Why do you think it remarkable that God (Christian God, often portrayed as loving) would be anti-cruelty, brenda?
Seems like more effort, therefore requiring more explanation. No, seriously, it does seem like a more active choice, while non-intervention seems like a more logical default. I'm not coming at this from a Christian God perspective, though (for the purposes of this conversation). I think Betsy's original statement (speaking hypothetically, and also drawing on the earlier conversation) was that having logically proven the existence of God, you're left with the challenge of then logically explaining why there's evil in the world. And to me, that doesn't seem like a necessary inference, because I don't see how a proof that "God exists" necessarily also implies "God is benevolent," or even raises that question. It sounds to me like Betsy perspective on that is different, but I'm not sure at what stage our interpretations are diverging. And I'm finding it really interesting that they do, and curious as to why and how much.
Hmm. Fair point.
I can certainly imagine proving that God exists and is a right bastard, but I'm betting that a book entitled "...and the Baha'i revelation" isn't going to take that tack.
Yeah, you're probably right there.
{{{Aimee}}}
I do wish I could give you one of those in person.
vw, are you feeling better?
I don't see how a proof that "God exists" necessarily also implies "God is benevolent,"
Well, you need to define your god. And the god that's being described on the billboards as I pass church -- I think he's being described as a loving enough god that if you're getting rigourous about it, you need to cover all the bases, and it had better be effable.
I mean, there are a lot of things I don't think God implies, including Creator.
vw is napping. I'm not here, because I've already left for work. See?
amych rocks in such a rockin' way as to make Gibraltar look jello-esque. Just for the record.
Now this is where Calvinism has got your back.
Yeah, but he also got my historical theological BF Michael Servetus burned at the stake, so I have trouble warming to him.
I mean, there are a lot of things I don't think God implies, including Creator.
Well, if He's not the Creator, he's one heck of an opportunist, showing up in a running system and saying "Right ho, I'll take over now."
