Religion

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)

96. You're fixated on humans doing evil.

Wed Dec 21, 2016, 02:06 PM

Dec 2016

I'm talking about the universe, broadly. It's a dangerous place, and it doesn't care for your happiness or your suffering. At any point, any cell in your body could go apeshit and start dividing for no reason. Six months to a year later, you're dead.

At any point, a chunk of rock the size of New York could crash into the surface of the Earth, producing an extinction event the likes of which our planet has seen five times already.

At any point, our local star could hiccup, spewing a torrent of gamma radiation into space, killing every living organism on Earth.

Just here on Earth there are earthquakes, volcanoes, avalanches, mudslides, and cyclonic storms. There are wildfires and floods. There are droughts and famines. There are viruses and bacteria, cancers and birth defects and congenital degenerative disorders. There are fucking exploding lakes.

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Proof that God is evil? Easily and quickly controverted. [View all] guillaumeb Dec 2016 OP

Well, if there is no god(s), there can be no evil. rug Dec 2016 #1

depends edhopper Dec 2016 #2

Not really. One species' extinction event is another species' opportunity. rug Dec 2016 #3

The words evil and good are both subjective. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #5

But then there are universal values across all cultures. the Golden Rule for example. rug Dec 2016 #6

In my view, the Golden Rule is basically a rule for species survival. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #8

In that case, good is species survival and evil is extinction. rug Dec 2016 #11

Would it be evil if a species that posed a great danger to other species died out? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #14

Is malaria good? rug Dec 2016 #16

Exactly. What is considered good, or evil, varies among cultures. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #20

If nothing really true can be said about God, then why go on posting? Bretton Garcia Dec 2016 #42

Perhaps that question should be directed to Skinner. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #47

exactly edhopper Dec 2016 #15

No more than a theist can. rug Dec 2016 #17

yes edhopper Dec 2016 #22

Absolutely wrong. HassleCat Dec 2016 #26

That is not the existence of good or evil; it is opinion. rug Dec 2016 #34

Not according to humanist principles. HassleCat Dec 2016 #35

Which are all opinions and values shared by some like-minded people. rug Dec 2016 #37

I am first to admit that I have a finite mind. Ergo, I choose not to engage in dialogues cornball 24 Dec 2016 #4

A nice response. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #7

I did read that post and quite honestly, I was distressed by it. Your responses, I found to be both cornball 24 Dec 2016 #12

Thank you for the kind words. I will try to live up to them. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #19

only if you accept edhopper Dec 2016 #13

Both religious and non-religious people can commit quite horrendous acts. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #18

and that means edhopper Dec 2016 #21

No. Not actually what I said. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #23

but I was replying edhopper Dec 2016 #24

I understand, but the reply came to me. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #25

oops edhopper Dec 2016 #27

No problem. I generally like your insights anyway. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #28

thanks edhopper Dec 2016 #31

I don't follow your argument. Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #9

I did not say that there is no such thing as an incontrovertible statement. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #10

There are things in logic that seem incontrovertible Bretton Garcia Dec 2016 #40

Good and evil are terms that are generally used to categorize actions and beliefs. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #46

St. Paul was on his way to an odd transcendance Bretton Garcia Dec 2016 #57

I don't understand. What is this 'God' concept, Ghost Dog Dec 2016 #29

God is whatever you want her/him/it/them to be. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #30

Nature. The Natural. Ghost Dog Dec 2016 #32

One possibility is that God is a non-interventionist. MarvinGardens Dec 2016 #33

Like it. cornball 24 Dec 2016 #36

Or, as George Carlin wisely stated, "He doesn't give a shit." longship Dec 2016 #38

True. If the Creator constantly intervened, or had purposefully guillaumeb Dec 2016 #39

But God himself cannot grow; since he is already infinitely large Bretton Garcia Dec 2016 #41

As the creation grows, does not the Creator also grow? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #50

A big bang expanding universe, is different from traditional theology Bretton Garcia Dec 2016 #58

Where it expands to is a matter for scientists. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #63

So what? Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #45

Presumably we all have free will. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #51

That's not really the point. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #52

But recognition that the Creator intended for his sentient creations to have free will guillaumeb Dec 2016 #53

I don't see how that's relevant. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #54

I disagree on your last statement. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #55

Nothing says "I love you" like pediatric cancer. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #61

Love has nothing to do with sickness. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #66

