to call this creature Lucifer). I don't think this creature was evil. Anyway, God provided a "bubble" of his nature outside of his person and will, a bubble for this creature to operate within. Anyway, this creature designed what it/she/he thought would be a good universe with it's accompanying spiritual realm, but it had some unintended side effects.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Hello guys, I'm new here and I have no clue how this works... Anyways, if anyone can see this, I want to ask about something.
God sees the future, so he already knows if we are going to heaven or hell. If we are good or bad.
But God is also almighty, so he can change it. Or he can choose only good people to be born.
So why does he let bad people be here among us? People who are killing other people.
I mean, if God is good, why does he allow wars, terrorist attacks and stuff like this?
It would be cool if I get answers from different religions, but I would be mainly interested in the Jewish view on this issue.

God sees the future for the earth that there will be healing for earth's nations as per Revelation 22:2.
From the Jewish view that is in fulfillment to God's promise to father Abraham at Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:18.
ALL families and ALL nations will be blessed. Blessed with healing as Isaiah 33:24 says No more sickness.
Earth will become a beautiful paradisical place as described in Isaiah 35.
Now, as to who will be part of that wonderful coming future still remains to be seen.
In other words, because of God gifting us with free-will choices then God does Not intervene with our choices.

Please keep in mind there is a BIG difference between the Bible's hell and religious-myth hell taught as Scripture.
Does anyone righteous go to hell ______
The day righteous Jesus died he went to hell as per Acts of the Apostles 2:27.
Jesus taught sleep (Not pain) in death at John 11:11-14 as do the Psalms 115:17; Psalms 146:4.
Jewish King Solomon, known for his God-given wisdom, wrote at Ecclesiastes 9:5 the dead know nothing.
So, while dead Jesus was in biblical hell ( stone-cold grave ) Jesus was in a sleep-like state.

Issues need to be settled before Jesus begins his 1,000-year governmental rule over Earth.
For example: we are all challenged by Satan according to Job 2:4-5.
' Touch our flesh...' (loose physical health) and we would Not serve God.
Both Job and Jesus proved Satan a liar and so can we.
The passing of time has also allowed for us to be born and think who we would like as Sovereign over us.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

In my view, there is no heaven or hell based on the Christian model.

I find in the 'Christian model' of Revelation 20:6; 5:9-10; 2:10 is there is heaven for some.
There is a ' biblical hell ' which is: the temporary stone-cold grave for the sleeping dead.
Biblical hell (grave) is the place Jesus went the day he died according to Acts of the Apostles 2:27.
Jesus did Not go to flames but to rest (R.I.P.) because Jesus knew the dead are in a sleep-like state.
That is why Jesus taught 'sleep in death' at John 11:11-14 which is in harmony with Psalms 6:5;13:3;115:17; 146:4.
And as King Solomon, who was known for his God's given wisdom, wrote the dead know nothing at Ecclesiastes 9:5.
Between heaven and the grave there is life on Earth. Jesus promised ' Earth ' for the humble meek.
So, Earth is promised for the majority of mankind. Most resurrected back to healthy physical life on Earth.
In my view, the Christian model, is there is a soon coming ' time of separation ' to take place on Earth as per Matthew 25:31-33,37,40. That separating time is for those of us who are still alive on Earth at that time. The figurative humble ' sheep ' can remain alive on Earth, and continue to live on Earth right into the start of Jesus' coming 1,000-year governmental rule over Earth.

 

[Axe Elf]

That's called the problem of evil. It's been debated for centuries and monotheists who view their deity as all-knowing, all-good and all-powerful have never really given a satisfactory answer. At least one that wasn't morally repugnant.

The only way one can really give a satisfactory answer is if their God is all-knowing (omniscient), all-good (omnibenevolent) and all-powerful (omnipotent)--although a substantial case can still be made even without those qualities.

Take this short quiz and see if you can figure it out for yourself:

1. Would an all-good (omnibenevolent) God want to make the best of all possible universes? YES NO

2. Would an all-knowing (omniscient) God know how to make the best of all possible universes? YES NO

3. Would an all-powerful (omnipotent) God have the power to make the best of all possible universes? YES NO

4. If an omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent God exists and created our universe, is it possible that we live in anything but the best of all possible universes? YES NO

5. If evil exists in the best of all possible universes, could our universe be a better place without it? YES NO

6. Is it possible to make a one-sided coin? YES NO

7. Is it possible to distinguish between good and evil if evil does not exist? YES NO

8. Do you personally believe that a universe where goodness cannot be recognized is better than a universe in which goodness can be appreciated by contrast to evil? YES NO

9. If we live in the best of all possible universes, is the best of all possible universes one in which both good and evil exist and are distinguishable? YES NO

10. NOW do you understand why an omnibenevolent, omniscient, omnipotent God allows evil to exist? YES NO

Even if you don't believe that God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent, the second half of the quiz (questions 6-10) pretty much stands by itself as an explanation for the existence of evil (just take out the omnis in question 10).

