Thank you. You have answered the question now, and the answer we agree on is that we do not understand why it was necessary for God to allow it (assuming there is a God). Whether or not we
cannot understand it in principle, I think, is not established. In this case, God appears malevolent, although there may be some justification for his behavior that we do not understand.
Agreed.[/qoute]
Completely agreed
I do not agree to that stipulation in the end, but I can agree to it as a hypothetical condition. If God was the initial cause for everything (and understood the consequences of his action), then he is the cause of all evil that exists.
Agreed as well
Fair enough, but you have now departed from what most Christians believe and what scripture tells us. Most Christians believe that we are special to God and that we are "worth more" than deer, at least. Otherwise, would he consider it moral for us to hunt them? It may be, however, that God considers humans in no better light than, say, worms and dandelions. Or maybe you think that mammals are generally higher in God's esteem than other living beings. I don't know. Only you know what you really think.
I was trying to get the point across that as an omnimax creator, he would see us as a flicker of his creation. True we have the consciousness to attempt observation of God, and are created in his image in that respect, but we are just as much a creation as worms, flowers, mamals, forces of nature. All wonderous. It's not a departure in my book.
I think that the answer depends on how you define those words, but I do believe that evolution occurs quite independently of intelligence.
I agree evolution itself can be independant of intellegence, but societal evoution, no matter how you define it can't because it imparts a himan perspective on it, implying conscious observance.
Yes, I have. Satan was God's creation, was he not? And God understood the consequences of creating Satan, did he not? If God created Satan in full knowledge of what he would do and knowing that he could stop Satan from carrying out what he wanted, then God is fully complicit in Satan's behavior.
Not really. Any way you look at it, God is ultimately in control of everything and in full possession of knowledge of the consequences of his actions.
Agreed. several scriptures actually have God sending evil spirits. To quote scripture (which I hate doing) which is most applicable: Isaiah 45:7 "
7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."