God Is Evil

[Beta Ray Bill]

Well it's not just on here (where it gets thoroughly beaten to death at least once a month.) It's just an old argument and I haven't heard an original idea from either side since I first heard it discussed. Like I said it's also a poor argument for Atheism since it really only covers one specific concept of God. Do you think you have something original to say on the topic? Yes the God of the bible is clearly not omnibenevolent. Yes it contradicts with Christian claims. I'm not quite sure what else can be said on the subject.

Well, I've only been an atheist for about a year, and I only joined this forum about a month ago, so all this stuff is pretty fresh to me. I'm just trying to reinforce my new beliefs and see what other people think about them.

I disagree that it's a poor argument for atheism, though. IMO, any argument that shows a flaw in the theory of a supreme being is dastardly to religion, because faith says God must be perfect, and if it can be shown that he isn't, in any way, then religion just got crushed.

Frankly, I want to hear what the religious people can say to defend their faith, and I dare them to do it without saying one word of insult!

If anyone thinks I'm just beating a dead horse, then my advice is just ignore it.

[CapnAwesome]

Well, I've only been an atheist for about a year, and I only joined this forum about a month ago, so all this stuff is pretty fresh to me. I'm just trying to reinforce my new beliefs and see what other people think about them.

I disagree that it's a poor argument for atheism, though. IMO, any argument that shows a flaw in the theory of a supreme being is dastardly to religion, because faith says God must be perfect, and if it can be shown that he isn't, in any way, then religion just got crushed.

Frankly, I want to hear what the religious people can say to defend their faith, and I dare them to do it without saying one word of insult!

If anyone thinks I'm just beating a dead horse, then my advice is just ignore it.

I'm an Atheist obviously but this is a pet peeve of mine and at the least for you will be a good exercise in sharpening your wits and arguments. What you are saying is not addressing a supreme being. Most concepts of Gods in history have not been omnibenevolent. For example if you were to tell someone that Zeus is not real would you use this argument? No. If you said that "Zeus is evil" Zeusists would reply "Well sometimes Zeus does evil things and sometimes he does good things." I'm not sure that the argument works against any concept of a Deity other than the modern perception of the Christian God. In your initial post you didn't say "The Christian God is Evil" or "The God of the Old Testament is evil." or the best phrasing in my opinion, "The Fictional God of the Bible is evil." Instead you said "God is Evil."

While I agree that it's a major flaw in the concept of an omnibenevolent God (I think only Christianity claims this) I think to a lot of long time Atheists it just sounds sort of silly. Like saying "Santa Claus is Good."

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

By their logic of god being good, they should also view every fictional villain as good.

The Church Of Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

The Church of James Moriarty of Latter Day Saints.

St Edward Hyde The Evangelist Church

The Temple of Iago The Most Holy

The One True, Universal and Apostolic Church Of Col. Walter E. Kurtz

*****

Boru

[ronedee]

But, as many of you are already thinking, the real answer is that there is no God. If there truly was a God that "loves love and hates hate" then existence would be a lot more pleasurable than it is. Following reasoning and study, we can obviously see that existence has no guiding force. Our fates are not decided. If they were, I would want nothing to do with so evil of a God as the one in the Bible.

Last I checked... men are the ones causing all evil in the world. Also, man in his infinite wisdom, and resources is quite able to stop babies from starving to death in Africa! A recent purification invention sponsored by Coke has the potential to wipe out draught in the world.

As a matter-of-fact...there aint much man can't do, or hasn't done on his own to fix, or in most cases hurt the world!

So....why is it God's fault?

[pineapplebunnybounce]

But, as many of you are already thinking, the real answer is that there is no God. If there truly was a God that "loves love and hates hate" then existence would be a lot more pleasurable than it is. Following reasoning and study, we can obviously see that existence has no guiding force. Our fates are not decided. If they were, I would want nothing to do with so evil of a God as the one in the Bible.

Last I checked... men are the ones causing all evil in the world. Also, man in his infinite wisdom, and resources is quite able to stop babies from starving to death in Africa! A recent purification invention sponsored by Coke has the potential to wipe out draught in the world.

As a matter-of-fact...there aint much man can't do, or hasn't done on his own to fix, or in most cases hurt the world!

So....why is it God's fault?

What I bolded: that's how an atheist sees the world. It isn't god's fault because god doesn't exist and therefore doesn't interfere with the world.

As a believer, there is NOTHING god cannot do, so why is he not doing it or why is he hurting the world?

[Minimalist]

why would he design me so that my testicles are at perfect knee striking height for my wife?

He could just be a prick.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Last I checked... men are the ones causing all evil in the world. Also, man in his infinite wisdom, and resources is quite able to stop babies from starving to death in Africa! A recent purification invention sponsored by Coke has the potential to wipe out draught in the world.

As a matter-of-fact...there aint much man can't do, or hasn't done on his own to fix, or in most cases hurt the world!

So....why is it God's fault?

Because your lot give God credit for all the good that happens. It seems monstrously unfair to give God all the credit and Humanity all the blame. But I'll play along, for kicks and giggles if nowt else.

Let's stipulate that the things you say are true, that man has the widsom and resources to make the Earth a paradise (I know those aren't your exact words, but your meaning seems clear enough). Assume there is enough food and medicine in the world to feed and heal every starving, sick child in Africa. The obvious question is 'Why doesn't it happen?' Lots of reasons: political interference, war, transport and spoilage problems, the resistence of religious institutions (read up the Catholic and Muslim responses to polio vaccinations), and so on ad nauseum. Clearly, human beings are fallible enough that a lot of good works are not accomplished.

God, on the other hand, doesn't have the fallibility of human intransigence (by definition). If God loves Humanity and has power over human beings - and it says right here in my Big Book Of Godisms that he does -, then God could - with literally no effort whatsoever - make the difficulties of getting food and meds to hungry, sick people disappear. One infinitely small act of will on God's part would save millions of people every year.

And THAT is why God gets the blame. Human beings clearly can't solve this problem. That means some humans are arrogant, willful, and heartlessly cold.

God, on the other hand, COULD solve this problem. There is no logical reason for him not to do so. And that is not only why God gets the blame, it is one of the conundra that defines the God of Abraham out of existence. The God of Love and Mercy turns out to be pitilessly indifferent to starving babies with polio.

Boru

[popeyespappy]

So....why is it God's fault?

Because he who made kittens put snakes in the grass.

[Undeceived]

One infinitely small act of will on God's part would save millions of people every year. And THAT is why God gets the blame. Human beings clearly can't solve this problem. That means some humans are arrogant, willful, and heartlessly cold. God, on the other hand, COULD solve this problem. There is no logical reason for him not to do so.

What if death were an exit and not an ending? What if God places more value on character than on circumstances? Could these be possibilities?

[smax]

You cannot call something evil you don't think exists. However, the character of God in the Bible, reading it as if it were a fiction novel, I would say is most certainly evil.

It is a wonder that theists cannot discern the difference between one fictional character and another. By their logic of god being good, they should also view every fictional villain as good.

Exactly. If the god of the bible is "good", then Adolf Hitler is definitely good. He's exactly the same type of racist tyrant.