I believe in God...and I think s/he's a nasty SOB

[Anonymous]

The classic why do bad things happen to good people question

Why do bad things happen at all?

Why do good things happen at all?

Is everything just random?

Most people I know struggle with all of these questions

I am a Christian, the best example/metaphor between God and us as humans is the relationship between a parent and a child but I still struggle with these questions sometimes.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2012/july-online-only/doesgodallowtragedy.html

[Anonymous]

Okay.
Do you want a cookie?
Even Satan believes in God, meaning that Satan even knows they He is real.
You just can't believe that the God you that know would allow the turmoil that has happened to you, your family, your community, your state, your country, or to the world.

The difference is the faith that Christians have that God sacrificed his son Jesus, who died on the cross, which surpasses all understanding of the heartache, devastation, illness, death, disease and sin, and that the belief that Jesus died on the cross so that we will have everlasting life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay.
Do you want a cookie?
Even Satan believes in God, meaning that Satan even knows they He is real.
You just can't believe that the God you that know would allow the turmoil that has happened to you, your family, your community, your state, your country, or to the world.

The difference is the faith that Christians have that God sacrificed his son Jesus, who died on the cross, which surpasses all understanding of the heartache, devastation, illness, death, disease and sin, and that the belief that Jesus died on the cross so that we will have everlasting life.

yes, please. maybe chocolate chip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay.
Do you want a cookie?
Even Satan believes in God, meaning that Satan even knows they He is real.
You just can't believe that the God you that know would allow the turmoil that has happened to you, your family, your community, your state, your country, or to the world.

The difference is the faith that Christians have that God sacrificed his son Jesus, who died on the cross, which surpasses all understanding of the heartache, devastation, illness, death, disease and sin, and that the belief that Jesus died on the cross so that we will have everlasting life.

So Jesus supposedly dying on a cross for us (though we weren't around at the time and only heard about it via an ancient book containing inaccuracies and myths) makes up for all the awful things that can happen to people during their lives. And we should believe this because Satan, another biblical figure we've never seen, also believes it.

not very convincing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay.
Do you want a cookie?
Even Satan believes in God, meaning that Satan even knows they He is real.
You just can't believe that the God you that know would allow the turmoil that has happened to you, your family, your community, your state, your country, or to the world.

The difference is the faith that Christians have that God sacrificed his son Jesus, who died on the cross, which surpasses all understanding of the heartache, devastation, illness, death, disease and sin, and that the belief that Jesus died on the cross so that we will have everlasting life.

He sent His own son to a brutal, gory death to give us a chance to have everlasting life after suffering our own brutal, gory deaths, as long as we believe in Him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay.
Do you want a cookie?
Even Satan believes in God, meaning that Satan even knows they He is real.
You just can't believe that the God you that know would allow the turmoil that has happened to you, your family, your community, your state, your country, or to the world.

The difference is the faith that Christians have that God sacrificed his son Jesus, who died on the cross, which surpasses all understanding of the heartache, devastation, illness, death, disease and sin, and that the belief that Jesus died on the cross so that we will have everlasting life.

He sent His own son to a brutal, gory death to give us a chance to have everlasting life after suffering our own brutal, gory deaths, as long as we believe in Him.

His son shared our struggles, that's the problem point.

You may not find it convincing, but billions do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay.
Do you want a cookie?
Even Satan believes in God, meaning that Satan even knows they He is real.
You just can't believe that the God you that know would allow the turmoil that has happened to you, your family, your community, your state, your country, or to the world.

The difference is the faith that Christians have that God sacrificed his son Jesus, who died on the cross, which surpasses all understanding of the heartache, devastation, illness, death, disease and sin, and that the belief that Jesus died on the cross so that we will have everlasting life.

He sent His own son to a brutal, gory death to give us a chance to have everlasting life after suffering our own brutal, gory deaths, as long as we believe in Him.

His son shared our struggles, that's the problem point.

You may not find it convincing, but billions do.

Not that many of us are tortured and even fewer are tortured by our parents. When it does happen, it's called a crime - if humans do it.

When God does it, it's different. Jesus only spent 3 days in hell before rising, then going to heaven for eternity. We humans have a similar opportunity, some without much pain, as long as we believe in Him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound very angry.

+1

I feel really sorry for you, OP. God doesn't promise we won't tested, only that we won't be overcome. I've met genocide survivors who have a healthier mindset than you.

My 12 year son doesn't really believe in God either. He was born into abject poverty with no clean water and little food. As a young child, he watched other children die and many left behind. He realized early on that the only reason he didn't meet the same fate is because his first mother turned him over to an adoption agency. His words, "if there was a God, he wouldn't let babies suffer and children lose their families". There's little I can say. I just listen.

I think this is a very immature imaging of God. God is not the big daddy in the sky. He is far more both wonderful and horrible than that.

Let's see you live as a 12 year old who suffered through poverty death, and then being torn apart from his family. I can already tell, from comparing these two posts, that this 12 year old boys is lightyears ahead of you in emotional maturity: not because of his beliefs but because of the quality of his reflection and introspection, and how badly you look in comparison, with your judgment, lack of compassion, and bad spelling. I hope for your sake that you're not a grown adult, because I'm embarrassed for you.

wow. you completely misunderstood my post. I guess I was too terse. But I also think you have a very set idea about people who believe in God, and seem not to understand one could believe in God and also believe he is a monster. You (because it is you who posted, not your DS) seem to believe everybody who believes in God believes he is some good person who helps people. Perhaps, though, it is the opposite. Perhaps God exists and he is pure evil.

Doubtful, or the world would be completely terrible. In reality, only some of the world is terrible some of the time. This suggests no god because of the randomness. Believing in god makes some people feel good, but that doesn't make god real

Perhaps. Perhaps all our suffering, all our pain is completely pointless. Just some randomness out of the bizarre fact that a universe exists. But, yes, it makes me feel better to think that all this suffering has a cause, and it is evil. It feels less cruel to me that way. And I don't think it hurts anything for me to believe this, even if it is not true.

I guess not, if it makes you feel better -- but it seems strange to feel better with a belief that god is cruel -- given that there are many instances of cruel things NOT happening