An idea (or two) about God...
(Don't take this Personal, Big Guy.)
I've been thinking about God. Whoo-boy, the things I been thinkin'....lol.But really, I think I mighta figured something out.
People are always asking how God can let bad shit happen and why he doesn't fix it, posthaste. I think I might know why...He can't. He made the universe, but maybe He has no control over the events that occur here. Maybe His only option is to end it. He can either let it live, or kill it, but He can't really control it anymore, if He ever could.
I'd like to believe this. Because, if not, then God is just nutso. If He does, indeed, control the events that occur, then that would mean He damned well knew that Jesus would die the horrible death that he did and that He let it happen for the utterly insane reason that He loves humans. Excuse me? Yeah.
Okay.
Why don't one of us kill someone for an equally retarded reason, like say because we like animals and traipse into court with that defense. "Yes, Your Honor. I did have/let my Aunt Sophie be murdered because I want all the animals for the rest of enternity to know that I love them." Pfft. Yer ass would be locked up quicker'n you could blink. And, don't hand me that "He's God and we're not" shit, either. He got the same writers as Chevy Chase, now?
We're made in His image, which is supposed to mean (I think) that we're like Him and He's like us. If that's the case, I hope He has no control over this shit, or He's just psycho, like we'd be, if we did this stuff. The idea that He has no more control over this mess than we do is somehow comforting. That's about the only way I've found so far to believe it's not personal.
Comments
1
The reason is free will. God granted us free will in the very beginning and if he interferes now, he'd be going back on his word/gift. So, in essence, you're right - he can't stop us.
Posted by: Lee at December 19, 2003 12:00 AM (JbF9r)
2
Most of the Founding Fathers were Deists. They believed God created the world but doesn't interfere with his creations.
I read an interview once with Bob Costas, where he said it drives him nuts when some football player after the game will say "It was God's will that we won." Like God cares who wins a football game?
I almost posted a comment at Acidman's the other night. Like him, I'm a non-believer. Mom dragged us to her fundaMENTAList church 2-3 times a week, but even though I was a gullible kid, I just couldn't believe the stuff the guy in the pulpit was saying.
And if there's a God, He sure screwed Mom over for all her worship of Him.
I read an interview once with Bob Costas, where he said it drives him nuts when some football player after the game will say "It was God's will that we won." Like God cares who wins a football game?
I almost posted a comment at Acidman's the other night. Like him, I'm a non-believer. Mom dragged us to her fundaMENTAList church 2-3 times a week, but even though I was a gullible kid, I just couldn't believe the stuff the guy in the pulpit was saying.
And if there's a God, He sure screwed Mom over for all her worship of Him.
Posted by: Mr. Useless at December 19, 2003 12:23 AM (E6Cev)
3
So...I'm not the only one who's thought of that, huh?
Okay.
But, I did just think of it yesterday.
Everytime I think I've 'invented' something....man. (lol)
Next, there's already gonna be someplace where they do do 'anonymous' court trials. Just watch.
Okay.
But, I did just think of it yesterday.
Everytime I think I've 'invented' something....man. (lol)
Next, there's already gonna be someplace where they do do 'anonymous' court trials. Just watch.
Posted by: Stevie at December 19, 2003 08:14 AM (hqK3t)
4
Free Will, exactly. I can "create" a cheeseburger, but I can't control what happens to it afterwards. If not eaten it'll rot. Can't stop that. I think God is a physics equation. The batch that is Earth was brewed and hatched, but you can't go back and change the recipe. Bad shit happens because 1) people LET bad shit happen, and 2) plain old bad damn luck.
Luck is a critical element in quantum mechanics.
Luck is a critical element in quantum mechanics.
Posted by: Velociman at December 19, 2003 09:22 PM (iT+bD)
5
A better understanding of Deism can be acquired by reading the Age of Reason and essays written by Thomas Paine:
Deism / Age of Reason Home
Deism / Age of Reason Home
Posted by: Lee at December 20, 2003 12:43 AM (5IXqM)
6
What you're talking about here is known as the Problem of Evil and has been a subject of debate in the Christian Church for as long as there has been a Christian Church.
The most common answer is, as Lee said, free will, although this does not explain everything. The most novel answer I know of came from the Cathars, who decided that the reason that evil exists in the world is that this is not Earth we are living in but Hell. Unsurprisingly, the established church viewed them as dangerous whackos and did their level best to wipe them out. See here for a condensed history.
I don't have an answer for you, I'm afraid; I'm not religious myself and this is one of the reasons why.
The most common answer is, as Lee said, free will, although this does not explain everything. The most novel answer I know of came from the Cathars, who decided that the reason that evil exists in the world is that this is not Earth we are living in but Hell. Unsurprisingly, the established church viewed them as dangerous whackos and did their level best to wipe them out. See here for a condensed history.
I don't have an answer for you, I'm afraid; I'm not religious myself and this is one of the reasons why.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 20, 2003 09:33 AM (jtW2s)
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