If there is a God, why is there evil?

Discuss philosophical questions regarding theism (and atheism), and discuss religion as it relates to philosophy. This includes any philosophical discussions that happen to be about god, gods, or a 'higher power' or the belief of them. This also generally includes philosophical topics about organized or ritualistic mysticism or about organized, common or ritualistic beliefs in the existence of supernatural phenomenon.
Post Reply
RyanParenti
Posts: 13
Joined: August 19th, 2009, 4:38 am

Post by RyanParenti »

The re-hashed and obsolete value systems of another - are inflicted on generation after generation.
On the other hand, the few who actually hear the unbounded song of the One Life or who merely wish to live free from the fetters of social conditioning others would foist upon them are shunned.
Through authentic expression, illusions of man could come tumbling down.
rayback
Posts: 64
Joined: July 11th, 2009, 10:17 am

Post by rayback »


If there is a God, why is there evil?

That question can only be answered if you can answer this question:

If there is a God, why are there idiots?

-
ape
Posts: 3314
Joined: April 6th, 2009, 9:55 pm

Post by ape »

rayback wrote:

If there is a God, why is there evil?

That question can only be answered if you can answer this question:

If there is a God, why are there idiots?

-
There are idiots because God is The Idiot-in Chief!
:)
1 Corinthians 1:
25Because the foolishness/idiocy of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27But God hath chosen the foolish/idiotic people of the world to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak people of the world to confound the people which are mighty;

28And base people of the world,
and people which are despised, hath God chosen,
yea, and people] which are not/nobodies, to bring to nought people that are:

29That no [or all]flesh should glory in his presence.

30But of [Love and so in] him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth, let him glory in [Love and so in] the Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:
18Let no man deceive himself.
If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Love [Kee]p Making A Fool/An Idiot Of Me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njANykly01c
Belinda
Premium Member
Posts: 13822
Joined: July 10th, 2008, 7:02 pm
Location: UK

Post by Belinda »

Rayback wrote:
If there is a God, why are there idiots?
I am sure that religionists will have an answer along the lines of 'The mysteries of God are not for us to comprehend'.
nameless
Posts: 1230
Joined: May 13th, 2008, 9:06 pm
Location: Here/Now

Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?

Post by nameless »

Floyd wrote:If there is a God, why is there evil?
The question is meaningless.
One can just as well ask;
"If there is a god, why is there 'blue'?"
or "..'hamburgers'?"
or "...'good'?"
Meaningless, in itself.
User avatar
Alun
Posts: 1118
Joined: July 11th, 2009, 8:55 pm

Post by Alun »

Belinda wrote:The original question would be better framed as 'In the presence of evil, can all-powerful God also be good God?'

Obviously not.You have to dispense with the all-powerfulness of God.
No it is not so obvious. You've made the fallacy of composition; just because there is evil in the world does not mean the world is evil. If God created things that are evil, that does not mean that He is evil. Isn't it quite possible that God created a universe with some evil in it, but that the universe on the whole is not evil?
"I have nothing new to teach the world" -Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi
ape
Posts: 3314
Joined: April 6th, 2009, 9:55 pm

Post by ape »

Alun wrote:If God created things that are evil, that does not mean that He is evil. Isn't it quite possible that God created a universe with some evil in it, but that the universe on the whole is not evil?
Isaiah 45: 
7I form the light, and create darkness:
I make peace, and create evil:
I the LORD do all these things.  

8Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness:
let the earth open,
and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together;
I the LORD have created it.
Faith
Posts: 25
Joined: August 15th, 2009, 6:32 pm

Post by Faith »

I think that people in this forum are not "asking why there is evil", but actually trying to prove that there is evil, therefore God does not exhist.

We are foolishly and stubbornly hardening our hearts saying that, well, there's evil in this wWorld, therefore God I choose not to follow your ways cause your a big fat sadistic jerk for allowing it...

But the truth is that your denying God or just choosing not to follow him because you don't agree with him, does not empower you or make God disapear.

We are small and insignifcant beings, and whether we agree with him or not does not change that fact that he has the power to squish you like a bug.

It doesn't empower you, it deems you foolish and those who take pride in there own foolishness, do no good to helping there end.
Belinda
Premium Member
Posts: 13822
Joined: July 10th, 2008, 7:02 pm
Location: UK

Post by Belinda »

You've made the fallacy of composition; just because there is evil in the world does not mean the world is evil.
I have not.

