It is important to distinguish between the logical problem and the emotional problem of evil.
The more important issue is, even if this god exists, why humans would want to worship something ethically weaker than themselves. To sacrifice that level of cognition and moral integrity for something empirically unproven is just bizarre to me, but many religious people do it.It is important to distinguish between the logical problem and the emotional problem of evil.
You've pretty much outlined the case for an omnipotent god's non-existence.This question is always asked by people who don't like religion. It's like they think we should remain infants all our lives, and have all our desires filled at every moment.
What exactly is "evil?" Anything we feel is bad? And how bad does it have to be for us to call it evil?
Is it evil that everyone dies? Do you demand a world where everyone lives forever, like in that Vonnegut story?
Is it evil that you don't get everything you want when you want it?
Obviously there are degrees of evil. Exactly where should the line be drawn, exactly what do you think God (which of course you don't believe exists) should allow?
No matter how much evil God prevented, there would still be some left, and you would complain about that. It's an impossible question and demand, and a philosophically incorrect question to ask.
What about all the evil that our species has created? When humans were primitive and lived in natural environments, they were much less destructive. The more comfortable and convenient we make our lives in the present, the more damage we cause to the environment. Should God prevent people from inventing things and using technology, to prevent nature from being destroyed?
How would God prevent people from inventing things and using technology? By making us robots who can only do what God makes us do?
The whole question is ridiculous and impossible to even talk about. The more you think about it, the less it makes any sense.
You've pretty much outlined the case for an omnipotent god's non-existence.
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It is important to distinguish between the logical problem and the emotional problem of evil....
Well, I don’t believe in free will...
Why wouldn't you believe in free will ?
I don’t want to derail this thread so I’ll point you to an old thread of mine on free will:
https://www.debatepolitics.com/philosophical-discussions/221336-why-dont-believe-free.html
You make an important point. We can only control what we can control. But that doesn't mean human cognition is impotent. We can figure out what is ethically important to us. And preventing unnecessary tragedy is a priority. If a god can't conform, that's not our responsibility."Experiments seem to indicate that unconscious parts of your brain make the decisions and moments later you become consciously aware of the decision and mistakenly believe you consciously chose the action for yourself."
No. Those experiments just show that most of our thinking is subconscious. That doesn't mean we have no control over our thoughts, just that the "self" is a whole lot more complex than the way neuroscientists are defining it.
You make an important point. We can only control what we can control. But that doesn't mean human cognition is impotent. We can figure out what is ethically important to us. And preventing unnecessary tragedy is a priority. If a god can't conform, that's not our responsibility.
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So?You can turn that around and say if we can't conform to God's standard of good, that is not His responsibility...
So?
What is his responsibility?
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But he's all-powerful?As our Creator, He knows what is best for us...if we resist His guidance, that is on us, not him...
But he's all-powerful?
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All-powerful means this god is all-knowing, so free will cannot exist. It's a logical contradiction, like the video describes.All-powerful does not mean He forces us to do anything...that is what free will is all about...He wants us to come to the realization on our own that we need His guidance...otherwise, our loyalty means nothing nor will it last...
All-powerful means this god is all-knowing, so free will cannot exist. It's a logical contradiction, like the video describes.
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People get confused because they expect to be able to grasp the incomprehensible. If you have no sense of something higher than ourselves, you will expect too much from your little human mind.
We don't know what God thinks or what God wants from us. Well, maybe we know, but it can't be simply described in words.
Passing the buck ... I'm done.Um no, it does not...He can use His power any way He chooses...or not...that is all powerful...
All-powerful means this god is all-knowing, so free will cannot exist. It's a logical contradiction...
"Experiments seem to indicate that unconscious parts of your brain make the decisions and moments later you become consciously aware of the decision and mistakenly believe you consciously chose the action for yourself."
No. Those experiments just show that most of our thinking is subconscious. That doesn't mean we have no control over our thoughts, just that the "self" is a whole lot more complex than the way neuroscientists are defining it.
There are many assumptions in one sentence present here. But what I will say is that a good that demands unnecessary blood sacrifice is not worthy of our worship and should not be guiding us.As our Creator, He knows what is best for us...if we resist His guidance, that is on us, not him...