Continued Discussion with cls515

[cls515]

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Epicurus

I have wondered why God lets evil be. I don't know God's plan but I know He has one. I can't comprehend His plan. I'm only human. But I think that not all bad things are bad. For instance, when something bad happens to me, I turn to God.

I think God can prevent evil. There is no evil in Heaven. There is evil on earth. Can He change that? I think so. Then why doesn't God? I don't know why He hasn't yet.

[WhiteWidow]

I have wondered why God lets evil be.

Read the last story in Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot" and that will be explained.

[cigar no baka]

This is a pointless circular discussion. If you are a die-hard atheist, nothing is going to change your mind. If you are religious, nothing is going to change your mind. If you are somewhere inbetween, maybe something will change your mind. But this discussion is simply pointless as both sides see their side as being true, with no hope of ever agreeing with the other.

I personally have faith. I always have and I hope I always will. I have never tried to convince an atheist as there is no point. And if an atheist tries to argue with me, I tell them my faith is firm, obviously so is theirs (atheism is a faith, actually) so why argue? It's pointless.

[bigpoppapuff]

personally have faith. I always have and I hope I always will. I have never tried to convince an atheist as there is no point. And if an atheist tries to argue with me, I tell them my faith is firm, obviously so is theirs (atheism is a faith, actually) so why argue? It's pointless.

i totally agree with this (surprised,baka???).....pretty much what i stated on another thread...if yours works for you,cool....if i believe mine works for me,cool.....don't try to sell me yours...i'll keep mine to myself.....

[heftysmokes]

This is a pointless circular discussion. If you are a die-hard atheist, nothing is going to change your mind. If you are religious, nothing is going to change your mind. If you are somewhere inbetween, maybe something will change your mind. But this discussion is simply pointless as both sides see their side as being true, with no hope of ever agreeing with the other.

Wow, you could change the words "atheist" and "religious" with "Democrat" and "Republican" and pretty much have the same deal.

At least with this thread, no one is name-calling

[cigar no baka]

Wow, you could change the words "atheist" and "religious" with "Democrat" and "Republican" and pretty much have the same deal.

At least with this thread, no one is name-calling

Excellent point. Pointless arguing between those diametrically opposed is pointless.

[ScoopKW]

Excellent point. Pointless arguing between those diametrically opposed is pointless.

So is baiting -- I don't use an avatar of a two-faced Christ in order to rile up my opponents in the religion debate, Baka.

Nor do I use an avatar of W with a spear through his head. Although I think it would be an improvement.

(Note to Dept. of Homeland Security investigators: The previous two sentences are a joke. I don't want to see W with a spear through his head. Twenty-five years from now, I want to read that W died in federal prison -- in total disgrace.)

[bigpoppapuff]

scoop.....

[cigar no baka]

So is baiting -- I don't use an avatar of a two-faced Christ in order to rile up my opponents in the religion debate, Baka.

Nor do I use an avatar of W with a spear through his head. Although I think it would be an improvement.

(Note to Dept. of Homeland Security investigators: The previous two sentences are a joke. I don't want to see W with a spear through his head. Twenty-five years from now, I want to read that W died in federal prison -- in total disgrace.)

I didn't have an avatar of two-headed Carrie until the level of discourse here got ugly, then changed it. I don't complain about peoples avatars, it's a perfect way to express yourself, so if it bothers you, get over it. It's one thing to have an avatar expressing yourself, it's another to rant and rave about how much you hate anyone you disagree with.

[SmokinDVM]

This is a pointless circular discussion. If you are a die-hard atheist, nothing is going to change your mind. If you are religious, nothing is going to change your mind. If you are somewhere inbetween, maybe something will change your mind. But this discussion is simply pointless as both sides see their side as being true, with no hope of ever agreeing with the other.

I personally have faith. I always have and I hope I always will. I have never tried to convince an atheist as there is no point. And if an atheist tries to argue with me, I tell them my faith is firm, obviously so is theirs (atheism is a faith, actually) so why argue? It's pointless.

Atheism is neither religion nor faith, but the happy freedom from them.

[cigar no baka]

Atheism is neither religion nor faith, but the happy freedom from them.

Yes, atheism is a faith; i.e., the faith that there is no god nor will we ever prove there is one. I'm not getting dragged in to this, it's pointless.

[cigar no baka]

[SmokinDVM]

I have wondered why God lets evil be. I don't know God's plan but I know He has one. I can't comprehend His plan. I'm only human. But I think that not all bad things are bad. For instance, when something bad happens to me, I turn to God.

I think God can prevent evil. There is no evil in Heaven. There is evil on earth. Can He change that? I think so. Then why doesn't God? I don't know why He hasn't yet.

This is the type of thinking that I think is dangerous. Always thinking that everything is "gods will", or "I'm only human", gives too many people an excuse for not trying to change things.

With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
Steven Weinberg, quoted in The New York Times, April 20, 1999

[cls515]

This is the type of thinking that I think is dangerous. Always thinking that everything is "gods will", or "I'm only human", gives too many people an excuse for not trying to change things.

What I said was God has a plan. And that I don't know it because, I'm not God. I don't know if everything is "God's will". My best friend's brother died of a brain aneurysm while he was in class at the local high school. Was it God's will he died like that? I don't know. Is he in a better place, yeah, he is.