... why did God create man and free will in the first place if there was no reason for Him to put us to the test?
Let's assume for a moment that your assumption regarding the existence of a creator deity is correct ... and that the attributes granted to him by Christian theists are also more or less accurate.
Why are tests run in the first place? I can think of two scenarios:
1.) To demonstrate that which was is unknown but suspected.
2.) To reconfirm that which is already known.
In either case, asking me to believe that an omnipotent being needs to run a test is just plain ridiculous. Because ...
A.) If the test was needed to discover the results of free will, this tends to severely undercut the notion that God is omnipotent.
Perhaps you can explain why an all-knowing being needs to test anything?
B.) If the test wasn't required, then existence is like an elaborate blind taste test where God already knows which sample is New Coke.
Perhaps you'd also care to explain why human existence shouldn't be viewed as utterly redundant given this scenario?
Why is there a planet earth and a human existence in the first place?
You can believe that the universe was created according to some sort of celestial blueprint. This doesn't seem at all special. Or, you can believe that it was unplanned. Somehow, this seems much more special.
What you or the atheist is saying is “I know better than you God what you should have done.”
Actually, to directly address a supernatural being whose existence has never been evidenced is sort of silly, isn't it? You don't see people lining up to scold the Wizard Of Oz for his behavior, no matter how much it rankles, do you? Who'd waste their time upbraiding fictional entities?
Does that not assume the mind of a human is on par with God’s?
The mind of God is purely hypothetical. Isn't the operative assumption here that there even is a "mind of God?"
Does that not assume God cannot have a purpose that surpasses our own?
Again, don't you have to assume that there
even is a God before you can begin to assume anything about the purposes of said God?
Isn't that what faith is, after all? Institutionalized assumptions?
The atheist and many others appear to assume the contention that God has never revealed the fullness of truth to any religion. I maintain that is a false assumption.
And you can prove this ...
how?
I maintain that Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection is the truth and the revelation everyone demands.
That's an interesting assertion. Unsubstantiated, but not without interest.
Why an all-powerful being would need to orchestrate its own ritual sacrifice to itself to appease its own wrath at its creations built-in shortcomings is certainly a conundrum. Imagine if only simple forgiveness could have achieved the same results without all the muss and fuss!
Q. - Is granting forgiveness without qualifications or strings attached simply beyond the abilities of an omnipotent being?
I also maintain that many have misinterpreted that life and that message and have patterned it for their own desires.
Differentiating the many misinterpretations from the one Real McCoy must be very tricky.
How do you do it?
Jesus Christ established His Church on earth in His absence to which he gave Peter (read: His Church) “the keys of the kingdom.” (Matthew 16) He also declared to Peter “whatsoever you hold bound on earth shall be held bound in heaven.” Now protestants and others can dance around those words all they want, but it fails utterly, imo. The Catholic Church is the Church of Jesus Christ and it remains 2000 years hence.
Peter (read: His Church) denied Christ three times:
"Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee,' she said. But he denied it before them all. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' he said." ~ Matthew 26:69-70
"Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. 'I don't even know the man,' he said." ~
Matthew 26:72
"Peter swore, 'A curse on me if I'm lying--I don't know the man!' And immediately the rooster crowed." ~
Matthew 26:74
"Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly." ~
Matthew 26:75
Perhaps you'd care to comment on what sort of dancing these words typically provoke in Catholics? Do Peter's (read: His Church's) repeated denials of Christ explain why the Catholic Church appears to be cursed?
...
Just because the true religion is guilty of sin and some error, it does not discredit that religion’s teachings.
Oh really? Tell that to the victims.
All it shows is that man is weak and cannot live up to the teachings of the true faith, all the more reason to submit to his Savior.
Ooh! Let me try that!
(((ahem)))
"Just because the only insurance company in town is a known cesspit of corruption and depravity doesn't mean you shouldn't insure your house through them! In fact, it just proves how much they deserve your business and support!"
...
I dunno. It kinda rings hollow if you ask me.
The Catholic Church (amongst many other teachings) teaches that Jesus Christ is the judge of all mankind, believer and unbeliever alike. It also teaches that one does not have to be a Catholic or even a Christian to be welcomed into the kingdom.
Great. So I needn't bother with Catholicism
or Christianity, right?
Pardon me for asking, but ...
Q. - Setting aside institutionalized child molestation, what other role does that leave for the Catholic Church, really?
But it also teaches that there is a purgatory where many (if not most) will go to be purified and educated, where God’s justice and mercy is made perfect. So for other sects to insist when one dies he is immediately given the glory of heaven or the eternal punishments of hell is a false teaching and a false understanding of Scripture. It causes great division and animosity.
Purgatory? Could you please provide a citation (or three) from the Bible that supports the concept of Purgatory? Otherwise, I'm obliged to dismiss it as non-canonical, theological fan fiction.
I also maintain the Word of God has been validated through signs and wonders. It has also been given greater understanding and detail over time as Scripture says would be the case.
Unsubstantiated assertions typically fail to convince and yours are no exception.
