The problem is even when you point out the ridiculousness of the idea that 'god' must allow people to be hurt, tortured or even murdered for the sake of the 'big picture,' the person will often retort that though this seems cruel and nonsensical, we cannot understand god's plans because we are human. They simply dismiss the point that you make and rationalize the idea by saying something along the lines of, "I am not god and I do not pretend to understand god's plan, none of us possibly can!"
Some of the things that people say to justify the ridiculousness of many religious claims are just funny. Another point people will make is that evil is not god's will but man's will. Then comes the problem of free will vs a predetermined fate. So we either have no free will and EVERYTHING is god's plan, or we have free will and god has no influence over our lives. But there cannot be both and so many religious people fail to realize this: free will and fate CANNOT coexist at the same time. At least not in my mind. It's a funny thing to bring up the concept of evil and how it can coexist with a loving, compassionate god.
Some of the things that people say to justify the ridiculousness of many religious claims are just funny. Another point people will make is that evil is not god's will but man's will. Then comes the problem of free will vs a predetermined fate. So we either have no free will and EVERYTHING is god's plan, or we have free will and god has no influence over our lives. But there cannot be both and so many religious people fail to realize this: free will and fate CANNOT coexist at the same time. At least not in my mind. It's a funny thing to bring up the concept of evil and how it can coexist with a loving, compassionate god.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
