Rant on the "Soul-Making" Theodicy- WARNING MAY INDUCE VOMITING
July 18, 2014 at 8:15 pm
(This post was last modified: July 19, 2014 at 5:14 pm by Jackalope.)
Basically, I just had a non-Christian theist (let's just leave it at that as pinning down his religious views is like nailing jello to the wall) I was involved in an online discussion with tell me that "If God had a fridge, your picture would be on it."
He claimed that, despite being busy operating the entire universe, God has enough time to tailor individual tests for each of us to overcome during our lives because he loves each and every one of us.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OK, continuing onward before I explode from laughter...
The idea he then put forward was that every test was within our capacity, we get to retake them and learn from them no matter how many times we feel we fail (i.e. relating it to sin) if we repent, and, most importantly, are y'all ready for this...
DUM...
DUM...
DUUUUUUMMMM!!!!
He then theorized that the goal of each of our tests is "to learn to place our complete trust in God...is there any wonder that we love our Father such that we would give our all for him?"
I would call that more of an abusive relationship first of all. "If you can survive being beaten by a two-by-four multiple times and not break up with me, I'll still love you."
Second of all, what about: volcanoes, lightning strikes, AIDS, tsunamis, hurricanes, miscarriages, and other lethal "tests" that are a.) not under human control and so are not attributable to human "free will" in any way (excluding for instance, wars, terrorism, crime, etc.), but must have been supposedly created by this all loving, all knowing God? What "soul-making" purpose do they have? If the people killed as infants go directly to heaven after their death, what purpose does that serve for God? (Not that anyone can make sense of why a god would decide to create the human race- other than boredom). And of course, as well all know, theists can't retreat to the special pleading of "mysterious ways."
Third of all, if we're going to be tested, why can we not directly face the testmaker and demand to know what's going on?!
I know this is all pretty basic PRATT stuff, but sometimes I get so mad at the word games that even my theist friends play when I ask the most simple questions...
He claimed that, despite being busy operating the entire universe, God has enough time to tailor individual tests for each of us to overcome during our lives because he loves each and every one of us.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OK, continuing onward before I explode from laughter...
The idea he then put forward was that every test was within our capacity, we get to retake them and learn from them no matter how many times we feel we fail (i.e. relating it to sin) if we repent, and, most importantly, are y'all ready for this...
DUM...
DUM...
DUUUUUUMMMM!!!!
He then theorized that the goal of each of our tests is "to learn to place our complete trust in God...is there any wonder that we love our Father such that we would give our all for him?"
I would call that more of an abusive relationship first of all. "If you can survive being beaten by a two-by-four multiple times and not break up with me, I'll still love you."
Second of all, what about: volcanoes, lightning strikes, AIDS, tsunamis, hurricanes, miscarriages, and other lethal "tests" that are a.) not under human control and so are not attributable to human "free will" in any way (excluding for instance, wars, terrorism, crime, etc.), but must have been supposedly created by this all loving, all knowing God? What "soul-making" purpose do they have? If the people killed as infants go directly to heaven after their death, what purpose does that serve for God? (Not that anyone can make sense of why a god would decide to create the human race- other than boredom). And of course, as well all know, theists can't retreat to the special pleading of "mysterious ways."
Third of all, if we're going to be tested, why can we not directly face the testmaker and demand to know what's going on?!
I know this is all pretty basic PRATT stuff, but sometimes I get so mad at the word games that even my theist friends play when I ask the most simple questions...
Luke: You don't believe in the Force, do you?
Han Solo: Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other, and I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen *anything* to make me believe that there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything. 'Cause no mystical energy field controls *my* destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.
Han Solo: Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other, and I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen *anything* to make me believe that there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything. 'Cause no mystical energy field controls *my* destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.
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