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04-06-2013, 10:07 PM #1On The Practice Squad
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How can anyone still believe in God
After reading this quote
"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?"
I know most of you have probably seen it, but I'm kinda bored and want to start a religious debate. So christians, please explain your reasoning.
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04-06-2013, 10:27 PM #2
Are you talking exclusively about the Christian God?
If not, define God. Also, define evil.“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
–Eleanor Roosevelt
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04-06-2013, 11:02 PM #3Steve Flacco, Apparently
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Atheist, but chiming in to play Devil's Advocate (pun intended). The idea that God could prevent suffering isn't seen as a failing on his part. He could only prevent suffering by denying us free will, in which case we'd be mere thralls, bound by his will and not truly responsible for our lives. Instead he lets us make our own choices and errors and rewards in heaven those who suffer as a result. Consider the view point of a believer, is any suffering on earth truly material when an eternity of bliss awaits?
All that said, my atheism lies in skepticism. I see no evidence of god, and thus choose to withhold belief in him. I live a good life and treat others well, if this is it and there is no afterlife, then I will have been a good person and maybe left the world a little better than it was on my arrival, and if there is a god, I would hope that he would understand my skepticism and embrace me in the afterlife in spite of it when compared to a life time of relatively good behavior. After all, Thomas didn't believe Christ had risen until he could stick his fingers in the womb, and he got in.My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging. -Hank Aaron
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04-06-2013, 11:14 PM #4
Thomas Jefferson said it best, and I'm inclined to agree. "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
–Eleanor Roosevelt
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04-06-2013, 11:47 PM #5On The Practice Squad
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04-06-2013, 11:51 PM #6On The Practice Squad
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Re: How can anyone still believe in God
I know that's most christians justifications for it, which is why it's impossible to win a debate with them because all they resort to in the end is "god said so" "we weren't meant to understand god", and they basically speak FOR god, making up anything that seems like a quick response when they can't come up with anything rational.
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04-07-2013, 12:02 AM #7
Having said that, I believe, truly for lack of a better word, in "God." My conceptions and my understanding of God is always changing. I think, personally, necessarily so. In my mind God is entirely abstract with respect to our ability to reason. This is why I believe God is always seen as love. Love is the purest abstraction we are capable of conceiving.
As far as evidence goes, disregarding any God of the gaps arguments, I think we are finding more and more evidence to support that our reality is a subset. A subset cannot prove itself, it requires reference to a higher system. This isn't mysticism, it's scientific fact. More than just scientific fact actually, it's a fundamental pillar of logic, which is itself the foundation of mathematics and science; any formal system cannot prove it's own validity. With this being the truth of the matter, how can we rely strictly on formal systems of logic and mathematics (empirical science) to claim absolute truth, when even if there was, these systems could never prove it? This is why scientific reductionism is futile. This doesn't somehow make science a lesser endeavor, it just simply means it is limited.“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
–Eleanor Roosevelt
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04-07-2013, 12:05 AM #8Steve Flacco, Apparently
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I don't think the explanation I provided was "because god said so". It was more along the lines of if there is an afterlife, and its eternal and only the good are there (I'm leaving the concept of hell out for simplicity) then why should a life of suffering, even a long one of 90 years or more, be viewed as a great hardship compared to eternity of bliss and reward? It's not a compelling argument from an evidentiary standpoint since there isn't any proof of it, but its a logical one.
We all make choices with negative outcomes in the short term (I won't buy this new car I really want) because we expect a positive outcome in the long term (With the money I save I can put a down payment on a house.)My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging. -Hank Aaron
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Re: How can anyone still believe in God
Can you see where the wind comes and where it goes? Of course not.
If you can't understand earthly things, how can you understand heavenly things. CHRIST TO DISCIPLES
He also said you believe because you see, blessed are those that believe but cannot see.
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04-07-2013, 01:15 AM #10Steve Flacco, Apparently
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Trap has a point, ultimately this debate comes down to faith. No amount of logic will convince the faithful that god is not there, and no amount of exhorting will convince a skeptic to take it on faith.
My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging. -Hank Aaron
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Re: How can anyone still believe in God
Thanks, man.
Millions of Christians died for that faith when they were persecuted over 300 years after the crucifixation of Christ. Those people died for that faith including millions of women. Some were submitted to public beastality and then put to death. Some by drowning. Nero hung Christians up
and put them on fire along the road leading to the Coloseum at night and used them as lamp posts.
Right now millions of Chinese Christians are persecuted for their faith. Pastors are imprisoned while preaching and their families cannot have food. Anyone caught providing for them will be imprisoned.
Yet, there are about 100M Christians in China and that number is rising. Just Like Nero and the Roman emperors couldn't stop the early church, the gov't cannot stop the Chinese church.Last edited by AirFlacco; 04-07-2013 at 01:41 AM.
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Re: How can anyone still believe in God
Not entirely true. Not to brag but I've led many skeptics to Christ including former atheists.
I preached to an entire class in college and the professor said he'd keep me from graduating but
many in that class alone came to Christ. They said you have such faith. What you said must be
true. We want to believe like you, not the teacher.
I too was persecuted. That prof said he would keep me from graduating. He even took me before the dean on trumped up pleagerism charges. I had to go back to 3 libraries and get 20 books to show the dean that every word was properly cited. When I told him the real reason I was there he threw the prof out and said don't ever bring another student into my office again and he changed the grade from an F to an A.
I was just a kid and put my entire future on the line for God and he protected me but I'm convinced I'll see that prof in heaven some day. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so upset.
I've even had posters in this forum PM me and say how I opened their eyes to God in here. Even on scout a certain mod said Trap, don't worry. When push comes to shove I'll join God's team.
He was an atheist. That was quite a statement from him.
And I've always been praying for Galen, HR and Spam Bot in this forum. I'm convinced I'll see them in heaven some day too.
When I was in Nest 1 and a couple of young guys died and everyone was upset the Prez said I know a lot of you guys are upset. If anyone has any probs over this see Trap. He's the only one here who knows God.
That same guy whom I prayed for many years went under the knife himself for cancer surgery and said Trap, when they put that mask over me, your face was the last face I saw. I remembered every thing you told me about God. And when he survived the surgery he said he now believed in God like me and he always respected me for not drinking.Last edited by AirFlacco; 04-07-2013 at 01:59 AM.
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