Theists: How do you determine that God is not a malevolent being?

[Mister Silver]

All of which are characters in stories we tell each other whose sole claim to exist

All of which are characters in stories we tell each other whose sole claim to exist is people choosing to believe they do. I could be wrong but I don't think Jehovah or Jesus ever said they made a mistake

If you consider that those of other religions who have the same convictions as you also consider your religion to be false, then it makes sense that no one knows which religion has the truth.

 

[endless nothing]

If you consider that those of other religions who have the same convictions as you also consider your religion to be false, then it makes sense that no one knows which religion has the truth.

I'm not the person to judge true or false I read a lot of the stories and thats what the believers have to say. Some folks seem to want to make up their own ideas about God based on what they already believe that's cool but don't say it's in this other story if it's not

 

[Mister Silver]

I'm not the person to judge true or false I read a lot of the stories and thats what the believers have to say. Some folks seem to want to make up their own ideas about God based on what they already believe that's cool but don't say it's in this other story if it's not

I just realized you're a satanist. It makes more sense now why you're arguing the way you are.

 

[FearGod]

Not so. A pauper suffers less than a rich man who have become a pauper. Loss is the greatest form of suffering, and for us to experience loss (of wealth, of health, of hope, of security, of loved ones) we have to have these things in sufficient amounts first. The transition of life from healthful young to sick old age seems geared to maximize the sense of loss and is something that a malevolent God is likely to do.

The same way a benevolent God keeps nature stable. Same powers, opposite intentions and morality.

But next to it there's eternal happiness or eternal suffering, you decide what your next life would be.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Gravity alone won't do it otherwise all planets will collide.

Good thing their far enough apart to not fall into a larger planets gravity well. You know, like comets and asteroids do, and like other planets do. Or things that get too close to a star or black hole.

I could be wrong but I don't think Jehovah or Jesus ever said they made a mistake

Genesis 6:6-7
1 Samuel 15:11
Exodus 32:14
Jonah 3:3-10

And a couple others in Moses' plight that I can't seem to find.

 

[Mister Silver]

I'm going to mention something right here and now.

According to the bible, everyone will be surprised when the "anti-christ" makes his appearance. Is that not true, according to Revelations?

No one knows when the second coming of christ will happen either.

I can kind of understand why everyone wants to make predictions, but the bible itself declares that no one will know when these events take place.

Certainly, anyone can take an event in current times and make it fit that which is in Revelations. It doesn't make the interpretation fit or even true.

End Times theists just need to stop being so eager for the end of life so that they can actually enjoy the life they are living. The very purpose of life is to live it, not to beg for the end of it.

 

[endless nothing]

Genesis 6:6-7
1 Samuel 15:11
Exodus 32:14
Jonah 3:3-10

And a couple others in Moses' plight that I can't seem to find.

Thanks for those. It seems he found Noah so many not a mistake. The next three things he told people to manipulating them to do what he wanted

 

[FearGod]

Good thing their far enough apart to not fall into a larger planets gravity well. You know, like comets and asteroids do, and like other planets do. Or things that get too close to a star or black hole.

Science of chances.

 

[endless nothing]

On deeper reading looks like Jehovah did admit to making a mistake. Thanks again for the correction.

 

[sayak83]

But next to it there's eternal happiness or eternal suffering, you decide what your next life would be.

I have decided to reject the empty threats of this false God of yours. I suggest you do the same.

 

[sayak83]

Science of chances.

Not at all.

 

[FearGod]

I have decided to reject the empty threats of this false God of yours. I suggest you do the same.

I don't have a problem of being a good guy, that's me without God's threat.

 

[FearGod]

Not at all.

How do you know? tell me what was before the singularity?

 

[sayak83]

How do you know? tell me what was before the singularity?

What has planet formation to do with Big Bang.

 

[FearGod]

What has planet formation to do with Big Bang.

The start.

 

[sayak83]

The start.

So.. you are retracting your claim that physics says that planet formation in our Solar system was due to chance.

Big Bang is not planet formation. It's the theory about the expansion of the universe. There is no evidence that the universe started at the Big Bang either.

 

[FearGod]

So.. you are retracting your claim that physics says that planet formation in our Solar system was due to chance.

If you're certain of what caused the formation and how it happened to be in the way it's
then I can exclude the chance, tell me how such thing should be without including the chance?

Big Bang is not planet formation. It's the theory about the expansion of the universe. There is no evidence that the universe started at the Big Bang either.

Did the universe start by a chance or by intention? if you have another options then
I'm all ears.

 

[Grandliseur]

Because a "good" god does things that we would consider "horrible" if we did them ourselves. Makes perfect sense.

I see you got it.

