Sushan wrote: ↑February 16th, 2024, 7:48 am
The reflections you've shared on the world's perfection, the inconsistency of believers criticizing creation, and the philosophical stance on divine perfection present a thought-provoking viewpoint. However, I find myself contemplating a slightly different perspective on these matters.
Regarding the perception of the world as a perfect creation, it's essential to consider that the concept of perfection is deeply subjective and varies widely across cultures, philosophies, and individuals. While the idea of a world where every speck is in its rightful place offers a comforting vision of divine omnipotence and benevolence, it might also be worth considering the dynamic nature of creation itself. Could not the world's constant state of flux, its capacity for change and evolution, also be seen as a form of perfection? This perspective suggests that perfection includes the potential for growth, learning, and improvement, aligning with a more process-oriented view of the divine and creation.
On the inconsistency in believers' criticisms of the world, it's conceivable that expressing desires for a different world doesn't necessarily imply a belief that God did a bad job. Instead, it could reflect a deep engagement with the divine gift of free will and the responsibility it entails. Such criticisms might arise from a place of compassion and a desire to alleviate suffering, rather than from a lack of faith or ingratitude towards creation. This view posits that humans, created in the image of a thoughtful and caring God, are naturally inclined to seek justice and goodness, which sometimes requires envisioning and striving for a world that better reflects these divine attributes.
Lastly, the discussion on the philosophical implications for theism and atheism opens up an essential dialogue on the nature of belief and understanding. While it's valuable to challenge inconsistencies in beliefs, it's also crucial to acknowledge the complexity of human experience and the mystery that surrounds the divine. Faith and doubt are not always opposites but can coexist as part of a deeper exploration of one's relationship with the divine and the world. This nuanced approach allows for a belief in a perfect, all-loving God while also engaging critically with the realities of suffering and injustice, seeing them as calls to action rather than signs of divine imperfection or malice.
This perspective really brings some important details to light. It is important to know that even though a believer feels like somethings like suffering should not exist, it is equally important to acknowledge that such concepts do exist in some Holy Scriptures and are usually presented for 2 or more purposes.
I believe the first would be to teach those reading that they do not have to act in certain ways as the results would inevitably lead to conditions that people will not find favourable i.e "Thou shalt not steal" and "He who steals, if caught, shall return that which was stolen 7-fold."
The second would be to teach us that despite the way most people perceive the world to be, our actions can reflect God's true nature and grace as long as they are tailored to show how God would act according to their understand of Him. i.e "And Jesus had compassion when he looked upon the multitude."
There could be other reasons but scriptural stories teach that there are two forces in the world, forces of good and evil. While one ought to believe that all things are perfect, one also has to acknowledge that humanity is but an element that can and will be used by these forces depending on their choices which are infinite. In my opinion, the term "should" can be used by a believer to acknowledge the possibilities made by the forces of good and evil.
The quoted texts are not exactly as written in the Bible but as I remember them to be.