Why do bad things happen to good people?

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:PP, you may be right, but what if you aren't ?

Not pp, but so what? Rationally, I find it highly unlikely that there's any kind of higher deity.

But if I'm wrong, that deity's going to punish me for using my mind (that they allegedly gave me)? I would be a fool to not use what I have, to make my decisions. Using my mind, and not anger or disillusionment, I just don't believe in any kinds of gods. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:And that's on you, there is merit to do what is right because it is right, however what keeps the evil from over taking the good? I wont argue against your beliefs because that is on each person, I simply wanted to share a thought.

What is "evil?" If god created everything, then god created evil. If god is omnipotent, god can prevent evil.

But personally, I don't believe in god, or evil, or any of those ideas. Things happen in life because of chance, genetics, and human decisions. Nothing more, nothing less. I understand this sounds chaotic for a lot of people, and surrendering to that unpredictability is scary. But for me, chaos is a part of reality.

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:Evil is based on decision In my Faith God gave man free will to do good or evil by removing evil he removes free will and thus the need for salvation.

that kind of thinking gets god off the hook for anything bad that happens, while giving him credit for the good stuff.

and who needs salvation anyhow? only if god sends his son to be murdered as the only way of getting a ticket for the rest of us in to heaven.

Doesn't sound like something a loving god would do, but more like clever humans who wanted to control others.

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:Evil is based on decision In my Faith God gave man free will to do good or evil by removing evil he removes free will and thus the need for salvation.

So we can blame the woman for our fall, eh?

God created Adam. Because Adam - male, of course - needed a companion, God decided to use his rib (makes total sense) to create a woman named Eve.

But Eve was very, VERY bad . . . b/c she wanted to know more and more about her world. right? bad, bad woman! She obviously didn't know her place.

So she ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge! Oh the nerve of wanting to understand a world outside of her Eden!


So as a society, we encourage our children to develop critical thinking skills by learning HOW to ask the right questions. We want them to be resourceful. But when Eve gains wisdom, she is punished - as is Adam.

So you're not exactly following Genesis, PP. God never intended Adam and Eve to know evil . . . until HE tempted them with the tree that they were NOT to touch.

So this biblical God is a tricky, manipulative God, IMO, who's also a misogynist.

But when a book is written BY man FOR man, what can you expect? Let's blame the woman!

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:And in many ways it is. The Bible talks often about spiritual warfare and righteous anger. Which is a great topic to cover if you have a study Bible.

I have righteous anger over the sex scandals in the Catholic church - that the church HID from its parishioners!

So moving on to spiritual warfare, I'd say that the church is the devil.

makes sense to me

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:But the blame is not on just eve adam could have said no he did not. You seem to have me confused with a Christian who limits the power of the devil your talking to the wrong guy. Funny thing is, I have yet to attack your choice not to believe, however you on the other hand.

God created the devil. Did god not know the devil was going to create evil? Is God not omniscient? Can God not stop the devil? Is God not omnipotent?

You cannot credit god for the good, and also *not* credit god for evil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do stupid people have smart children? Why are there beautiful girls without a date on prom night? Why do I always end up with the boniest herring fillet at the breakfast table?

What matters is not what happens to you, but what happens in you. I know a handful of people who have lived through horrific tragedies, but are happier than all of DCUM put together.

I do, too, and some are non-believing Jews and Christians.

You can credit God or Darwin.

Take your pick.

I am a devout Christian (a practicing Catholic) and I believe that God gives us free will to:
a) see human agency in the bad things that happen to good people (as well as the bad things that happen to bad people and the good things that happen to good or bad people)
b) blame Him
c) believe God doesn't exist.

Take your pick. I've made mine.

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:But the blame is not on just eve adam could have said no he did not. You seem to have me confused with a Christian who limits the power of the devil your talking to the wrong guy. Funny thing is, I have yet to attack your choice not to believe, however you on the other hand.

Feel free to attack. I am only using the bible to argue my points. And I choose not to be ruled by an ancient text with stories that mirror pagan myths, nor do I wish to be ruled by a man either.

I suppose you're fine with the sexist views, PP? Is this how you're raising a daughter (if you have one)?

11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,


“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[i] and hers;
he will crush[j] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

16 To the woman he said,


“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’


“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

[Anonymous]

so the woman gets blamed for what happens to all living beings, god or no god: "For dust you are and to dust you will return."

clever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so the woman gets blamed for what happens to all living beings, god or no god: "For dust you are and to dust you will return."

clever.

another way of looking at it, is that it's just a metaphor -- but for what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so the woman gets blamed for what happens to all living beings, god or no god: "For dust you are and to dust you will return."

clever.

another way of looking at it, is that it's just a metaphor -- but for what?

for how insignificant we are - and how women are even MORE insignificant than men

That's my take.

Furthermore, religion rules through fear. So if we're trained to believe that we're lesser beings, we are easily controlled by "God." So God controls man and woman, and man controls woman!

[takoma]

Thomas Jefferson:
"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

liamw wrote:But the blame is not on just eve adam could have said no he did not. You seem to have me confused with a Christian who limits the power of the devil your talking to the wrong guy. Funny thing is, I have yet to attack your choice not to believe, however you on the other hand.

Feel free to attack. I am only using the bible to argue my points. And I choose not to be ruled by an ancient text with stories that mirror pagan myths, nor do I wish to be ruled by a man either.

I suppose you're fine with the sexist views, PP? Is this how you're raising a daughter (if you have one)?

11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,


“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[i] and hers;
he will crush[j] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

16 To the woman he said,


“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’


“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

Way to take things one sided and out of context

Commands to the Husband

1 TIMOTHY 5:8 NKJ
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

EPHESIANS 5

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, (you catch that right husbands a Godly husband should be willing to die fir his wife, NO command like this is given to women)

1 PETER 3:7 NKJ
7 Likewise you husbands, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (That last part right there so your prayers may not be hindered, to brake it down If you don't honor your wife God is Deft to your prayers)

1 CORINTHIANS 7:3-5 NKJ
3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (now don't stop readying where it says the wifes body belongs to the husbands, it says also that his belongs to her)

Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. one another that means to each other if you are wondering

Colossians 3: 19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with
them.


And I could go on for ages with the charges given to a man, so please before you try to use a the Bible to teach BS know the Bible

Amazingly, I read past the "weaker vessel."

uh yeah

thanks, but no thanks

But you can keep on loving your misogynistic God.

I am not the weaker vessel, and neither will my daughter be one.

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:Um, I fallow in faith not fear but to each their own.

You don't fear burning in the fires of hell for eternity if you fail to follow God's laws?

[Anonymous]

liamw wrote:Um, I fallow in faith not fear but to each their own.

I feel like this is a really dishonest answer. You don't fear hell? You don't fear god sending you to hell? You don't fear the possibility of god's punishment?