Questions for Liberal Christians

[Penumbra]

The little that I do understand of the physical world leads me to believe that life could not have emerged unless the laws of physics were just exactly as they are.
That, in fact, even a minor change to the least of the laws of physics, as they are, has the potential to snuff out, in its entirety, the universe as we know it.
And not necessarily replace it with anything at all.
It may be that the delicate balance in the universe that we can observe, right down to the interactions of sub-atomic particles and the forces exerted by and on them, are exactly how it must be for life to emerge at all.

I don't view this as the case. I mean, it's true that if we shift the current laws of physics in the tiniest degree, it could easily result in something unable to support any life. But I think it's hasty to say that this is the only way it could be. I expect that there are infinite ways for a universe to support life along with infinite ways for it to not be able to support life.

Besides, if you believe that at some time in the future god can eliminate death and suffering, then the current laws of physics don't have the last say.
　

It seems to me that none of the living, God included, can escape suffering.
It should be noted that the God of the Bible is not aloof from the sufferings of His creation. He suffers an agony of mind, an anguish of spirit, with his children and for His children, as does any parent worthy of the title.
　
The God of the Bible has chosen to suffer in order that He might procreate; that is, to raise a family
Any parent, or anyone contemplating a family, should be aware that a family will not be developed in an instant.
A family requires long years of work, hardship and self-denial; most of that suffering, the children of that family will remain unaware of until they begin to establish families of their own.
I consider myself in the position of a child in that family, one who has begun to catch glimpses of how my Father has suffered, thus far, in my upbringing.
Babes and my younger brothers and sisters may still be unaware of how God suffers to bring up His family, that does not alter the fact of His suffering; it merely highlights their innocence and the lengths to which the Father has gone to protect that innocence.
　
So the scenario that you paint, a snap of the fingers aloof and disconnected God, finds no place in my understanding of things.
The God of the Bible has chosen to suffer with His children in all the dark places in which they walk.
　
Sorry for the confusion.
In the kingdom the resurrected immortals will mix with, teach, guide and comfort the surviving mortal poulation of the Earth (the survivors of Armageddon).
It will be a time of great blessings to the mortal population and a 1000 year labour for the resurrected saints.
　
Subsequently there will be a time when God wipes away all tears and death is no more, a time when there is no more pain and the Earth is renewed.
Of this subsequent time little is said and clearly a different paradigm will operate.
I have avoided speaking of this subsequent time because of the paucity of my understanding. You may recognise themes that address your fundamental question, I can recognise the themes but not how they should be applied.
　
I have wrestled with the god or chance scenario.
I see it as there being no problem with rolling a hard 6 every now and then.
My problem is with rolling the hard 6, 6 hundred thousand million billion trillion times in a row.
I recognise that it is a possibility and that if it has been done then the probability is 1 in 1, but I only recognise that in my head, intellectually.
When it came to God/noGod I went with my heart; and I think that is all one can do.
　
David

Thank you for all your time. It's interesting to see you describe your belief that god suffers.