 

[Jumi]

Not everyone, for sure. Consider Pharaoh and the ten plagues. Consider the other thief on the cross, the one whom did not repent. Oftimes sin is too delectable to forfeit the pleasure of unbelief, even when the destiny of one's own soul is at stake.

Why would God create that kind of pleasure of unbelief to mislead people? It makes no sense to me. Of course I believe God is different.

 

[stvdv]

Do you personally believe that a universe where goodness cannot be recognized is better than a universe in which goodness can be appreciated by contrast to evil?

Very nice questions you put here [I could not have put it better] !!! 1 small remark about nr. 8 [no criticism, but to accentuate how good this point is]
[From advaitha is known that "beyond good and evil" is 'a higher state' than "appreciating goodness by contrast to evil", so from that viewpoint of course "* a universe where goodness/evil cannot be recognized is better". BUT to get there, I believe, how you put it in 8 is correct. And because it's quite obvious that hardly anyone already is there, I totally agree with point 8 also. So seems God didn't do such a bad job afterall. Or even better "God did quite a good job afterall"]
* Being in a state without evil nor goodness [because the universe is just how we perceive it]

 

[Faithofchristian]

Hello guys, I'm new here and I have no clue how this works... Anyways, if anyone can see this, I want to ask about something.

God sees the future, so he already knows if we are going to heaven or hell. If we are good or bad.
But God is also almighty, so he can change it. Or he can choose only good people to be born.
So why does he let bad people be here among us? People who are killing other people.
I mean, if God is good, why does he allow wars, terrorist attacks and stuff like this?

It would be cool if I get answers from different religions, but I would be mainly interested in the Jewish view on this issue.

God doesn't allow anything, it's man who rebellion against God.

Just look around you, take Syria for example, That their President Assad killing his own people by chemicals and the United States with France and Britain, went to put a stop to it, Now all see is people complaining. Well they shouldn't have done that.
So what you have is the United States and France and Britain trying to stop evil. And you have people complaining and critizing the United States and France and Britain for trying to stop evil from happening.

So now who's at fault ?

 

[Faithofchristian]

Hello guys, I'm new here and I have no clue how this works... Anyways, if anyone can see this, I want to ask about something.

God sees the future, so he already knows if we are going to heaven or hell. If we are good or bad.
But God is also almighty, so he can change it. Or he can choose only good people to be born.
So why does he let bad people be here among us? People who are killing other people.
I mean, if God is good, why does he allow wars, terrorist attacks and stuff like this?

It would be cool if I get answers from different religions, but I would be mainly interested in the Jewish view on this issue.

Who told you that God knows the future. And who's going to heaven or hell.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Hello guys, I'm new here and I have no clue how this works... Anyways, if anyone can see this, I want to ask about something.

God sees the future, so he already knows if we are going to heaven or hell. If we are good or bad.
But God is also almighty, so he can change it. Or he can choose only good people to be born.
So why does he let bad people be here among us? People who are killing other people.
I mean, if God is good, why does he allow wars, terrorist attacks and stuff like this?

It would be cool if I get answers from different religions, but I would be mainly interested in the Jewish view on this issue.

Is God good? Well why not get a bunch of typewriters and a load of monkeys and get them slaving away for a year or two - one has as much chance of getting a reasonable answer as any you might get here.

The only way one can really give a satisfactory answer is if their God is all-knowing (omniscient), all-good (omnibenevolent) and all-powerful (omnipotent)--although a substantial case can still be made even without those qualities.

Take this short quiz and see if you can figure it out for yourself:

1. Would an all-good (omnibenevolent) God want to make the best of all possible universes? YES NO

2. Would an all-knowing (omniscient) God know how to make the best of all possible universes? YES NO

3. Would an all-powerful (omnipotent) God have the power to make the best of all possible universes? YES NO

4. If an omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent God exists and created our universe, is it possible that we live in anything but the best of all possible universes? YES NO

5. If evil exists in the best of all possible universes, could our universe be a better place without it? YES NO

6. Is it possible to make a one-sided coin? YES NO

7. Is it possible to distinguish between good and evil if evil does not exist? YES NO

8. Do you personally believe that a universe where goodness cannot be recognized is better than a universe in which goodness can be appreciated by contrast to evil? YES NO

9. If we live in the best of all possible universes, is the best of all possible universes one in which both good and evil exist and are distinguishable? YES NO

10. NOW do you understand why an omnibenevolent, omniscient, omnipotent God allows evil to exist? YES NO

Even if you don't believe that God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent, the second half of the quiz (questions 6-10) pretty much stands by itself as an explanation for the existence of evil (just take out the omnis in question 10).

