Freewill: The way I see it freewill is a state of mind not an action. I don’t believe that freewill is one’s ability to act on their own but the fact that they are not informed of what the outcome of their decisions will be. Think of a parent who has placed freshly baked cookies in a jar 1hr before dinner and tells their 9yr old to not eat any until after dinner. Of course the parent knows that the child will most likely eat a cookie before dinner, but it wasn’t a trap, it’s just that the parent know their child so well and therefore knows what to expect. God made us and knows everything about us so he knows what to expect from us, he knows when we are conflicted and when we will do something that we will regret later, but he lets us figure that out for ourselves, and that is where freewill comes in.
Evolution: There have been many arguments over evolution vs. creation but I don’t see why they can’t coexists. I believe that in some instances the Bible is taken too literally based on what we know today in modern times. The whole God made the world in 7days is not equivalent to what we view as 7 days in modern times. For all we know God’s 7days are equivalent to our 1000 years. For God time is infinite he does not exist within set boundaries. So yes by that logic humans could have existed at the same time as dinosaurs and earth could have very well been made ~2bil years before humans appeared. Secondly I have a problem with the question against creation that some evolutionists pose, that if ‘God made us then who made God?’; well if you don’t believe in the existence of God then how did we end up here? Evolution from apes, okay, but then how did they gert here? atoms did not just appear from nowhere and overtime evolve into such complex forms that they just merged together to create humans, trees, animals, the sun and the moon. Yes I believe in evolution to some extent, but as far as the beginnings of this earth, some entity had to start the ball rolling.
Religion (General): I believe that all religions are entertwined somehow. That we all have some of the same basic beliefs in a higher being. I feel that we just describe the higher being in a way that we can relate to. Some of us call this higher being God, some Buddah, some Jupiter or Krishna or Horus. And I believe that some religions split the higer being into different entities to make it easier to wrap their heads around, but that they are all derived from the same basic thought. But just like we can’t all agree on whether a higher being exists or not, those who do believe in one can’t all agree on what its most important reasons are, or the right way it should be honored. Next I think we are too caught up on religious titles that we attribute the beliefs to whatever the title is and forget the importance of the belief. By saying that it is a religion that does something then we are saying that the religion (by this I mean the title) rules the people when in fact it is the people that make up the religion and therfore rule it. Saying that religion rules the people is saying that people have no freewill. I guess the example in this case would be religion= a car and the person= the driver. To say the car caused the accident or that the car was speeding leaves the driver without any control but the driver was in control because (s)he was the one responsible for being aware and adjusting the speed.
And very quickly to adress why God would continue to let something exists that he finds abhorrent. Think about it just because your kid lies to or steals from you doesn’t mean you love them anyless (at least I hope not) but you are dissappointed. I believe that we are all Gods children so it works the same way with him. God is just like us but has a million times the patience, will power, size, emotion (he didn’t lie when he said he was a jealous God, just like you wouldn’t appreciate your kid loving their stepmother/father (can be metaphors for materialistic items not just other people) more than you), strength and ability.
I agree with Pascal. I rather live my life on a high believing that there is something better for me in the end ( and if it doesn’t exists then at least I’ve lived my life happy with hope) than to not have believed in God (and he exists) and I miss out on a great existence.
]]>On immorality – where does that standard come from? “Our courts” is not a sufficient example, they have not always existed and different courts in different places have different rules. Why is harming another bad if it does not harm society overall and improves my life (and I don’t get punished)?
I don’t fully understand your last comment. However, just to summarize – my position is this: the societies that were wiped out were not innocent (and therefore this was killing, yes, but not murder). With reference to the Canaanites author Norman Geisler has commented, “This was a thoroughly evil culture, so much so that the Bible says it nauseated God. They were into brutality, cruelty, incest, bestiality, cultic prostitution, and even child sacrifice by fire. They were an aggressive culture that wanted to annihilate the Israelites.” (From: http://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-violence.html)
They were given years to repent and change, and did not do it. Now, on a personal level, I don’t love that. I wish they had. I wish there had been another punishment that was more suitable. On the other hand, as a finite creature, I do not set the standard for holiness or righteousness. And I certainly don’t get to dictate the response when that standard is repeatedly and severely violated.
As a Christian, it is my belief that the children who were affected by this were taken immediately into the presence of God and will spend eternity in heaven – a far better fate than they would have had otherwise.
As to the prophets, I believe the Bible to be the Word of God. There are many reasons I personally believe that, and you can read for yourself from countless good apologetic resources. As such, I do hold what the prophets of the Old Testament said in higher regard than someone like the Waco, TX guy. You are welcome to keep them on equal footing and judge them by the same measuring stick. In doing so, you will likely have a different response to all of this than I do, and that’s certainly your choice.
I apologize for some of the snarkiness I have had in some of my posts. That was in poor taste and I am sorry. I wish you well and have enjoyed our exchanges.
]]>Unjust and immoral based on what? What is the standard for justice or morality? Who sets that? You? Me? Is it the same for all of humanity?
I agree that “God said to do it” is not a green card for anything. But surely you realize that there is a lot more to the accounts of the prophets from the Old Testament than that.
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