Answering an atheist

[RickD]

Whatever you do, do not reply to a skeptic with Bible verses.

Until you have established with the non-believer that the Bible is in fact the Word of God, drawing quotations is merely an exercise in futility.

In many cases it could be downright counterproductive.

Yes, it's never a good idea to show unbelievers that the bible contains the good news pertaining to salvation through Jesus Christ.

[PaulSacramento]

Whatever you do, do not reply to a skeptic with Bible verses.

Until you have established with the non-believer that the Bible is in fact the Word of God, drawing quotations is merely an exercise in futility.

In many cases it could be downright counterproductive.

Yes, it's never a good idea to show unbelievers that the bible contains the good news pertaining to salvation through Jesus Christ.

I think that his point is that for someone that does NOT view the bible with any authority then citing it is futile.

Sort of trying to convince someone one about the age of the planet that doesn't believe that C14 dating is correct with a paper on C14 dating the planet.

[Duggie70]

Thank you for your clarification, PaulSacramento. You are exactly spot on.

Now back to the topic. Whether God inclines towards the predator or the prey.

Does God intervene when the rape victim cries out for help against the rapist? Presumably an all knowing God is watching this violent act unfold, yet God seems to decide to allow the rapist's free will trump the terrified pleas of the rape victim.

It almost seems as though God does not intervene, or he does not care, or he is not aware, or he is not even there.

[Audie]

Did anyone resd thst Msrk Twain thing I linked to?

[RickD]

Did anyone resd thst Msrk Twain thing I linked to?

Sudie,

I reslly think you're getting your a's mixed up with your s's.

[Audie]

Did anyone resd thst Msrk Twain thing I linked to?

Sudie,

I reslly think you're getting your a's mixed up with your s's.

Likd japanese with r and l.

I don't do a possessive "a" like you do That is just perverse.



BTW-
Have you tried making a burnt offering to the patron saint of irrelevance?

Or do you believe in works?

[RickD]

Did anyone resd thst Msrk Twain thing I linked to?

Sudie,

I reslly think you're getting your a's mixed up with your s's.

Likd japanese with r and l.

I don't do a possessive "a" like you do That ix just perverse.



BTW-
Have you tried making a burnt offering to the patron saint of irrelevance?

Or do you believe in works?

Umm...yes. I mean no. Er...I don't know.

[Audie]

Did anyone resd thst Msrk Twain thing I linked to?

Sudie,

I reslly think you're getting your a's mixed up with your s's.

Likd japanese with r and l.

I don't do a possessive "a" like you do That ix just perverse.



BTW-
Have you tried making a burnt offering to the patron saint of irrelevance?

Or do you believe in works?

Umm...yes. I mean no. Er...I don't know.

Youtube, "rave fever" 4027

[IceMobster]

Did anyone resd thst Msrk Twain thing I linked to?

Sudie,

I reslly think you're getting your a's mixed up with your s's.

Likd japanese with r and l.

I don't do a possessive "a" like you do That is just perverse.



BTW-
Have you tried making a burnt offering to the patron saint of irrelevance?

Or do you believe in works?

Is it possible that the burnt offering is you?
I'd play any rave you want.

[PaulSacramento]

Thank you for your clarification, PaulSacramento. You are exactly spot on.

Now back to the topic. Whether God inclines towards the predator or the prey.

Does God intervene when the rape victim cries out for help against the rapist? Presumably an all knowing God is watching this violent act unfold, yet God seems to decide to allow the rapist's free will trump the terrified pleas of the rape victim.

It almost seems as though God does not intervene, or he does not care, or he is not aware, or he is not even there.

What exactly did you think that God should do then?

[Duggie70]

I would expect an omnipotent and benevolent God who supposedly intervenes to intervene. If he supposedly answers the prayers of the suffering, why does he not answer the prayers of the suffering?

I am suspicious of an allegedly omnibenevolent God who loves all of his creatures even as he watches them being torn apart by predators, starving, raped, drowned, burnt, tortured, disease-ridden, and possibly worse.

Such a God is not performing his job very well it seems to me.

[Kurieuo]

Whatever you do, do not reply to a skeptic with Bible verses.

Until you have established with the non-believer that the Bible is in fact the Word of God, drawing quotations is merely an exercise in futility.

In many cases it could be downright counterproductive.

May I ask who did that here? A philosophy question requires a response in order of philosophy.
Nonetheless, if it touches upon Christian theology, then sources for such should be open territory too.

Like you here touch upon Scripture, the first in this thread.
Well you diggie your own grave in saying not to mention Bible verses, so here's one for you Duggie:

• 1 Corinthians 2:14
  14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Think about it. In a way, what you say, and what Scripture says, well it aligns.

[Duggie70]

You got me with that one, Kurieuo. Got me good.

[PaulSacramento]

I would expect an omnipotent and benevolent God who supposedly intervenes to intervene. If he supposedly answers the prayers of the suffering, why does he not answer the prayers of the suffering?

I am suspicious of an allegedly omnibenevolent God who loves all of his creatures even as he watches them being torn apart by predators, starving, raped, drowned, burnt, tortured, disease-ridden, and possibly worse.

Such a God is not performing his job very well it seems to me.

An omnipotent God MUST be ALL good/All benevolent also, correct?
That is just logical.
If God is that, and if He is God He MUST be that, then He must also be all-just, which means that he can NOT overrule freewill, whether "good" or "bad".
To overrule free will is to be a "dictator God" and God that does NOT allow free expression of Love OR the LACK of love.
Remember, evil is not a thing BUt an ABSENCE of good and God can NOT overrule or prevent an ANY act because that would go against his very nature.

You would like for God to intervene before something bad happens BUT the bad has NOT yet happened so God would be punishing that which COULD have happened.

If that is acceptable to you that means you would be ok with God not only eliminating ALL free will BUT also the death of s people that WOULD have committed evil but have not done anything yet.

[Duggie70]

You will correct me if I am mistaken, but I would assume that an all-knowing omniscient God is aware that there are 750 million people in the world that are undernourished and starving at this moment. He knows this. He knew this from the beginning.

Does our free will trump God's awesome power? Is this what we tell the woman who can't breast feed her starving baby because she is to emaciated due to her dying of starvation herself? All as she begs for God's help with prayer.

God would not be "eliminating ALL free will" if he would intervene a bit more often to avert that next hurricane or volcano and prevent unnecessary suffering.

I find it difficult to accept that the rapist's free will trumps the suffering of the rape victim.