Presumably if God is all-powerful he could do anything including making a world devoid of suffering.Since there is no known world that is devoid of suffering then there is no such entity as an all-powerful God.
Belinda
Premium Member
Posts: 13822
Joined: July 10th, 2008, 7:02 pm
Location: UK

Post by Belinda »

Faith, you wrote
well, there's evil in this wWorld, therefore God I choose not to follow your ways cause your a big fat sadistic jerk for allowing it...
This is indeed what I say, although my choice of words differs from yours.

However, to say this is not to dismiss the idea of God, but to change the idea of what God is. I do recommend to you some church or university where you may learn progressive Christianity.
boagie
Posts: 1021
Joined: October 13th, 2008, 7:50 am

Post by boagie »

Might not god be our intutive sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves, and the anthropomorphic idols and images simpy a child like attempt at put meat on the bones of pure mystery. For what is the term god but a metaphor for that mystery, the term in and of itself tells us nothing more of that mystery, and if your metaphor you get stuck with, you've shorted the spiritual experience of wonder. One cannot understand that the physical world as without meaning in the absence of a conscious subject and still entertain the idea that evil is anything more than the evalutation of the subject, I like, I do not like, evil that which I do not like.
nameless
Posts: 1230
Joined: May 13th, 2008, 9:06 pm
Location: Here/Now

Post by nameless »

Belinda wrote:Presumably if God is all-powerful he could do anything including making a world devoid of suffering.Since there is no known world that is devoid of suffering then there is no such entity as an all-powerful God.
Why is it that 'suffering' and 'pain' are 'errors' or 'faults' or 'wrong' or 'evil' or 'mistakes'?
This 'god' must operate on particular peoples egoic whims?
There is nothing 'imperfect' in pain or suffering. It's just 'uncomfortable', and there's nothing imperfect about discomfort, either!
ape
Posts: 3314
Joined: April 6th, 2009, 9:55 pm

Post by ape »

Belinda wrote:
You've made the fallacy of composition; just because there is evil in the world does not mean the world is evil.
I have not.

Presumably if God is all-powerful he could do anything including making a world devoid of suffering.Since there is no known world that is devoid of suffering then there is no such entity as an all-powerful God.
Hi Belinda!
God was never all-powerful/omnipotent or omniscient or omnisapient nor omni-whatever!
God was always ONLY all-Loving, Omniagapent, filled with the Omniagapesence for Himself and all others as strong and weak, as potent and impotent, as knowing and ignorant, as fool and wise, as self and others, as etc and non-etc, as good and as evil.
1 Corinthians 1:
25Because the foolishness/ignorance/idiocy of God is wiser than men;
and the weakness/impotency/powerlessness/evil of God is stronger than/better than men.

26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty,
not many noble,
are called:

27But
God hath chosen the foolish people of the world to confound the wise;
and
God hath chosen the weak people of the world to confound the people which are mighty;

28And base people of the world,
and people which are despised, hath God chosen,
yea,
and people which are not/nothing/nobodies to bring to nought people that are [somebodies]:

29That no flesh [or all flesh] should glory in his presence.

30But of [Love and so of] him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in [OmniLove and so in] the Lord.

Well said, Faith!:)
james1951
Posts: 92
Joined: January 8th, 2008, 3:44 pm

Post by james1951 »

Juice wrote:O-Very well said except I don't think free will equates to freedom. I believe free will is a natural state gifted by God which allows man to either live by the knowledge of Gods Grace or not.

Anything else are just earthly choices which in fact are the things which enslave. As one does not have a choice not to eat or drink, or to breath. In these instance we are aware of the consequences of each which is death. So to with God whose Grace has allowed the choice of belief which can lead to life and death similarly.
We often use our "free will" in such a way as to give up our "freedom", in positive or in negative ways.

We give up our freedom when we use our free will to tend to or help others.
We give up our freedom when we use our free will to attach to an addiction like drugs, sex, money, etc.
james1951
Posts: 92
Joined: January 8th, 2008, 3:44 pm

Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?

Post by james1951 »

nameless wrote:
Floyd wrote:If there is a God, why is there evil?
The question is meaningless.
One can just as well ask;
"If there is a god, why is there 'blue'?"
or "..'hamburgers'?"
or "...'good'?"
Meaningless, in itself.
It is not meaningless at all when you concider that god often is used to represent goodness. Evil then becomes the antithesis or opposite of god. Evil is apart from god so to speak.

If you use god merely to represent the creator whatever that is with no attachmenty to the sapience of the creation then perhaps you may have a point.

However how can the creator have no attachment to its creation?
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophy of Religion, Theism and Mythology”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021