You believe as you like; the problems here are at least two fold, how would you suggest God controls that things do not spiral down to far, human sacrifice, adult or child? If the culture is to blame and everyone is into this kind of worship, erasing them works nicely.

The other problem is this, how do you argue with a super-volcano that is set to go off, e.g., this Friday? You don't. It is as simple as that, and if you can, you get out of Dodge, out of the way.
God is going to do what he wants with power to create or destroy a universe - there is simply no arguing, only obey, or disobey and take what come from your actions.

 

[Grandliseur]

And your opinions are still license to be wrong. Also you are a descendant of the Norse. A viking was a profession, not the culture.

Also stop dodging questions: what "terrible atrocities" did the Norse commit?


That... not what the berserkergang were.

Other question that you're dodging: which excuse do you go with for your god malevolently ordering the slaughter of Canaanite men, women and children?

Not dodging, simply not feeling that it does anything for this discussion. I had no reason to think of you when I answered this primary question. I frankly don't care what others choose to believe; I only give my 1 cent views.

When I was a teenager, long time ago, I visited my uncle who happened to have a book on the Viking culture, their daily day practices, their treatment of their slaves (was it) and perhaps some of their raids. It made for pretty gruesome reading. What was that book these decades ago; I have no idea any longer, however, it was written by highly acclaimed people who obviously had made a study out of our ancient forebears.

Since I was quite young then, I put the book down after having seen how my ancestors treated people and was content with the change of heart we have had.
Quoting myself from another answer:

God promised the Promised land to Abraham's descendants. Why do you think it wasn't given to Abraham right then?
Genesis 15:15-16 . . .. 16 But in the fourth generation they will return here, because the error of the Am′or‧ites has not yet come to completion.”
The people living in the promised land had descended into worship of their deities that included human sacrifice and the killing of children, which later Israel also succumbed to - for which they were made to suffer God's wrath also.

This is the reason God wanted these people erased. He has done it other places in the world, South and Middle America nations that practiced this are nowhere to be found today. They also were erased as cultures, though the people remain but without the disgusting customs. An American tribe also is gone - the Anasazi, whom also began this kind of practice. Beyond a certain level of evil, God erases such nations.​

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Did the universe start by a chance or by intention? if you have another options then
I'm all ears.

The clash of Múspellsheimr (heat, life) with that of Niflheimr (cold, entropy). From this chaos the first of the gods were born.

Not dodging, simply not feeling that it does anything for this discussion.

So, dodging. Make a few statements and then deny any and all discussion when you're questioned and/or shown to be wrong.

I had no reason to think of you when I answered this primary question.

You are correct here. When you first answered the question, you cited R.A. Salvatore and his stories of the Drow and their worship of Lolth. Six minutes after that, I refute your claim that the Christian god is "assuredly benevolent". Then a whole eighteen minutes later, you added your shallow dig on the Norse gods, and even saw fit to tell me about it.

When I was a teenager, long time ago, I visited my uncle who happened to have a book on the Viking culture, their daily day practices, their treatment of their slaves (was it) and perhaps some of their raids. It made for pretty gruesome reading.

Marvelous. I'm sure, then, that you can provide some examples from this book? Because right now it's just you making empty (outdated) statements on a peoples, which has nothing to do with their gods. The only back up that you have for that claim is an example from a book of fantasy fiction, about an evil race of elves worshiping an evil spider goddess.

The people living in the promised land had descended into worship of their deities that included human sacrifice and the killing of children, which later Israel also succumbed to - for which they were made to suffer God's wrath also.

So the first option, then. Also when your god gave that order for genocide (Deuteronomy 7:1-5), no mention of human sacrifice is given. It mentions other gods, idols, and specifically Asherah poles. Ironic, in that Asherah was Yahweh's wife, and human sacrifices were certainly not given to her. Your god even tells them "those who hate me I will repay to their face by destruction". Apparently disbelief is hate, now. It is literally the mythological equivalent of "pay attention to me or I'll break into your house and kill you", which is incredibly sociopathic and not at all benevolent.

Your god also says that if his "chosen people" follow the laws that he tells them, he won't inflict the plagues of Egypt on them, but he will for their enemies. (Deuteronomy 7:12-16) Also again, he tells them not to worship the gods of Canaan (his old stomping grounds) because they will "ensnare" the Israelites. These are not statements of a benevolent god, they are not the actions of a benevolent god. They are patently malicious, and place violent conditions upon worship and adoration.

Be it also not forgotten that your god commanded human sacrifice, of Abraham's son and then of his own son. The covenant of your god begins and ends with human sacrifice.

An American tribe also is gone - the Anasazi, whom also began this kind of practice.

You have no evidence that the Anasazi practiced human sacrifice, and you're still excusing genocide. Genocide is not the action of a benevolent being.