Project Reason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.
In a world where a loving God enters many people’s lives and blesses them in countless ways, from helping athletes score touchdowns, to landing stricken aircraft on the Hudson River, to even curing illness, it’s hard to imagine that he would stand idly by under these horrific circumstances involving an innocent child. The fact that this sort of (unnecessary) grotesque terror and tragedy of the highest order can be played out under the watchful eye of an all-powerful being consumed by compassion, grace, love, and forgiveness is beyond the scope of reason. It is absolutely sickening to the core to know that there are people who would believe that this tragedy has some sort of “higher purpose”, and is ultimately “good” if God allowed it. No, this is nature at work in an uncaring universe. This is indeed a “Godless” universe (or at the very least a universe with a malicious God unworthy of worship).
I think the usual theistic answer to this is that no one knows why good people suffer and it’s a waste of time wondering about it because “God’s ways are not our ways.” The focus is usually placed on how to respond to your own and other people’s suffering with compassion and service.
Also, if, throughout life, good people were rewarded and bad people were punished, then it would take away our ability to choose God freely. We would love him for what he gives us and not for who he is.
Also, if, throughout life, good people were rewarded and bad people were punished, then it would take away our ability to choose God freely. We would love him for what he gives us and not for who he is.
Wonder how many would make the god choice if the chance of a heavenly reward was not offered also or offered to all? Good or bad, choose god or not and it would make no difference.
MARTIN Wonder how many would make the god choice if the chance of a heavenly reward was not offered also or offered to all? Good or bad, choose god or not and it would make no difference.
Not sure. However, for a variety of reasons, there is something very satisfying about doing good deeds. You often see this in children, who are not very adept at “long range planning”
In a completely naturalistic universe with no God and the forces of nature at work, crocodiles would eat children. In a universe with God (supposedly) crocodiles are still eating children. So what distinguishes the two? God adds nothing to the equation. He is an invention superimposed over a purely naturalistic and uncaring universe.
Any good God worth his salt should AT THE VERY MINIMUM KEEP THE CROCODILES FROM EATING CHILDREN!!! We can still have our free choice and choose to be good or bad and have our petty wars, etc., but this child eating by crocodiles is something I will not tolerate in a god! Especially a God who is willing to step in from time to time and help Tim Tebow win football games.
You often see this in children, who are not very adept at “long range planning”
Nor very adept at making breakfast, my six year old beams from ear to ear when presenting me with cereal and orange juice at 6.30am on a Sunday.
But yes it gives him a real buzz… ...He’s a gem.
Hey, think of the crocodile, it’s one of God’s pets too, and it was hungry. God has to make tough choices sometimes and they don’t make kibbles for crocs.
I think the usual theistic answer to this is that no one knows why good people suffer and it’s a waste of time wondering about it because “God’s ways are not our ways.” The focus is usually placed on how to respond to your own and other people’s suffering with compassion and service.
Also, if, throughout life, good people were rewarded and bad people were punished, then it would take away our ability to choose God freely. We would love him for what he gives us and not for who he is.
And the “usual theistic answer” is a pile of minty smelling bullshit. I.E. 2+2=5, don’t worry that it doesn’t add up just love one another, ahhhhhhhhhhh.
Kumbaya my lord,
kumbaya,
someone little kid is getting horribly killed my lord,
kumbaya,
thank you for reminding us how special life is lord,
kumbaya,
you are so wonderful lord,
kumbaya,
kumbaya.
Hey, think of the crocodile, it’s one of God’s pets too, and it was hungry. God has to make tough choices sometimes and they don’t make kibbles for crocs.
Well put. Besides, maybe that little girl has been disobedient or something.
It’s not that god enjoys the suffering of children. He just needs to test our ability to create double standards. The mall was super busy but I found an awesome parking space. Praise god!
In a completely naturalistic universe with no God and the forces of nature at work, crocodiles would eat children. In a universe with God (supposedly) crocodiles are still eating children. So what distinguishes the two? God adds nothing to the equation. He is an invention superimposed over a purely naturalistic and uncaring universe.
Every Theist should realize this, there’s no way around it. Any attempt strays from reason, so how do they dare to claim it? The purpose of the invention of God is to answer the unanswerable “Why?” with another unanswerable question. The double negative equals a positive so it can be put to rest along with the anxiety.
“This is its M.O.: when an emerald cockroach wasp is ready to lay its eggs, it seeks out cockroaches, which are, fortunately for the wasp and unfortunately for us, all too easy to find. It will tackle the cockroach and first sting a specific ganglion (insect nerve cluster) in the cockroach’s thorax (center region), temporarily paralyzing its front two legs. This makes it easy for the wasp to make a second sting to a specific spot in its head ganglion that controls the cockroach’s escape reflex. Without an escape reflex, the cockroach becomes a willing slave. After snipping off half of the cockroach’s antenna and (seriously) drinking the blood out of them, the wasp grabs one of the antenna and leads the zombified cockroach into a burrow, usually underground. The wasp then lays an egg on the cockroach’s abdomen, and then packs the burrow with debris so other predators don’t come in and walk off with the cockroach.
The egg then hatches into a larva, which bites a hole into the cockroach and sucks out its blood to feed on. Keep in mind the cockroach is still alive and conscious, but has no impulse to run away or fight off the larva! After a few days, the larva digs into the cockroach and eats it from the inside out. It then pupates inside the dead cockroach, and emerges as a new adult wasp, ready to wreak havoc on another unsuspecting cockroach!”
It’s curious that this type of nature is never mentioned by IDers who love to tout God’s great design of everything from the beauty of the Rocky Mountains to cute kittens.
The egg then hatches into a larva, which bites a hole into the cockroach and sucks out its blood to feed on. Keep in mind the cockroach is still alive and conscious, but has no impulse to run away or fight off the larva! After a few days, the larva digs into the cockroach and eats it from the inside out. It then pupates inside the dead cockroach, and emerges as a new adult wasp, ready to wreak havoc on another unsuspecting cockroach!”
Not to quibble, but I question whether cockroaches, lacking a cortex, are conscious.
The egg then hatches into a larva, which bites a hole into the cockroach and sucks out its blood to feed on. Keep in mind the cockroach is still alive and conscious, but has no impulse to run away or fight off the larva! After a few days, the larva digs into the cockroach and eats it from the inside out. It then pupates inside the dead cockroach, and emerges as a new adult wasp, ready to wreak havoc on another unsuspecting cockroach!”
Not to quibble, but I question whether cockroaches, lacking a cortex, are conscious.
...He’s a gem.
