An Old Argument.... does it hold water? (page 104)

TheUbermensch

I just loved N.Drew telling us what a name is philosophically. Have you actually ever studied philosophy? Aha, as if there is some set in stone definition of what a name is in the philosophical world. ahahhahahah, quite hilarious.

I've pretty much given up on this entire situation/discussion. We're going nowhere. Theists consistently deny that it is God's fault, and blame it on human beings.

Let's say there is something that you are praying for AGuest. I'm not sure what you consider a legitimate objective to pray for, so let's just say you are praying for something in your life, where you live, or in your community. You want so badly for this thing to happen, and it does, and you praise God and say thank you.

Let's say there is a child somewhere else in the world, let's say Japan, praying for something in his community, or where he lives, or for something in his life, and he wants it just as badly as you do, and he's just as righteous. The next day, he drowns in a tsunami....

This happens continually all over the world on a daily basis. People, just as deserving and righteous as you, dying in natural disasters, of starvation, dehydration....

Was that child unworthy of God's love? And you, someone who lives in a respectable house or apartment, I am sure (because you own a computer and pay for internet), someone who eats on a daily basis, probably has a car or some mode of transportation, in other words someone who is better off than more than 30% of the population of this Earth deserved his love more? Do you see how it seems one-sided? God allowed that child to die but answered your measly unimportant prayer? I don't understand how that is believable. It's an abhorrence, a horrible idea.

What greater good could that child have died for?

The picture you paint by stating your beliefs is worse than any Darwinian world that could/does exist, and Darwinian views are absolutely HORRIBLE when it comes to morality and ethics.

My question is: Why does God allow pointless death via natural disaster?

AGuest

Can't you all just agree to disagree?

I certainly can, dear Miz Josie (the greatest of love and peace to you, my sister!)... even if some resort to "abusive" speech, here. Because agreeing, disagreeing, being right, or being wrong here... won't add or take away anything from MY life... and I have a life [outside of this board - although, it might not seem so since my surgeries - but that will change, eventually, soon, actually - ]. So, I am MORE than willing to move on (and have stated that a couple/few times); however, when folks address me personally I personally think it only kind and respectful to respond (ignoring for any other reason than rhetoric is, IMHO, unkind and rude).

I get that some folks don't agree with my/our position. No worries... on MY part (nor a couple/few others, I would wager), though! My hand... and wish for peace... is ALWAYS out... to anyone willing to accept it. Always. And I know YOU know that - .

So, peace to YOU, my dear sistah... and thank you for trying to "mediate" some (peace), here - LOLOL! May it have a positive outcome!

YOUR servant, sister, and a slave of Christ,

SA

PSacramento

I think that one of the hardest things for someone to accept, I know that itis for me, is that God chooses which prayers to answer and that it is HIS right.

I still have a hard time accepting that, even if I know now WHY He does that ( IF I know) I still have difficulty accepting that He does.

OnTheWayOut

Well, I turn in my privileges to comment on this thread.

When someone goes so far as to say that people must call upon the name that maybe 3 people in the universe know of, and stop expecting anything when calling upon Jesus, I would expect the Jesus people to call her out on that. Maybe they still will.

Go ahead and make excuses for whatevery you like. It changes nothing.

Mrs. Jones, thanks for your peace efforts. I have no enemies on here. Peace out. See y'all on another thread.

watersprout

This thread is exhausting.... Do I comment? Don't I?? Nah I'm off to finish something worthwhile. *flicks hair and flounces out*

Peace

LV101

AGuest --- Love to you and keep sending me "Peace". I can't get enough ---

LV101

AGuest

Saw and responded to your PM, dear OUTLAW (the greatest of love and peace to you, my dear friend!).

Why does God allow pointless death via natural disaster?

Sigh. I think it's time for some of us to just say "Asked... and answered" when questions like this are repeated. BUT... out of regard and respect for you, dear Uber (peace to you!), I will respond, one last time, with more "detail":

The earth is a living thing. Living things breath... and since they breath... move. The earth moves. That movement, whether on its axis... or as to its surface, etc., causes... wait for it... more movement. That movement manifests itself in the form of winds (due to spinning, turning, proximity to the sun, temperature changes/clashes, etc.)... which results in hurricanes, tornados, funnel clouds, etc... tectonic plate shifting/subduction (resulting in earthquakes, tsumanis, creation of mountain regions, volcanic activity, etc.)... rain (resulting in flooding, erosion, etc.)... heat (resulting in drought, famime, etc.). All of these are the NATURAL occurrences of the earth... a PHYSICAL object.

WATER... plays a very large part in all of this, as well... and people usually build/live near water. Even volcanoes, due to the runoff. Often, their PHYSICAL livelihoods DEPEND on being near large bodies of water (i.e., to fish, whale, etc.). Because the physical earth BREATHES, then, its SURFACE... is UNSTABLE. HAS to be... otherwise, the earth would be static... and nothing but the most basis physical life could be supported UPON it (think stagnant pond).

Because of FREE WILL... people can... and do... build... and live... where they CHOOSE. Unfortunately, they CHOOSE... Tornado Alley. Where it is KNOWN that some hundreds of tornados will pass through. At the base of volcanoes. Which are KNOWN to be "active. Along the Pacific Rim (of fire). On earthquake faults. Along rivers, streams, and creeks, which are KNOWN to flood. In tropical areas where it is KNOWN that hurricanes and flash flooding is a common occurrence. In deserts and veldts where it is KNOWN that drought occurs and rain forests where it is KNOWN that deluging is a seasonal occurrence. And then there's fire. All... bringing destruction of property... and death to people/animals. All... KNOWN.

WHY do we build/live in such places? Because... we FORGET. During the "off-seasons". When the sun is shining, we forget the rain. When the air is calm, we forget hurricanes and tornadoes. When the earth is still, we forget earthquakes. When there is no smoke, we forget that a mountain is "active." When rivers aren't cresting and fish are abundant, we forget the power of water. When the veldt is watered... we forget the drought.

We CHOOSE to live where we do... because we CAN. We are willing to RISK the floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, droughts, eruptions, etc., because we LIKE where we live when these things aren't occurring!

We could, however, as an entire SPECIES... also CHOOSE... to build and live where it's relative safe... year-round. Further inland, but away from flood plains (but then, what of the crops!). Away from faults (but then, what of the view!). Away from the mountain (but, what will we worship/look to then!). Etc., etc., etc. As a SPECIES... we COULD... CHOOSE... to build and farm in areas with less "natural" risks. We COULD.

But... we DON'T. Why? Because we don't CHOOSE to.

I hope this helps, truly... but I doubt it, I am sorry to say. Unfortunately, I perceive that I have no CHOICE... but to agree with some of you and tell you what you want to HEAR... or risk being spoken to abusively. Since I'm not willing to give up MY free will... which allows me to believe as I do... I may have to just sign off. But... I didn't want "you" to accuse "us" of not answering YOUR question. Take it, dear one... or leave it. The choice is, of course, yours.

Again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

SA