The problem with 7. is that even with the absence of evil, it presumes that there are no levels of goodness, when this is patently not the case - hence evil vanishing in a puff of smoke - where it should be - and where we still have some good being better than other good - even descending into bad. Evil should be kept for concepts or excuses surely.

 

[stvdv]

Evil should be kept for concepts or excuses surely

That would be my favourite "Only good in the world and 1 movie showing us how terrible it is to have evil around". Sadly humans are not as smart as donkeys in the Dutch proverb "A donkey does not bump into the same stone twice". It seems we humans kind of like to make the same mistake. And learning from video doesn't always work. It looks like God created us that way.

And actually it's not all that bad. Suppose you see a beautiful (wo)man, and you fall in love. And then God gives you a movie to watch. Of course in movie no real divorce/fights, so no real evil. So only virtual good and bad. But would you choose a God who created it this way, or would you prefer to have the challenge of real marriage with all the "evil" side effects. And of course there is this "fata morgana" my marriage will be good, I don't make the same mistakes my parents made.

 

[Mock Turtle]

That would be my favourite "Only good in the world and 1 movie showing us how terrible it is to have evil around". Sadly humans are not as smart as donkeys in the Dutch proverb "A donkey does not bump into the same stone twice". It seems we humans kind of like to make the same mistake. And learning from video doesn't always work. It looks like God created us that way.

Only if you are looking in that direction.

And actually it's not all that bad. Suppose you see a beautiful (wo)man, and you fall in love. And then God gives you a movie to watch. Of course in movie no real divorce/fights, so no real evil. So only virtual good and bad. But would you choose a God who created it this way, or would you prefer to have the challenge of real marriage with all the "evil" side effects. And of course there is this "fata morgana" my marriage will be good, I don't make the same mistakes my parents made.

Well, AE did just pose, like many, the good/evil binary, but is that in fact fair? Evil is just a word to describe the bad end of the goodness spectrum after all.

 

[stvdv]

It looks like God created us that way.

Only if you are looking in that direction

That's true [if you mean "God created us that way"]. I still don't have physical definition of God, so "evolution" fits also here or BigBangEnergy

Well, AE did just pose, like many, the good/evil binary, but is that in fact fair? Evil is just a word to describe the bad end of the goodness spectrum after all.

You remind me of this very good "eductional lesson" I got 10 days back. Maybe you have a point there. I don't see it yet, but who knows.
"Jesus is the only way": required or not for a Christian?
When you are not confined to spacetime, the passage of time doesn't matter. The sacrifice of Jesus 2000 years ago means that the sacrifice has always happened, is happening now, and always will happen. So it redeems those who died "before" it as well as those who died "after" it.

 

[Mock Turtle]

That's true [if you mean "God created us view"]. I still don't have physical definition of God, so "evolution" fits also here or BigBangEnergy


You remind me of this very good "eductional lesson" I got 10 days back. Maybe you have a point there. I don't see it yet, but who knows.
"Jesus is the only way": required or not for a Christian?
When you are not confined to spacetime, the passage of time doesn't matter. The sacrifice of Jesus 2000 years ago means that the sacrifice has always happened, is happening now, and always will happen. So it redeems those who died "before" it as well as those who died "after" it.

I don't know what all the various religions say in detail but I find the notion that some will be saved and others not, particularly when they might not even have had a chance to recognise another's religious beliefs, a little strange. And as pointed out, will all those living prior to some particular religion being formed have some other fate over those later? Just doesn't make any sense to me. Much like those who believe they are the chosen ones.

 

[stvdv]

1: I don't know what all the various religions say in detail but 2: I find the notion that some will be saved and others not, particularly when they might not even have had a chance to recognise another's religious beliefs, a little strange. 3: And as pointed out, will all those living prior to some particular religion being formed have some other fate over those later? Just doesn't make any sense to me. Much like those who believe they are the chosen ones.

1: Nobody know all religions. So to say "my religion is the only truth" is far from 'common sense'. Totally agree on that one.
2: "Extremely unlikely unbelievable strange" I would call that
3: I believe there is only 1 religion "The religion of Love". And 1 language "The language of the Heart". The rest makes no sense to me.
4: "Believing you are the chosen one" easily leads to spiritual ego I have seen. I believe in "Unconditional Love" = Nobody more special than others

 

[dfnj]

Hello guys, I'm new here and I have no clue how this works... Anyways, if anyone can see this, I want to ask about something.

