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God is cruel

Is God cruel?

  • Yes

    Votes: 11 34.4%
  • No

    Votes: 21 65.6%

  • Total voters
    32

neologist

Member
To which god are you referring?
The true God who created us??
Or, the god who offered the entire world to Jesus in Matthew, chapter 4??
What most preachers who need salary will fail to tell you is that the god of this system of things is none other than the one who originated the lie in Genesis chapter 3.

Note that in verse 15 of that chapter, the demise of that god is predicted and assured.
You and I may believe more than enough time has transpired for the outworking of that prophecy. But we don't have the clock.
 

Spiderman

Veteran Member
To which god are you referring?
The true God who created us??
Or, the god who offered the entire world to Jesus in Matthew, chapter 4??
What most preachers who need salary will fail to tell you is that the god of this system of things is none other than the one who originated the lie in Genesis chapter 3.

Note that in verse 15 of that chapter, the demise of that god is predicted and assured.
You and I may believe more than enough time has transpired for the outworking of that prophecy. But we don't have the clock.
I'm referring to the God who watches an innocent child get raped, tortured, and mutilated, and could (almost effortlessly) intervene and make it stop, but refuses to. He just watches.

I'm talking about the God who could ease so many people's agony who live in chronic pain, but refuses to.

I'm talking about the God who looks down at an extremely confused divided world and refuses to say anything clear to us. He could give everyone understanding without violating anyone's free-will. Instead, he clearly prefers that we are confused.
 

Servant_of_the_One1

Well-Known Member
No! I am devoted to God, I just don't agree with him. It is possible to get God to change his mind
This is called rebellion against God.

Its what made Satan kicked out from Heaven.


My advise: its not wise to rebel against the One who created the heavens and earth. If u can survive a fall from plane and if u can move mountains then still u cant rebel against the Creator.
 

Spiderman

Veteran Member
This is called rebellion against God.

Its what made Satan kicked out from Heaven.


My advise: its not wise to rebel against the One who created the heavens and earth. If u can survive a fall from plane and if u can move mountains then still u cant rebel against the Creator.
You are right. Thank you for that advice. However, I'm not rebelling against God for the same reasons satan did. My primary motive is compassion.
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
I'm referring to the God who watches an innocent child get raped, tortured, and mutilated, and could (almost effortlessly) intervene and make it stop, but refuses to. He just watches.

I'm talking about the God who could ease so many people's agony who live in chronic pain, but refuses to.

I don't know if God even exists. Or if He does, maybe He's sleeping on some planet in another galaxy 2 trillion light years away and has no clue as to what's going on here on Earth. Even if God does exist, we still don't know if He's all-seeing, all-knowing, and everywhere at once. Nor do we know if He loves us or has a plan for us, as so many people like to project. A lot of people are probably just making that stuff up, which creates the expectation that God is there to relieve our suffering and help us - or else we declare Him to be "cruel."

You're assuming that God is watching and simply refusing to help, but how do you know that God is watching?

Or, it could be just like a parent practicing tough love on a child, such as when a child gets a cut for the first time - it's just a little "owie." Or maybe something like a physical trainer putting a trainee through their paces, using the familiar cliche "no pain, no gain." (But that may not be much of an argument, since I find those guys irritating as well.)
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
If God would speak up, there would be no more division about what to believe. There would be no more people who think he is an imaginary being.

The truth is, I don't know what to believe on many issues. I guess I don't have the intelligence. I envy you :)
Truth tells us what to believe.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
I'm referring to the God who watches an innocent child get raped, tortured, and mutilated, and could (almost effortlessly) intervene and make it stop, but refuses to. He just watches.

I'm talking about the God who could ease so many people's agony who live in chronic pain, but refuses to.

I'm talking about the God who looks down at an extremely confused divided world and refuses to say anything clear to us. He could give everyone understanding without violating anyone's free-will. Instead, he clearly prefers that we are confused.
Assume for sake of argument that this world is real and that God is whatever you were told (love incarnate) and just watches people suffer. Then I understand and agree with the complaint.

More than likely you are angry with something that someone told you to believe in and made promises to you about. I doubt God came down and made promises in person. Perhaps you are on the hunt for whomever is to blame. Odds are that they died a long time ago, very wealthy and happy and laughing at you. And at me too. Don't think I don't know that.
 

dianaiad

Well-Known Member
Free will is not what I have a problem with. If God would speak up, we would use our free will differently ;)

1. He DOES speak up. Hasn't He told us to be charitable, loving, to help one another and to deal honestly with one another, to comfort the despairing, to aid the widow, the orphan and all those who need it? Doesn't nearly every religion (certainly every religion I have any familiarity with, anyway) teach it's adherents to 'do unto others as one would have others do unto you?' Indeed, that is an almost universal teaching. Pretty much everybody has it in some form or other.

2. So how is it HIS fault if we don't listen, and that we (and those whose actions our choices affect) have to bear the consequences?

The problem with having the ability to make choices is...some people WILL 'choose poorly.' It's just the way it is. Is GOD 'cruel' because WE screw up? I don't think so. Remember, the God we worship...or at least the ideas about God I believe, has us here only temporarily, and 'temporarily' is a VERY short time when measured against eternity. We are here for a small span of time, to learn, to grow, to figure out who we are, and then we 'go home.'

The point here is, if people suffer here, stop blaming God and go help them. Or at the very least, don't add to the suffering yourself. If you don't LIKE that Muslims are killing Christians and Catholics killed Protestants (and vice versa) then DON'T BE A PART OF IT.

Finally, I don't see that God's messages to us are all that confusing. Nor do I see where He doesn't console those who suffer. He might not be consoling you, and for that I'm sorry, but I feel consoled every time I pray. Others do, as well. It might help you to know that you aren't the measure for all theists; just because YOU feel ignored, it doesn't mean everybody else is. It could be that you simply aren't listening, or that you have to learn something important, or ?????

Personally, I don't have a whole lot of patience for people who blame God for the actions of those who don't pay attention to Him and disobey His counsels.
 
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