Theists... (reject, Creator, Earth, soul, evolution)

[Jaiket]

...who accept evolutionary biology, how do you respond to Steven Pinker?

What twisted sadist would have invented a parasite that blinds millions of people or a gene that covers babies with excruciating blisters? To adapt a Yiddish expression about God: If an intelligent designer lived on Earth, people would break his windows.

The quote directly refers to ID. My point would be, however, that in the similar vein as the problem of evil, how do you reconcile a benevolent creator and a gene that covers babies with excruciating blisters?

Does God take nothing to do with evolutionary change?

[stephenw]

Why do bad things happen to good people ? I think Rabbi Simmons perspective captures it
(Taken from here Why Bad Things Happen to Good People - Judaism )

GROUND RULE #3 - ETERNITY

The question of "why do bad things happen to good people" has a lot to do with how we look at existence. The way we usually perceive things is like this: A "good life" means that I make a comfortable living, I enjoy good health, and then I die peacefully at age 80. That's a good life. Anything else is "bad."

In a limited sense, that's true. But if we have a soul and there is such a thing as eternity, then that changes the picture entirely. Eighty years in the face of eternity is not such a big deal.

From Judaism's perspective, our eternal soul is as real as our thumb. This is the world of doing, and the "world to come" is where we experience the eternal reality of whatever we've become. Do you think after being responsible for the torture and deaths of millions of people, that Hitler could really "end it all" by just swallowing some poison? No. Ultimate justice is found in another dimension.

But the concept goes much deeper. From an eternal view, if the ultimate pleasure we're going after is transcendence - the eternal relationship with the Almighty Himself, then who would be luckier: Someone who lives an easy life with little connection to God, or someone who is born handicapped, and despite the challenges, develops a connection with God. Who would be "luckier" in terms of eternal existence? All I'm trying to point out is that the rules of life start to look different from the point of view of eternity, as opposed to just the 70 or 80 years we have on earth.

[rojse]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

...who accept evolutionary biology, how do you respond to Steven Pinker?

What twisted sadist would have invented a parasite that blinds millions of people or a gene that covers babies with excruciating blisters? To adapt a Yiddish expression about God: If an intelligent designer lived on Earth, people would break his windows.

The quote directly refers to ID. My point would be, however, that in the similar vein as the problem of evil, how do you reconcile a benevolent creator and a gene that covers babies with excruciating blisters?

Does God take nothing to do with evolutionary change?

The old argument about anything like this that has no benefit is that it is a product of the fall.

[logician]

How about the obvious, life's a crapshoot, there is no god pulling the strings.

[agent_smith]

Originally Posted by logician

How about the obvious, life's a crapshoot, there is no god pulling the strings.

It's amazing how saying "Because God is imaginary" makes a LOT more sense, in a LOT less words, then all the theistic essays about how God needs to torture people as it's all part of his divine plan.

One day the world will wake up and reject imaginary friends

[rojse]

Originally Posted by agent_smith

It's amazing how saying "Because God is imaginary" makes a LOT more sense, in a LOT less words, then all the theistic essays about how God needs to torture people as it's all part of his divine plan.

One day the world will wake up and reject imaginary friends

Possibly, but in the meantime, those people will say that parasites and diseases with no discernable benefit are the product of the fall of man.

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by rojse

Possibly, but in the meantime, those people will say that parasites and diseases with no discernable benefit are the product of the fall of man.

Really? I believe in God and I think the story of the fall of man is just that,a story.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

...who accept evolutionary biology, how do you respond to Steven Pinker?

What twisted sadist would have invented a parasite that blinds millions of people or a gene that covers babies with excruciating blisters? To adapt a Yiddish expression about God: If an intelligent designer lived on Earth, people would break his windows.

The quote directly refers to ID. My point would be, however, that in the similar vein as the problem of evil, how do you reconcile a benevolent creator and a gene that covers babies with excruciating blisters?

Does God take nothing to do with evolutionary change?

If one makes the foolish assumption that the only possible interest and purpose of a creator-god is to serve the well-being of mankind, these would be legitimate questions/complaints. But logically, a creator-god would more likely be interested in the well being of all that exists, not just the well-being of we humans. So that the existence and the well-being of the predator would be as important as the existence and well-being of it's pray.

As I look at the universe around me, I see a system that allows more for the greatest diversity of forms, than for safety and security of just a special few. And if, as many theists believe, our particular form of being is only temporary, and that we embody other more eternal forms later on, then it makes complete sense that the creator would focus on variety rather than longevity, in this realm.

God is the god of all, not just the god of we humans. Creation does not exist to serve us.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by logician

How about the obvious, life's a crapshoot, there is no god pulling the strings.

A crapshoot is a creative enterprise.