God sees the future, so he already knows if we are going to heaven or hell. If we are good or bad.
But God is also almighty, so he can change it. Or he can choose only good people to be born.
So why does he let bad people be here among us? People who are killing other people.
I mean, if God is good, why does he allow wars, terrorist attacks and stuff like this?

It would be cool if I get answers from different religions, but I would be mainly interested in the Jewish view on this issue.

I bet my answer will be different than everyone else who posts. My thinking has to do with quantum mechanics. Hard determinism does not exist in our Universe because of current standard model of quantum mechanics. Although many people swear or prefer that we live in a clockwork Universe, the reality is we live in a Universe governed by the realization of quantum states. The realization of quantum states has a element of randomness at the smallest point of possible measurement.

However, if you accept the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics, it has really interesting implications into religious ideas of God, good, evil, morality, and eternal damnation. With an infinite number of parallel space-time dimensions, eventually every possible quantum state gets realized. Combine this with idea our Big Bang is the result of a star collapsing to a black hole in another space-time dimension then a new larger view of space-time comes into perspective. In any given space-time dimension quantum states being realized appears to have a random element. But over the sum of all the space-time dimensions every possible quantum state gets realize, and therefore, collectively, hard determinism exists.

Why does this matter for good, evil, and morality? Well, in one space-time dimension you are a saint. And in another space-time dimension you are serial killer. The point is over this infinite number of space-time dimensions there exists and infinite number of yous displaying every possible level of morality from A to Z. Every possible choice you could possibly make gets played out to completion cross matched with every other possible choice every other person can make. Since you exhibit every possible behavior imaginable over all the space-time dimensions then is any one of us truly good or evil? I would say no. In this space-time dimension we are just one instance of who we are as a person. If you sum up the behavior of all your actions across every space-time dimension they all cancel out in terms of morality.

What does this mean in terms of God? If you accept an pantheistic type God, then the word God becomes a representation of omnipotence as expressed in the existence of every possible quantum state realized. We as people then become our infinite God's way of experiencing the thrill of having limitations by sharing in all our joys and sorrows as we realize every possible choice we can make over the MWI Universe. It just seems correct to associate a definition of God as being the most complex one that can be possibly imagined.

People used to think our Earth was the center of the Universe. Why would we think our own space-time dimension we are currently living in is the only one that exists or ever will exist?

 

[Mock Turtle]

I bet my answer will be different than everyone else who posts. My thinking has to do with quantum mechanics. Hard determinism does not exist in our Universe because of current standard model of quantum mechanics. Although many people swear or prefer that we live in a clockwork Universe, the reality is we live in a Universe governed by the realization of quantum states. The realization of quantum states has a element of randomness at the smallest point of possible measurement.

However, if you accept the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics, it has really interesting implications into religious ideas of God, good, evil, morality, and eternal damnation. With an infinite number of parallel space-time dimensions, eventually every possible quantum state gets realized. Combine this with idea our Big Bang is the result of a star collapsing to a black hole in another space-time dimension then a new larger view of space-time comes into perspective. In any given space-time dimension quantum states being realized appears to have a random element. But over the sum of all the space-time dimensions every possible quantum state gets realize, and therefore, collectively, hard determinism exists.

Why does this matter for good, evil, and morality? Well, in one space-time dimension you are a saint. And in another space-time dimension you are serial killer. The point is over this infinite number of space-time dimensions there exists and infinite number of yous displaying every possible level of morality from A to Z. Every possible choice you could possibly make gets played out to completion cross matched with every other possible choice every other person can make. Since you exhibit every possible behavior imaginable over all the space-time dimensions then is any one of us truly good or evil? I would say no. In this space-time dimension we are just one instance of who we are as a person. If you sum up the behavior of all your actions across every space-time dimension they all cancel out in terms of morality.

What does this mean in terms of God? If you accept an pantheistic type God, then the word God becomes a representation of omnipotence as expressed in the existence of every possible quantum state realized. We as people then become our infinite God's way of experiencing the thrill of having limitations by sharing in all our joys and sorrows as we realize every possible choice we can make over the MWI Universe. It just seems correct to associate a definition of God as being the most complex one that can be possibly imagined.

People used to think our Earth was the center of the Universe. Why would we think our own space-time dimension we are currently living in is the only one that exists or ever will exist?

The bigger picture - which tends to make our little problems to be put into perspective. It should be noted of course that virtually all religions formed before we knew anything about all the stars, galaxies, planets, and the nature of quantum mechanics.