Should God be Held Responsible for the Evil that Men Do? (page 4)

SacrificialLoon

I hold the easter bunny and Santa Claus responsible since it'll do about as much good. *shakes fist at easter bunny*

I picked my nose the other day. The Prime Minister has the power to stop such disgusting behaviour, daggum, even my mother did! I decided to do it in his honour. "Mr Blair, I pick this prime green bogey in public in your name and honour!!!"

Just because someone says that they do something in someone's name doesn't mean that they assent to the action. Even if its done in front of them, there's no reason to believe that they condone it, just because someone lays such a claim.

If you specifically want to take a Biblical slant on it, aren't they chancing their arm in view of Rev.21:8? For another religous, but non-biblical view, how about dharma and karma? Does God have to physically show himself and fire off a few thunderbolts before we feel appeased at His sense of justice? Daggum, we're sure of ourselves when it comes to anthropomorphising!

LT, of the "booger-flicking on behalf of the masses" class

SixofNine

"Should the President of the USA or the Queen or Prime Minister of the UK be held responsible for the evil that one of their citizens carries out?"

No, not for "the evil that ONE of their citizens carries out", necessarily, but for the climate that fosters and encourages such evil, or won't enforce reasonable limits? Hell yeah.

Seems almost the exact reasoning that allows and creates situations like the Iraq war, Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, Enron, war profiteering, etc etc etc, said the bald man.

God is a non-starter, and the sooner people realize that, the sooner they can start sending their money to me.

BlackSwan of Memphis

<<<aaaargh quit flicking boogeys on my side of the sea>>>

That is very true. And it could well be said that God doesn't approve.

Boogeys are one thing, murder and whatnot are something else.

If you stood right in front of Mr Blair and slaughtered a young child and offered it up to him as a sacrifice, do you really think he's going to stand there and remain silent?

I would think, his sense of right and wrong would kick in and he would say "I do not accept this." If we are made according to Gods image, wouldn't we expect the same sort of sense of justice?

In terms of Revelation...ok, good point. Yes, a person would be chancing it. (now goshdarn it a couple of other scriptures came to mind, cut it out )

BSoM

<<holds boogey shield high>>

RAF

Who gives a leader the power?
Which leader are you for?
Are the Leaders those who are acting for leaders?
Aren't the followers those who are giving a leader the power he've got?

Everybody is responsible for his/her own choices (and what they do or let do).

frankiespeakin

Should God be Held Responsible for the Evil that Men Do?

Yes, if he claims to be omni-everything. The analogies of a parent and child do not apply as a equal comparison to God and his creation, it's like comparing apples and organges or apples and some other fruit with brains that always know what to do under every situation.

Come on now,,if God really knows everything, and what every action will eventually produce then how can he not be responsible?

If he made man with very little intelligence to know the dire outcome of his disobedience, and then puts man in a postition where he knows he will sin who really has to carry more of the blame? the dummy or the know it all?

Why should God be testing man as in the garden of eden in the first place if God already knows everything? God could have very easily made man with a lot more loyalty in his personality so that he never would disobey, but instead chose to make him morally weak, who's fault is that? Certainly not man's but God's who made him that way.

Clearly if we take the side that God Created man in his Image, then God also has carracter flaws similar to man's.

RAF

Come on now,,if God really knows everything, and what every action will eventually produce then how can he not be responsible?

Because we all have free will (I don't want to be lobotomised even by God ...)
According to the bible God is not testing us he is showing us (into global experience) what and who is wrong ...
So no one would say anything to God like : I have no idea what you are talking about (this is not what will happen or I'm not guilty).

What he said is : I know - but you need to know or you will be able at any time to feel i'm wrong anyway ... He wants something perfect

Roman 8:22 : For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Nothing is supposed to be perfect yet ... (if you only state anything from genesis, you'll miss the point). Not because he is not able to make us, perfect but giving us free will is a part of the perfection (to get diversity - if everybody was alike - what a bore!). Even the bab comes out of good ... take somebody's intelligence away because he's gonna be bad with it, well he won't be able to be very interesting ... for others. It's all about sharing so limit anyone and you limit everyone.

Deputy Dog

LT

As for DDog 's interpretation of Isa.45:7, I reject it as extreme HyperCalvinism.

Hmmm, I guess God's an "extreme HyperCalvinist" then, sinse I just posted the verse, I gave no interpretation.

Tell me how God isn't "Responsible" for selling Joseph into slavery

Gen 50:20

And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Selling your brother would be "evil" would it not?

tetrapod.sapien

i have an additional question. perhaps "sub question". it is again directed at believers in the omnimax abrahamic God (that would be you Christians):

Should God be held responsible for the good that his followers do?

thank you all. i would like to know the answer to this sub-question.

tetra