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Originally Posted by Pinchandroll  In fact, that irreconcilable 3 part argument is essentially asking "Why didn't God make a perfect world filled with perfect people?" That can be asked many ways: Why do people grow old and die? Why are some people more athletic or better looking or smarter than others? Why create AIDS and malaria and why allow people to get painful hangnails? I think free will and diversity and imperfections are all indications of a good, benevolent God because they indicate (to me) that for all our shortcomings, we can all achieve eternal happiness by simply believing.
In short, I think the ultimate act of goodness is offering the gift of eternal life, not making everyone and everything perfect.
***I realize this might sound like religious debate, but I hope it can just be a discussion. It would be great to have a talk without people becoming rude, inflammatory, or mocking. Given the topic of the thread, however, I realize where this is headed...*** |
Granting that evil is nec. for the existence of good (which is problematic, if all evil dissappeared tomorrow would donating to charity somehow become not good, most people dont look at abstaining from charitable donations as evil, its morally acceptable to not give to charities) it does not follow that we need as much evil in the world as we have.
I can easily imagine the exact same universe we have today but sans Holocaust. That universe would still teach the difference of good and evil, still allow for Man to be tested, and still allow for free will.
If God is all knowing he knows our choices free will or not, so when he cast the die or made the watch he knew our free will would lead to the Holocaust.
In God's infinite wisdom and power he could have cast the die differently, allowing for free will but less evil.
I guess one could say God cant know how we will use our free will and still somehow claim hes Omnipitent but how many exceptions need there be until all powerful is just powerful.
The question isnt why didnt God make a perfect world with perfect people, he did, Heaven, the question is why didnt God make a better Earth with better people.