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#1
11-06-2005, 12:29 AM
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My latest struggle
Lately I have been struggling with the existence of God. I have been thinking a lot about the nature of God, relative to natural disasters and His place in letting those things happen. While I am not totally convinced that there is no God, I also not, at this time, totally convinced of his existence either. These are my latest thoughts, and I would really like for someone to help me with this.
When it comes to a discussion on the God and the allowing of evil in the world, the standard Christian argment is the old, "God's ways are not our ways, nor our ways his" quote. That doesn't come anywhere close to an explanation to me because it also says that god made man in his image or likeness. The word used for image or likeness is the same word used for reflection. Like looking in a mirror. A mirror image. If we are made in his image, then it would stand to reason that we would have the same nature as God. If we have the same nature as God, and God lets natural disasters happen, then we must have a nature that would just allow natural disasters to happen as well. But how many people in the world would, if they had the power to control it, let something like KAtrina, last year's sunami in asia, and numerous other devistating distaters, happen? Very very few if any, and of those who would, I would imagine them to be what a vast portion of society would consider, evil. So, if only those who would allow this to happen are what we consider evil, and God made all mankind in his image, then the nature of God must be both evil and good. If that is true, then how can a God who is both good and evil, demand only good from his followers? It is a hypocracy by my estimation, and makes no sense, but I can not shake this line of reasoning. Someone please help.
__________________
I start the threads that make the whole forum scream.
 
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#2
11-06-2005, 03:55 AM
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you seem to have hit the nail on the head there, EEWRED. perhaps god is actually evil, i like to picture a 5 year old with an ant farm. every now and then, just for fun and to screw with the ants, the kid will shake everything up and watch the ants get confused and agitated, and the kid enjoys it. dont believe me? find a 5 year old, and give him an ant farm.
looking through the bible, and many other religious writings, you will see many instances of disaster/death/suffering brought on by the wrath of god, for whatever reason, usually it because the people effected by the problem have been doing some massive sinning. the wrath is brought in many ways, whether it be the flood, or raining fire and brimstone, or turning someone into a statue of salt. basically what you have to ask yourself is this, is the god you know the kind of god you want to follow, and if not, what/who will you follow? if god actually does exist, then whatever his intentions are are definately beyond my grasp. that is, if he has something benevolent planned, and isn't just acting like a 5 year old. i choose not to worship a god because i simply cannot see any benefit besides a simple feeling of well being and sense of security that you will actually live on after you die. i feel that our current concept of god, and religion in general, is something that is completely man made. it is a way to explain the things we dont understand yet, a way bring a community together under a common system of laws, a way to control the masses, a way to instill fear and gain followership, a reason to conquer, or any number of things that can be thought up. the ideas of god and religion have served their general purposes, but it may be time to let them fall aside. if god does exist, then what he actually is has been completely distorted and twisted by men to serve their purposes. does believing what you do still serve a purpose for you? there is also the chance that everything that has been perceived as god was something more akin to schizophrenia, dumb luck, or complete falsehood. i know this isn't exactly the kind of help you wanted, but it is how i see it. Drekmed
__________________
Ok, I suck at golf. Time for   drunken Star Wars
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#3
11-06-2005, 04:32 AM
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"Natural distasters" are just that natural disasters. God has nothing to do with it. You can blame everything that is evil, including Hurricanes and earthquakes, on the Devil. I believe that we, also, had a lot to do with it. These natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, firesand floods can all be traced to global warming. There is a simple scientific explanation to these things. We can blame the polution of cars and factories for the global warming that has taken place, which in turn intensifies natural disasters and elevates them to a whole new level. Have you not seen the charts showing the increase and intensity of earthquakes in the last 100 years. The charts and graphs indicate a dramatic increase starting alomost 100 years ago, with the majority of the earthquakes happening in the last 30 years, and the highest amount happening in the last 10 years. Gasoline cars are the main reason for global warming which cases earthquakes and hurricanes. As the ozone layer depletes and opens up more and more, the earth and the ocean begin to warm to unnatural levels. Have you not noticed how fast you can get a sunburn now. It is much faster than when I was a kid just 30 years ago. The warming of the ocean causes severe Hurricanes. The warming of the ocean and the melting of ice caps puts more water into the ocean which puts pressure on the land masses and moves them causing earthquakes. Pressure from the ocean causes earhquakes not God. Unusually warm waters cause Hurricanes not God. Did you not hear the cause of Hurricanes ???? It was always blamed on warm waters. We do have the power, however, to "calm the storm" as Jesus did. We can command the sea and the waves to stop and be still if we have enough faith. We can also cause the wind to be still with enough faith. If we can cause a mountain to be moved with enough faith, then we even can cause the earth to be still in an earthquake. We only need more faith. We are a faithless people. Where is our faith ??? I experienced three earthquakes while living in Japan and it was no big deal to the Japanese. For the most part they were prepared. There are only five buildings that are over 10 stories high in all of Japan. They have learned their lesson not to build too high in case of an earthquake. If we are smart we can weather storms. Cinder block houses would do better in a hurricane than our flimsy wooden ones. We can't blame everything that is bad in this world on God. Satan is the one we should blame.
