Well this isn't a Jesus thread, but I think many atheist don't have the slightest idea why, in Christianity, things like HIV or cancer exists. Nor do they understand why a God would allow for things like this to happen. But I guess your dig is fine considering.... I will let you have it without too much fight!
Yes, because I really don't get it. My niece died at one month old and if there is a god, then I don't understand why it would let that happen. Also, I don't understand why god would send people who are good and do the right things to hell just because they question gods existence. EDIT: I should say Christian God. I know that in Judaism you do not need to believe in god to be a good Jew, you just need to act accordingly and follow the mitzvots (i think there are 613 of them). It's action based, not belief based.
Sorry I was away and I haven't been able to get back to explain. Okay if you understand the human concept and his relationship with god, he gave us free will. That free will gave us the ability to choose between a life knowing what's right and wrong with the penalty of death, or stay in Eden with no knowledge of evil. We chosen knowledge; which damned all humanity. As cruel as it seems; it was the choice of man to live in sin. From that point; god allowed satan to have reign on earth; allowing him to tempt all man with sin. He wants man to love him with all their heart. Throughout the bible are stories of how man forgets god and says "I don't need you"; then when god leaves them; they fall into hardship. In the old testament; the only salvation was through burnt offerings and following his law. Now is a new beginning of life with God. They actually have the opportunity to receive eternal forgiveness for everything they do. There is a level that man has a pass. 1.) if they have never been witnessed to god and salvation., 2.) too young to understand about damnation. For the child dying young, it falls in the #2 option. For the good person that lives a good life but still goes to hell; well if that person was witnessed to and refuses God; then it's on that person. God allows disease and famin, etc because man made the choice to live with sin. He can't intervene because he gave us a choice. There is nothing mysterious about it. It is what it is.
That would make a great Peter Jackson film Warning for this next section, Skip it if you get upset at blasphemy. Here I have a big problem. My Mother, Jewish, is as good of a person as anyone around. She volunteers, she's caring, she has true empathy, and she never, even when alone, does anything you might consider wrong. The god you talk about must be an asshole to let someone like that go to hell for not believing, while some child rapist who repented gets the keys to kingdom. This makes no sense to me and will forever be a hurdle. I do not believe that if there were a god that was omnipotent, that such a god would damn good people who don't believe. These are the actions of an egotist. In other words, these are the actions one would expect from the devil, not from god. More Blasphemy Seems like a stretch. I didn't make the choice, you didn't make the choice, our parents, our parents parents, and so on, did not make the choice. If it is to be believed, some couple without knowledge made the choice. And for those two fucks my god saddled mankind forever with evil. Those are the actions of a prick. The biblical god is a bad guy. He should not be worshiped even if he were real. EDIT: Sorry Mags, I hope you understand that I type this stuff not to offend you, but because I believe these things. These are exactly the issues that offend me the most about the Christian God. I know you don't agree, and I wont convince you, I just wanted to explain my view.
I understand your frustration, as I would others that have a hard time believing in god. Then again what makes killing a cow for food any different? How about ruining the planet with pollution? Man is a very arrogant race. We feel entitled and will call god some prick because god has rules that we must follow. Yet man is fine destroying this planet and any other life lower than our race. I don't blame you. You are invested emotionally with this type of acceptance. One day we will all find truth after death. We may just go black and have no conscience after death, we may reincarnate or we may see the god I worship. Our life is short and I can't wait to die. Funny as it sounds.
