I was alluding to what (supposedly) exists (in the post I quoted). As anyone can tell by my tone, I disagree with the premise.Belindi wrote:Spectrum wrote:
But what happened did not happen for a reason built into existence itself. What happened happened for a multiplicity of historical reasons. Moreover what happened is no guarantee that the trend will continue to happen.(LuckyR wrote)So the existence and quality of deities are now decided by vote?
(Spectrum wrote)Not 'decided' to be agreed by all. The said existence and quality of a monotheistic God are only claimed by monotheists.
I had stated, if we observe what had happened over the history of mankind, there is a natural implicit trend for theists to gravitate [more like compelled] toward a monotheistic God, as evident with the 5.4 billion theists [out of all 7+ billion humans] who believed in a monotheistic God.
This theistic trend will continue to move toward an inevitably absolutely perfect God as there is no other option except this so as to avoid one's god being dominated by another who claim their God is an absolutely perfect God.
An absolute perfect God must be absolutely and perfectly good, but evil exists, so such a God as claimed cannot be possible, thus impossible.
True, evil in the forms of suffering, loss, and meaninglessness exists. God and gods are explanations for evil and formularies for countering evil.
The answer to Lucky's question is either under the heading of
1. What we can know i.e. it's an epistemological question.
or 2. What exists i.e. it's an ontological question.
Lucky did not say what category of question it is.
If there is a God, why is there evil?
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
I don't understand if you disagree because the premise is a silly belief , or because you hold that God does not exist.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
Note my signature below.Namelesss wrote:"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." - F. Scott FitzgeraldSpectrum wrote:An absolute perfect God must be absolutely and perfectly good, but evil exists, so such a God as claimed cannot be possible, thus impossible.
You appear to lack this ability in your emotional squall against the 'uncomfortable', which you project onto your notion of God.
In addition I quote the complementarity principles of Yin & Yang and the Tao very often to support my arguments.
I agree with 'good' and 'evil' existing in reality but not within a system with an absolute perfect God [illusory] controlling that system.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
No, there is no 'controlling' God! that separates a 'god' from 'other' (being 'controlled')Spectrum wrote:but not within a system with an absolute perfect God [illusory] controlling that system.
There is not anything that exists BUT God being revealed!
'Control' of any sort is a vain notion/illusion of the ego.
All that exists is God being perceived/revealed!
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
This OP is based on the claim that God is omni-benevolent, i.e. the monothesistic God that is claimed by 5.4 billion out of 7+ billion people.Namelesss wrote:No, there is no 'controlling' God! that separates a 'god' from 'other' (being 'controlled')Spectrum wrote:but not within a system with an absolute perfect God [illusory] controlling that system.
There is not anything that exists BUT God being revealed!
'Control' of any sort is a vain notion/illusion of the ego.
All that exists is God being perceived/revealed!
If you claim your minority pantheistic God is omni-good as well as omni-evil [e.g. omni-child molestor, genocidal, etc.] then this OP is not applicable to your all-inclusive God.
I have argued in the other thread, all ideas of God including an all-inclusive God is ultimately an absolutely perfection God. Since I have proved absolute perfection is an impossibility to be real empirical-rationally, your absolutely perfect God [perfectly balanced or whatever] is an impossibility.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
I am (as is everyone else on this planet) uniquely unqualified to comment on whether there is or is not a god. But regardless if there is or is not one, evil will exist, since the two concepts (gods and evil) are completely unrelated. Yes, the original premise is a silly one, as stated.Belindi wrote:Lucky I understood that you disagreed with the premise in the title of this thread.
I don't understand if you disagree because the premise is a silly belief , or because you hold that God does not exist.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
I understand nowLuckyR wrote:I am (as is everyone else on this planet) uniquely unqualified to comment on whether there is or is not a god. But regardless if there is or is not one, evil will exist, since the two concepts (gods and evil) are completely unrelated. Yes, the original premise is a silly one, as stated.Belindi wrote:Lucky I understood that you disagreed with the premise in the title of this thread.
I don't understand if you disagree because the premise is a silly belief , or because you hold that God does not exist.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
You have not demonstrated (much less 'proven') any such thing; nor logically, nor rationally, nor experientially can you!Spectrum wrote:Since I have proved absolute perfection is an impossibility to be real empirical-rationally, your absolutely perfect God [perfectly balanced or whatever] is an impossibility.
You merely demonstrate your limitations to your own satisfaction and needs.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
By "evil" I think people mean things which generally work against the interests of Mankind. And such things are obviously real...Dark Matter wrote:I'm bewildered that people are still on this subject. The possibility of "evil" is a space-time phenomenon that does not reflect on the infinite and eternal nature of the Actual. It is not a viable aspect of the Real.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
Why are you so busybody with the views of others?Dark Matter wrote:I'm bewildered that people are still on this subject.
Before you insist on any credibility and truth for the 'Real' prove it exists first.The possibility of "evil" is a space-time phenomenon that does not reflect on the infinite and eternal nature of the Actual. It is not a viable aspect of the Real.
Evil [as defined] is real empirically and rationally.
The 'Real' as merely an idea and solely thought is only real for psychological reasons and it is NEVER real within empirical-rational reality.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
By "evil" I think people mean things which they think generally work against the interests of Mankind.Atreyu wrote:By "evil" I think people mean things which generally work against the interests of Mankind. And such things are obviously real...Dark Matter wrote:I'm bewildered that people are still on this subject. The possibility of "evil" is a space-time phenomenon that does not reflect on the infinite and eternal nature of the Actual. It is not a viable aspect of the Real.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
If there exists good and evil, then God must exist; God is all knowing, the wise, which means that he has wisdom, and with wisdom comes reasoning. Although we may not know why something happened and cannot understand the reasoning behind it, that does not mean that there is no reasoning for it. For example, if there is an earthquake or a person suffers from cancer and we can’t see the reasoning behind it, that doesn’t imply that there is no reason. Evil and God can exist at the same time by assuming that God has morally good reasons for allowing evilness to occur. Along with God having a reason for evilness, we also know that humans are given free will; we can decide what is good and bad and what is moral and immoral. We are given the choice of committing evil or good and if there is no evilness in the world, only good choices, then there would not be any freedom. Thus, if good exists, evil must exist.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
light in a hallway or closet cannot exist without
the darkness to greet it."
I have heard of these sorts of arguments before, but I really don't quite see why happiness has to coexist with sadness. Cannot I conceive of being joyful, creative, active, sharing life with other beings, contributing to the well-being of others, and in full unison with Ultimate Reality without any suffering or sadness ever coming on the scene? I don't see why not.
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Re: If there is a God, why is there evil?
You can, except in such a universe, folks would use the word "average" to describe what you just called "joyful".Joseph47 wrote: ↑October 11th, 2018, 11:43 am MyshiningOne wrote: "Happiness cannot exist without sadness, just like a
light in a hallway or closet cannot exist without
the darkness to greet it."
I have heard of these sorts of arguments before, but I really don't quite see why happiness has to coexist with sadness. Cannot I conceive of being joyful, creative, active, sharing life with other beings, contributing to the well-being of others, and in full unison with Ultimate Reality without any suffering or sadness ever coming on the scene? I don't see why not.
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