attofishpi wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:59 am
Yep. It never ceases to amaze me when an atheist will state, 'ok, if there is a God, why is there so much suffering.'
Yeah, like we are all supposed to exist in some sort of heaven from the outset. No need for doctors, scientists etc etc..no need to strive for knowledge. I think it is far better that God has left the world to its own devices - wo\man can strive to find cures etc..
Right you are, atto.
The existence of suffering is one of the main features of our world that atheists point to in support of their argument against the existence of a creative intelligence presiding over the universe.
However, they never seem to give any critical thought to what the world would actually be like if everything was made “perfect” for us (whatever that is supposed to mean).
For example (and to slightly paraphrase something I have posted elsewhere)...
seeds wrote:
In regards to the elimination of suffering, should no one ever fall down and skin a knee?
Should humans experience no pain or physical destruction when involved in car accidents?
Should pain causing accidents (of any sort) never occur?
Indeed, should the ability to experience pain in any form whatsoever (mentally or physically), never have been included in the human design?
Should the human body never show any signs of aging or deterioration past the point of its 18th birthday? And then just simply cease to function at the age of 90 for no apparent reason?
Or better yet, in order to prevent the suffering experienced by those left behind after the death of a loved one, then perhaps there should be no death? (Ah, but then there’s that pesky population problem.)
In other words, what would the world be like after all forms of suffering (and so-called “evil”) have been eliminated?
Should it look like what is depicted in one of those Watchtower/Awake magazines where it shows the lion lying next to the lamb, surrounded by insipidly smiling “Stepford Wife” types, picking fruits and berries in some idyllic setting?
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The point is, what exactly do atheists expect God to do in an effort to eliminate suffering from this incredibly complex dimension of reality we are functioning in?
Let the atheists on this forum provide us with a list of what they would do differently if they were God.
attofishpi wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:59 am
...and as far as our suffering goes, it pales in comparison to God\Christ's.
I don’t know about that, atto.
I don’t think you can compare what Jesus experienced for a few grueling hours to that of the months (years) of agony that a burn victim undergoes as he/she attempts to recover from having 50 to 90 percent of their flesh seared to a blackened crisp (never mind the anguish of their horrible disfigurement).
Or how about the suffering of those lost in a screaming nightmare of mental insanity – locked away in some dreadful asylum for their entire life?
Now I’m not suggesting that there isn’t a great deal of suffering involved in a crucifixion, but let’s keep things in perspective.
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