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#4
11-06-2005, 05:03 AM
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To believe that natural disasters are some way aimed at man is wrong.
God created the universe along with this world. A living world like ours is subject to constant change. Earth movements, extreme weather, erosion, land slide and floods are all part of the process, it results in a fertile and ever changing world. We live on this world and often chose the most volatile places to live because of their beauty and fertility. This is one of the many, many choices we make in our lives. If you like, we take a gamble that nothing serious will happen while we are in such a place. But we can also lose. Other disasters are man made , Plane crashes, the dam that bursts, war, and terrorism. In the one case it is often poor design and in the other mans stupidity. None of these disasters can be blamed on God. You do not stick your hand in a fire and blame God because it actually gets burnt. God is not an insurance policy, he is not there to sort out the results of our own decisions. Do not take the stories in the old testament as actions of God. Many people prayed that the allies would be victorious in the WW11, and we were victorious. If that had been reported in the Old Testament that would have been credited to God. However an equal number were praying for the opposite result... God does not take sides in our stupidities. Why God created us is unknowable, but we are here, If we live our lives to God's rules and with Love, we know that in the hereafter we shall be with him. We have been given the example in Jesus, who has taught us how to live our lives. We also know from Jesus life and death, that this will not be with out suffering. Belief in God, Jesus and the Bible, does not give us an easy way out, on the contrary it is a difficult path. But one full of Love, wonder and ultimate Glory in God. Terry______________________________ Blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
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#5
11-06-2005, 07:32 AM
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Quote:
Quote:
__________________
if G-d ( G-d is not 'X' for all 'X' )
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#6
11-06-2005, 08:12 AM
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I tend to belive alot of what was discussed in this radio interview with Pastor Steve Lawson.
http://www.ttwministries.com/media/W...0Hurricane.mp3 Also the bible does not try and hide many things which we may consider as wrong/harsh etc It explicitly describes God flooding the whole earth(heres not the place for a global flood debate), and saving only one family. Or sending armies/famines against disobedient people etc. Have you read Revelation 16 about what is expected to come upon the earth? its not preety, yet it is Gods wrath against sin and unbelief. Im am not saying however that all people who get killed by such events are being killed because of Gods punishment against them specifically, if they have accepted Christ they are truly in a better place. I certainly see such events as a wake up call though, its only by Gods grace that any of us are allowed to live.
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#7
11-06-2005, 08:40 AM
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Quote:
__________________
if G-d ( G-d is not 'X' for all 'X' )
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#8
11-06-2005, 08:43 AM
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Quote:
Nor do I believe in the the hellfire and doom Christianity you seem to believe in. There are large parts of the Bible that I do not believe to be true to the spirit of Jesus. Jesus own teachings come shining through and show a quite different View of God. It is this Loving and forgiving God That Jesus and those that follow him believe in. Other faiths that share the Bible will of course have other beliefs. Terry______________________ Blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
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#9
11-06-2005, 08:56 AM
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I see you wanting freedom for people in the middle east. I see you wanting homes for victims of natural disasters. I see you wanting harmony for people living together in the world and it is projected into your belief system. I have grown to have more respect for your version of Christainty as time goes on with your posting these boards. In nature there is no reasoning or motive their just is. Events happen but are motiveless. Looking for a motive as to why a tornado appeared or why an earthquake happened is an exercise in frutiity. You can't ask a tornado, an earthquake, a tsunami or your God why "it happened." Nobody has had success in this endeavor before and nobody will in the future. Motive is not a componet of the event. If you look past the event which has no motive and see the aftermath to me, how you view your religion can be well measured in how you react to the aftermath. Time and time again your reaction is compassion and for this I feel your heart is in the right place and so is your God.
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#10
11-06-2005, 08:57 AM
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