The Creator didn't create cancer? Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #67

The Creator created existence. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #69

Knowing full well it would develop into a capricious, decidedly unfriendly place? Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #79

Let us explore this idea that you presented: guillaumeb Dec 2016 #84

That's not the idea I presented. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #94

Knowingly producing an unsafe product, think the Ford Pinto, guillaumeb Dec 2016 #95

You're fixated on humans doing evil. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #96

And some people are apparently fixated on the idea that the existence guillaumeb Dec 2016 #104

You're right, it's not either-or. trotsky Dec 2016 #105

There could be an infinite variety of options. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #110

The main idea of the argument is what should be the object of fixation, one would think. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #120

My intent in posting was to state that it is not irrefutable that God is evil. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #123

But I was not replying to the OP. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #125

Evil IS a subjective term. What IS evil varies from society to society. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #128

And as I pointed out, you're right. Because your god could also just be a clueless dick. trotsky Dec 2016 #126

"Your" god could indeed be as you describe. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #129

A clueless god explains the problem of evil. trotsky Dec 2016 #130

Oh what do you base that claim? n/t trotsky Dec 2016 #80

I have stated before that this is my belief. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #85

But you stated it as a claim. trotsky Dec 2016 #87

I have stated many times that it is my belief....etc. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #89

Yet you stated it as a claim. trotsky Dec 2016 #91

Personally I just don't think God decides what happens here. hrmjustin Dec 2016 #43

Agreed. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #48

That doesn't resolve the issue of suffering that is outside human control... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #100

Well these are questions that humanity will continue to ask after we are long gone. hrmjustin Dec 2016 #118

Good or evil nil desperandum Dec 2016 #44

True. A point that others here have made. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #49

I need incontrovertible proof that there is a god before I entertain whether or not it's an evil god Iggo Dec 2016 #56

Good to have standards. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #64

Establishing the existence of a thing before judging qualities of that thing. Iggo Dec 2016 #74

In science. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #75

Not saying god is evil.. EvilAL Dec 2016 #59

A simple definition of evil Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #62

Yeah. by that definition EvilAL Dec 2016 #76

A bit of Biblical literalism combined with scepticism, guillaumeb Dec 2016 #65

Aww, that's cute. trotsky Dec 2016 #68

I have never described myself as a literalist. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #70

No, you would never describe yourself that way. trotsky Dec 2016 #71

If I never would describe myself that way, and I agree with you on that, guillaumeb Dec 2016 #72

Because you're a literalist. trotsky Dec 2016 #73

Degrees of literalism? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #82

It may contradict YOUR definition, but not THE definition. n/t trotsky Dec 2016 #86

And THE definition is?: guillaumeb Dec 2016 #88

That's one definition. trotsky Dec 2016 #90

The Song of Solomon, the Psalms of David are both examples of poetry. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #92

Thanks for confirming you're a literalist! n/t trotsky Dec 2016 #93

K. . since you don't EvilAL Dec 2016 #78

1-3 allegorical. 4-literal. 5-7 allegorical. Although 7 is based on a mistranslation. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #83

Oh, good. Let's try these: Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #97

There is no evidence Hebrews were ever used as slaves in Egypt during the building of the pyramids. AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #98

Apparently there are contradictory theories. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #106

Also the Egyptians probably want those artifacts back. AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #109

The return of all stolen artifacts would empty the British Museum. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #111

I'm ok with that. AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #112

Which is the greater evil? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #113

Little difference to me, except one holds the possibility of returning it, someday. AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #114

Agreed. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #115

What about the extended components of Exodus, like Passover and the plagues? AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #116

I believe that this is metaphorical. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #117

Passover is a pretty important holiday/observance. AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #119

That depends on the point of view of the person being questioned. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #122

see. I said it was easy. EvilAL Dec 2016 #99

Thanks for the information. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #107

Yeah. . EvilAL Dec 2016 #77

More projection? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #81

Swing and a miss. n/t trotsky Dec 2016 #60

God is pure love, and Hitler went to heaven. Binkie The Clown Dec 2016 #101

Well the way they get around that one... trotsky Dec 2016 #102

Your Point is Well Taken On the Road Dec 2016 #103

Probably not aware. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #108

Looking at the Big Picture. The Universe is all of time and space and it's contents. cornball 24 Dec 2016 #121

That might be a good question to ask in a separate post. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #124

Nothing vicman Dec 2016 #127