(October 10, 2013 at 12:14 pm)John V Wrote: Giving money to the poor that would otherwise have been spent for booze, pot and video games would result in a mental breakdown? I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you there, mmkay?You're really stuck on this bit about booze and pot and video games. A bit of puritanism there, puritanism being defined as "the lingering fear that someone somewhere may be enjoying himself." (H.L. Mencken) What is the big difference between the video games and what I spend a few thousand on most years, maintaining a couple of canine companions in health and well-being?
Anyway, your obsession about booze and pot and video games has led you into a whopping great undistributed middle.
Some atheists here spend their money on booze and pot and video games.
Some atheists here say it is monstrous not to alleviate suffering.
Therefore all atheists here who say it is monstrous not to alleviate suffering are hypocrites.
It's also a logical howler to ignore the distinction that people are making.
Human beings (with limited powers) should make some efforts to alleviate suffering.
An omnipotent God should make an effort to alleviate suffering, and by definition that would eradicate suffering.
You've said often enough that God doesn't care to eliminate suffering. OK, fine. Don't bother saying it again. By my standards your God is less moral than an atheist who smokes some weed and gives 50 bucks occasionally to UNICEF.
If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people — House
