God is not cruel…
Just say that over and over again in your head and you might feel better… Any culture that believes in a god tends to attribute every good thing to that god… what then when something bad happens? Christians have this attitude that God is great and works wondrous miracles when ever something good happens and say “God works in mysterious ways” when something bad happens. I ask all of you… what of free will then? I submit that God does not cause things to happen, but he moves in you the proper emotions to lead you to the right decision… which we all have the choice to ignore. Christians have a warped sensibility some times. They say that God is the reason for all things, but then say that He wants everyone to choose Him as god and savior. Is there a choice if God really is the reason for all things? Why wouldn’t God instill that choice Himself? I don’t discount miracles, but I really thing a lot of Christians discount free will way too much.
That has a lot to do with what I’m thinking right now, but only in so far as seeking advice on something. The truth is… I can’t reconcile what I want, with what I need, with what I feel. The first is easy for me anymore (which from what I gather is a rare sort of thing), the second is known but partially ignored (at least from the point of view of the above discussion), and the third is convoluted at best and crystal clear at worst (why at worst? It makes the second null and void in a way that it shouldn’t). So… in a way I know what I want and (might) have a pretty good idea of what I feel… but is it what I need? [No comments from the peanut gallery — pointing at Keith.]
First of all. In stating that God does not cause things to happen, you are directly removing him from the universe, and now have a third person God, rather than a first person. If this is how God really is, then why did he act completely out of character and Die for our sins? (which is an entirely hands on, first person situation.) That doesn’t make any sense. Secondly…free will. God did not create a bunch of robots. (which is exactly what you would have if he did remove free will.) Put yourself in His position. Yes you want to be loved and obeyed, but by their own choices. It makes it all the better if they choose to, rather than are forced to because of lack of options. Or you can look at it like, ok. God is Omnipresent, Omnicsient, and Omnipotent. Therefore, he is everywhere at once, past, present, future, knows everthing in all those three time sequences, and is all powerfull. Since he knows what i am going to do twelve years from now, something i think will be completely random, there is no free will. the decision is already made for me. and there you have it. the black hole of theology. Or you can do what i do and not worry about it and live day to day for God. nyah