I think that the whole 'problem of evil' argument which a lot of atheists use to discount christianity is often badly represented. I used to believe god is all good, and that his goodness is not necessarily seen in the day to day matters of us humans.

One way to look at it would be parents having kids. The parents might be absolutely amazing and do all they can to have their kid turn out to be good, responsible and successful, but that's not always what happens. Say the kid becomes a serial killer. Obviously the kid (or at least his behavior) is evil, but is that reason to say that the parents of the serial killer are evil too? It doesn't really follow. HOWEVER, this argument is seriously flawed. Sure, the parents may not be evil, but one might say that it was a deficiency in their parenting skills which let the kid turn out the way he did. Or that it was the parents lack of ability to control who the kid met, talked to, saw, watched, heard, and on. At some point, it comes back to something going WRONG with what the parents did, either directly or by lack of action.

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?”
- Epicurus

(April 15, 2009 at 1:01 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: So whilst it is possibly over simplistic to state that "God is good". It is essentially true, in broad terms.

The problem of evil either means god is not good, or that god does not exist.

"Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:20

If god is the creator of everything, the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good, being from which everything came, why is there evil? If the bible is the inspired word of god, let's apply it to god. The fruit of god is everything in this world, including everything evil. If jesus says that it is by someone's fruit that we know them, then god's fruit destroys the idea that he can be good.

As those who thanked god for surviving the earthquake suggest that God saved them. Meaning that God is able to save people which means that he either choses to let those who died die or that he is partly incompetent.

Even though perhaps some just where greatful and said "thank god" as a phrase, is there always those who believed that God really saved them.

(April 11, 2009 at 4:45 pm)Kyuuketsuki Wrote:

(April 8, 2009 at 5:25 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: You have no god yet you put a description of a god forward. I think I'm justified in addressing your description.

What description? I don't have any gods ... I reject ALL past & current claims to the existence of deity. Describe another if you wish and I will tell you why I do or do not reject such an idea.

I'm still waiting Frodo.

Kyu

Obviously I didn't 'wish' Kyu. Sorry If you actually meant: "fuck you you halfwit who doesn't think what I tell you to think... tell me now! I demand it!!! ...I simply didn't read it like that.

(April 16, 2009 at 11:15 am)fr0d0 Wrote: Obviously I didn't 'wish' Kyu. Sorry If you actually meant: "fuck you you halfwit who doesn't think what I tell you to think... tell me now! I demand it!!! ...I simply didn't read it like that.

Oh I don't know ... you won't answer my points and you won't debate me! Seems to me you've not only got a yellow streak you've been absolutely painted in yellow.

Cluck, cluck!

Kyu

I think you must be on some high Kyu all these colours you keep seeing. Seems there's no limit to your mindllessness.

(April 16, 2009 at 1:46 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: I think you must be on some high Kyu all these colours you keep seeing. Seems there's no limit to your mindllessness.

My comment was posted before you agreed to debate me so any reference to and implication of cowardice is retracted with an apology because I genuinely believed you would not do so and it appears that I was wrong.

Kyu

If only you'd be so open with your actual opinions.

(April 16, 2009 at 2:17 pm)fr0d0 Wrote: If only you'd be so open with your actual opinions.

Why couldn't you just accept the apology for what it was?

Kyu