RE: Argument from evil, restated
June 1, 2013 at 12:57 am
(This post was last modified: June 1, 2013 at 1:04 am by ronedee.)
(May 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm)Zarith Wrote: God created a world where both evil and free will supposedly exist. The typical "free will defense" maintains that the existence of free will is super important, more important even than the non-existence or eradication of evil.
As I see it, God is God, and takes full responsibility for His creation. He lets evil exist because it ultimately Glorifies Him! "Free-will" was/is necessary in order for God to create "humans", instead of "robots".
(May 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm)Zarith Wrote: Yet I assume (correct me if I am wrong) that there can be no evil in heaven, thus there can be no free will there. If free will did exist in heaven, how would it not just be earth 2.0?
You are wrong. In Heaven we will be "like" God! We will share in His divinity! Jesus says not to even try to imagine what it will be like there...because we haven't the brain power!
(May 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm)Zarith Wrote: So which is it? Which place is a more desirable place to be, and why do we have both of them when one of them has to be better than the other? Why should I want to go to heaven if this world is better, by virtue of containing free will in addition to evil?
see above
(May 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm)Zarith Wrote: If the ability to choose is so important, why then do I end up in a place where I have no choice, if I make the right choice the first time? Free will is the most important thing ... but only up to a point?
If god desires for people to choose to love him, then why is there an expiration date on this offer? Surely if hell existed, it would be filled with people who would make a different choice if given one more chance. Don't you think?
Why would a just and loving god, seeing his creations burn in hellfire, and desiring that they would have chosen to love him, not avail himself of this opportunity?
You are comparing God to what you know...which is nothing remotely close to truth!
God loves us, and wants to give us what is His! But we need to earn that right through Faith in His Son, and His plan.
Lucifer wanted what was God's with no rights to it. That was the beginning of evil. God used Lucifer, and "the lie" (we could be like God) for His purpose to create Good from it. The "lie" would in the end be true, but by different means.
We are free to chose between Heaven and Hell. And it's what we wanted! Any other way would be God serving man!
Jesus said that after His death, God the Father, through the Holy Spirit would write the Truth in the hearts of all men! So, the answer is within. Some find it. Some suppress it. Some deny it.
We have to shed the worldly flesh and sin, to reach heaven! The only way is "to be born again, through water and the spirit". Making a physical departure (washing) from the old ways, and a new birth (spiritual evolution) to God's true form.
We can share in God's Divinity. But, we need to Love Him, and have Faith that He loves us. Be like His Son Jesus here. Be like God in Heaven! Amen!
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Quis ut Deus?
