Theists: How do you determine that God is not a malevolent being?

[FearGod]

Does a world necessarily require hurricanes to exist and be hospitable to life? If not what is the moral justification for hurricanes?

Why not to understand it as a sign of how God was merciful before the hurricane occurred?
God admitted that he punishes as a sign for humans and even he asked us to read the history
and what he did with other nations?God did never say that he's sweet and lovely regardless
of our deeds.

 

[sayak83]

Why not to understand it as a sign of how God was merciful before the hurricane occurred?
God admitted that he punishes as a sign for humans and even he asked us to read the history
and what he did with other nations?God did never say that he's sweet and lovely regardless
of our deeds.

What do we require forgiveness for? How can an omnipotent being be injured by our actions on earth?

The onus is on you to show how suffering caused by hurricane is deserved for those who are suffering.

 

[Lyndon]

I think God's influence is more over people than the weather, volcanoes, and comets etc.

 

[sayak83]

I think God's influence is more over people than the weather, volcanoes, and comets etc.

That is not what conventional theism believes. Since humans have free will, it is commonly thought that humans can defy God but not nature.

 

[SomeRandom]

But he won't punish. If one reads the revelation, it is God who torments the sinners and the devil with fire and hell and pestilence etc. There is nothing in it that says that devil punishes or torments anybody.

Ahh so it's God who is the douche. Just plops temptation in front of people, knowing they are supposed to be inherently sinful and susceptible and punishes them for being human. Shesh, talk about being set up to fail.
Or does he just have a bet going on with Satan to see who gets the most souls.

 

[syo]

if you define life as malevolent, then god is malevolent.

 

[FearGod]

What do we require forgiveness for? How can an omnipotent being be injured by our actions on earth?

The onus is on you to show how suffering caused by hurricane is deserved for those who are suffering.

We know nothing about God's wisdom of doing so, but if natural disasters is happening
by nature, then why it isn't happening every second and then life ends on earth?
what makes it stable most of the time? why you don't expect a disastrous earthquake to happen
every 1 hour in your place? tell me why, I recognize it as a sign.

 

[sayak83]

We know nothing about God's wisdom of doing so, but if natural disasters is happening
by nature, then why it isn't happening every second and then life ends on earth?
what makes it stable most of the time? why you don't expect a disastrous earthquake to happen
every 1 hour in your place? tell me why, I recognize it as a sign.

A malevolent being would want us to enjoy some good so that sudden disasters are all the more devastating and shocking. Also, beings need to exist for them to suffer. So a malevolent being needs to create a universe where sentient beings can reproduce so that he gets a steady stream of beings on whom he can employ his malevolent designs.

 

[FearGod]

A malevolent being would want us to enjoy some good so that sudden disasters are all the more devastating and shocking. Also, beings need to exist for them to suffer. So a malevolent being needs to create a universe where sentient beings can reproduce so that he gets a steady stream of beings on whom he can employ his malevolent designs.

Do you believe that God exists but he's malevolent?

 

[sayak83]

Do you believe that God exists but he's malevolent?

My arguments have been encapsulated below,
Theists: How do you determine that God is not a malevolent being?

 

[Lyndon]

That is not what conventional theism believes. Since humans have free will, it is commonly thought that humans can defy God but not nature.

I don't give a damn what conventional theism says, conventional theism says we should stone adulterers, persecute homosexuals, and practise genocide against Caananites. You asked for opinions.

 

[sayak83]

I don't give a damn what conventional theism says, conventional theism says we should stone adulterers, persecute homosexuals, and practise genocide against Caananites. You asked for opinions.

It was more of invitation for you to explain your theology.

 

[Lyndon]

God is not infinite, and not in control of everything IMHO Hence you can't play this stupid blame game with God. God is the most powerful force in the Universe, but doesn't control everything.

 

[sayak83]

God is not infinite, and not in control of everything IMHO Hence you can't play this stupid blame game with God. God is the most powerful force in the Universe, but doesn't control everything.

What are his/her limits?

 

[Lyndon]

I don't know, but I think of God more as a spiritual force than a physical force. I do like the Hindu concept of Brahman, though.

 

[Lyndon]

Maybe what God is includes some subatomic particles in every atom, so that God can influence each atom, but not control it.

 

[sayak83]

Maybe what God is includes some subatomic particles in every atom, so that God can influence each atom, but not control it.

Hmm. Odd idea, but why not.

 

[Lyndon]

that would be more the Brahman concept

 

[Mister Silver]

I believe God gave us the capacity to make our own decisions. He's not in the background manipulating us like pawns. When people choose to do good things that's their choice and their merit, when they choose to do evil things it's also their choose and their responsibility. We can't do horrible things and say we did it because God is evil. That's the way of the cowards.

But people do evil things and claim god is good, that they did those things in the name of god. I think that's what @sayak83 means by believers being deceived into thinking the god in which they believe is good while behaving in a manner that is not good due to a personal belief that the god in whom they believe has informed them to behave in such a manner. If a "good" god informs one to do something, as god had informed Abraham to kill his son, then is it not prudent for the believer to follow god's orders?

 

[Jumi]

Maybe what seems malevolent and uncaring is just being unaware.