(May 22, 2018 at 7:57 am)Hammy Wrote: This is what I mean when I say it's absolutely absurd to say that God must have good reasons for not intervening. Because it's actually an admission that God is morally inferior to us as he doesn't even get the basics right.There is no logical problem with the concept--let's call that the intellectual Problem of Evil (PoE) (which has largely been abandoned by professional philosophers). You objection is based on empathy/emotions or the emotional PoE. I fully agree and understand that this is one of or the biggest obstacle for an open-minded person to have when considering the God of Christianity. However, I do have a couple of points about a Christian perspective on this issue (adapted from a podcast I listened to) that provides more context to your "because reasons" above.
Why doesn't God intervene to stop awful things? "Because reasons". Why can't he give us freedom to do what we wish with a few exceptions where he invervenes in cases to prevent such horrible things? "Because reasons". Why can't God allow us to do whatever we want but imbue us with a nature that never wants to rape and kill? "Because reasons." Why must God allow innocent animals and small children to suffer when they aren't even capable of responsibility or guilt, they're nothing but victims in all these cases? "Because reasons.". Why did God do such a poor job of creating moral beings in his supposedly moral image? "Because reasons."
There's no excuse at all. This God is supposedly able to do anything that is logically possible. God could intervene in less than a split second to prevent these things without causing any harm and destruction. God could have created us so we were better beings that never wished to do such things. If God is real he chooses to allow these things. The very second anyone thinks there's any possible justification that God can have for allowing these things to happen when he has the ability to stop them immediately with ease... is either just an admission that the theist in question has incredibly immoral beliefs or that they are egocentrically giving themselves to an immoral God out of fear of hell and hope for heaven.
Checkmate, theists.
a. The chief purpose of life is knowledge of God, not happiness.
b. We are in a state of separation/rebellion against God and his purpose and as such spiritual evil can prevail for a time.
c. This life is but a blip when considering eternity and God has that perspective that we often don't see/remember.
d. The knowledge of God is of immeasurable importance--and far outweighs finite suffering.
Regarding God can do "anything logically possible" is not quite right. If God created people with free will, then he has by definition, subordinated his ability to control everything. Freewill entails a sinful world. Free will entails that God has subordinated control of some things. Constant intervention or limits on ability is plainly and simply no longer free will.
