Why do people always blame God?

[Jainarayan]

I just thought of this...

If one believes that man has free will, and the devil (if you believe in him) is running amuck on Earth, is it not possible that it is not God who is doing these bad things, but rather the devil? (I know... "the devil made me do it!" ).

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Is the devil anything like this?....

 

[McBell]

I just thought of this...

If one believes that man has free will, and the devil (if you believe in him) is running amuck on Earth, is it not possible that it is not God who is doing these bad things, but rather the devil? (I know... "the devil made me do it!" ).

Then you run into the "problem" of god letting the devil do it or god cannot stop the devil from doing it.

 

[Lyndon]

Maybe the devil's days on earth are numbered, kinda scary isn't it??

 

[McBell]

Maybe the devil's days on earth are numbered, kinda scary isn't it??

Most definitely.
After the devil leaves we will be stuck with all the fanatics, extremists, and zealots all fighting thaat their beliefs are the only true way.


Oh wait....

 

[Lyndon]

Actually all those people you mention are among the most influenced by the devil IMHO

 

[McBell]

Actually all those people you mention are among the most influenced by the devil IMHO

Do you honestly believe it is black and white?

 

[Lyndon]

I don't know, good question, I personally think the devil is very weak compared to God, and that claiming to have a belief or be a follower of God is the perfect cover for some of the worst characters we have to deal with, I mean here in America our government is 80% Christian, and they certainly aren't bringing the political philosophy of Jesus into action, quite the opposite. I don't know what the future will bring but can only hope for less war, more peace, and more social justice, and less me me me me mentality.

And a little turn the other cheek on the international scene would be nice too!!

 

[Jainarayan]

Then you run into the "problem" of god letting the devil do it or god cannot stop the devil from doing it.

Yeah, that is a problem. Remember though, in the Book of Job, God did let the devil wreak havoc on Job. I still don't understand that one.

 

[moorea944]

Yeah, that is a problem. Remember though, in the Book of Job, God did let the devil wreak havoc on Job. I still don't understand that one.

Actually, God did everything to Job. And what is the devil anyway? Didnt Jesus kill the devil? Says so in Hebrews 2. Or maybe the devil could be something else. If Jesus killed the devil, why then do people still believe he is still around? Jesus killed sin in the flesh and he's saying it is the devil. So maybe the devil (which is a untranslated Greek word) could be sin....

Just a thought...

 

[Penumbra]

Obviously I have a different take on it, though I'm not immune to using fossilized phrases like "God willing" and "God forbid", myself. But I have always wondered why people blame God and point the finger at Him/Her/It for all the bad things that happen. My grandparents were "right off the boat" from Italy, my parents were born in the US. From earliest childhood all I ever heard from them, and aunts and uncles when something bad happened... like a child dying... was a "well, it's God's will". Aw bulldookie! I always felt that if there is a God, he would be just as sad and grieving over the death of a child. I never believed God took the child. So where does "why does God let it happen" come from?

It comes from the claim in some religions that god is omnipotent and omniscient.

If a god is impotent, unknowing, nonexistent, or exists in some vague form that lacks any recognizable will or intelligence, then there's nothing to blame.

 

[Nietzsche]

I just thought of this...

If one believes that man has free will, and the devil (if you believe in him) is running amuck on Earth, is it not possible that it is not God who is doing these bad things, but rather the devil? (I know... "the devil made me do it!" ).

Kinda' sounds like Satan is much more interested in us than Yahweh. Maybe the Abrahamites are praying to the wrong side of the coin..

 

[Rick O'Shez]

If a god is impotent, unknowing, nonexistent, or exists in some vague form that lacks any recognizable will or intelligence, then there's nothing to blame.

Indeed. And looking at all the evidence God must be rather like that if he exists.

 

[roger1440]

Not me. I blame Canada.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Al Pacino explains it quite well:

 

[Jainarayan]

It comes from the claim in some religions that god is omnipotent and omniscient.

If a god is impotent, unknowing, nonexistent, or exists in some vague form that lacks any recognizable will or intelligence, then there's nothing to blame.

Yes, I think it's because I don't think of "my" gods as omnipotent, omniscient or omnipresent. After all, some of them are said to be fated to die in the future. So how omnipotent is that? As I mentioned about Hinduism, a common belief is that Ganesha is contacted first, being closest to the material plane. He then contacts the other deities. That seems to indicate they are not omnipotent, omniscient or omnipresent. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I think it's the common trait of most deities.

 

[Jainarayan]

Actually, God did everything to Job.

Ah yes, my bad. I believe the devil challenged God to afflict Job to test Job's loyalty.