Re: A loveing and careing God?

lynx wrote:
> Chris Bell wrote:
> 
>> lynx wrote:
>>
>>> Chris Bell wrote:
>>>
>>>> lynx wrote:
>>>>

*snip*
>>>>> It limits your thinking, and the 'who am I' attitude is 
>>>>> psychologically harmful as it's a put down of oneself. It can 
>>>>> facilitate a mindset that is not beneficial.
>>>>>
>>>> I generally agree with that, but I think that God is beyond your or 
>>>> my comprehension, and that makes this a different situation. If you 
>>>> look through the bible and ask the question "why does God do that", 
>>>> it gets pretty difficult to answer at many points.
>>>
>>>
>>> Fair comment, however the simplest answer is simply that God does not 
>>> exist.
>>>
>> I seem to remember discussing this point at length some time ago (was 
>> it with Sean?). My position is still that the default position is that 
>> God exists, based on numbers as much as anything else. There are very 
>> few atheists around.
> 
> 
> Human beings seem to be made that way. I know I am.
> 
Which way?

>>>>
>>>>>> What I think is dangerous is when you don't question those who 
>>>>>> claim to speak for God.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What makes you think that the suffering of mankind should be an 
>>>>>>>> overriding concern of God? 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So your position is that God is happy to allow his creations to 
>>>>>>> die and suffer in pain and misery. What does that say about God?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> No, I am not saying that. I am saying that God suffers with us in 
>>>>>> our pain and misery.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> So God is not omnipotent.
>>>>>
>>>> I didn't say that. I don't actually think that is a relevant 
>>>> question to ask. I certainly don't see any evidence that he is, or 
>>>> that he isn't.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If God is suffering then presumably he is unable to alleviate His 
>>> suffering.
>>>
>> Or chooses to suffer with his creatures.
> 
> 
> With all due respect, all arguments for the reasons why God doesn't act,

> seem to me to be just attempts to avoid the simple explanation that God 
> does not exist.
>
That is certainly an explanation. In the end, you either have faith in 
God or you don't, and there can be no proof either way. Those who have 
spiritual experiences have a similar choice but are looking for a 
possible explanation for those experiences, and often choose God.

To go back to the original subject, most mothers and fathers love and 
care for their children, but will often stand back to let their child 
have a painful experience so that they learn from it. Why should God not 
do likewise?

(As an aside, it is interesting that medical research is now finding 
that young children need to get sick from the various normal childhood 
viruses or else their immune systems ramp up their sensitivity to the 
point where autoimmune diseases like diabetes and asthma start. It seems 
we are made to get ill.)


Chris