Natural Evil

[Markos]

I always seem to hear the "God gives us free will" argument as the reason that theists use to explain why god doesn't stop people killing each other.

However, I have never seen an argument that tries to explain why god doesn't interfere to stop "natural evil" occurring, such as someone falling off a cliff, or drowning, or even dieing from illnesses. Any of our resident theists care to try and explain?

There are two words that you use, Tobie, that I would want to examine quite carefully: "interference" and "natural". These two words come with significant baggage. First, the notion of "interference" suggests that God is in some sense detached or uninvolved in so-called "natural" processes. Second, the category "natural" is presumably used in opposition to something like "supernatural" or "spiritual", suggesting that reality is made up of two quite distinct, even separate, levels. From my (Christian) perspective, I would want to reject both of those uses of language.

Now, from your perspective, I would be interested to hear what your understanding of your phrase "natural evil" means. You use scare-quotes around the phrase - is that to suggest that you, yourself, would not use the phrase to describe an event?

[genkaus]

Surely you are more intelligent than that, God will receive all babies that are murdered into heaven, even the unborn.

Excellent. Now, rather than letting them grow up and sin and risk hell, you should start murdering them so that they can go to heaven.

[Anomalocaris]

So abortion providers sends baby straight into heaven, but christians are jelous and wants those baby to have the chance to fuck up and go to hell just like them.

Now it makes sense to me. There is more consistency in christian position than I thought.

[Gambit]

Whenever we see work colleagues receiving a disproportionate amount of praise or reward for totally arbitrary reasons, we are understandably upset. Now, in those scenarios we usually have the ability to raise a grievance. Further still, if it were a Christian on the wrong end of the deal, they would most likely raise a grievance just like anyone else. So my question to any Christian who would raise said grievance is; how come it is unfair when people use arbitrary measurements, on what should be a level playing field, but it is totally logical when God does it?

[Neo-Scholastic]

So abortion providers sends baby straight into heaven...

Yes. And the murderers destroy their own humanity in the process.

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how come it is unfair when people use arbitrary measurements, on what should be a level playing field, but it is totally logical when God does it?

Because of God's perfect knowledge his judgments are less arbitrary than our own. He is able to take into account circumstances that escape our notice.

[genkaus]

Yes. And the murderers destroy their own humanity in the process.

For a religion built on sacrifice, that one should be considered even above Jesus.

[Godscreated]

How dense are you anyway, does the word "all' just shoot right over your head.

So "all" babies die soon enough to go straight to heaven? Why are you still here, then?

To live an amazing life for Christ.

[genkaus]

So "all" babies die soon enough to go straight to heaven? Why are you still here, then?

To live an amazing life for Christ.

So why exactly aren't you out there killing babies?

[Godscreated]

To live an amazing life for Christ.

So why exactly aren't you out there killing babies?

Your really not all there are you.

[genkaus]

So why exactly aren't you out there killing babies?

Your really not all there are you.

No, I'm all here. So, what's your answer?