God is dead.....and we have killed Him

by logansrun 51 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • logansrun
    logansrun

    There are generally two types of arguments against theism whether we are talking about the Judeo-Christian-Islamic God, the God of Deism, the Hindu pantheon....whatever. They are what I call "rational" arguments and "emotive" arguments.

    The "rational" arguments include all scientific, logical and historical problems with a supreme and all-loving Being and include such fields as evolutionary biology, deconstruction of "holy" texts, archaeology, formal logic, etc.

    Science in particular has been eliminating the "explanatory" aspect of theism for hundreds of years now -- from Copernicus to Newton to Darwin to Einstein -- all, knowingly or unknowingly, willingly or unwillingly, have had a share in shattering faith. Thus we have a "God of the gaps" with the gaps slowly but uncomprimisingly being filled with naturalistic and non-personal elements.

    All the same, I find the "prime mover" argument attractive along with the ever elusive question, "why is there something rather than nothing?" It seems that when we go further and further back in time whether or not we need a "God" to start it all becomes a coin toss of the mind -- maybe yes, maybe no. In short, from a purely rational perspective I believe that the "God hypothesis" remains viable, although weak.

    A much stronger arguement against any form of personal god(s) -- in my opinion -- are the "emotive" arguments against a Supreme Deity. Whether the rational arguement for divinity "works" or not, surely the theist runs into very serious problems when we enter the realm of morality and just plain niceness!

    What kind of a God would allow a child to get blown to sanguinary pieces after running over a land-mine in a field where she was playing?

    What kind of a God would permit an earthquake to obliterate a community and ruin countless lives and families?

    What kind of a God would create parasites and bacteria -- some of which are designed to solely live in the human intestinal tract -- and cause a miserable, painful and shameful death?

    Who of you would allow retardation in a developing fetus if you had the power to alter the situation?

    Suffering. Misery. Bloodshed. Pain. Poverty. Repugnant living conditions. What kind of God would create such a world? Only a devil.

    For sure, there are many wonderful, breathtaking and delightful things about our human existence. Some thank "God" for these things. Fine. Well, be sure and blame Him for all the sickness and goulish morbidity that surrounds us as well.

    Like it or not, there simply is no way to solve what theologians call the "problem of theodicy" -- why a loving and all-powerful God would allow -- let alone cause! -- evil in the world. All explanations are utter failures to the point where one would conclude that religious folks are simply playing a part in a sick joke.

    I think the strongest case against God's existence is the moral one. Suffering and delight. Evil and goodness. Prosperity and poverty. Life and death. These are the hallmarks of a unbelievably complex, yet thoroughly godless world. This is the world we live in: a world of chance, contingency and brilliance. God is dead, but we are alive. Let us be thankful for that.

    Bradley

  • Double Edge
    Double Edge
    What kind of a God would allow a child to get blown to sanguinary pieces after running over a land-mine in a field where she was playing?

    What kind of a God would permit an earthquake to obliterate a community and ruin countless lives and families?

    What kind of a God would create parasites and bacteria -- some of which are designed to solely live in the human intestinal tract -- and cause a miserable, painful and shameful death?

    For me, all of Creation indicates there is a Creator. What kind of God you ask in the above... that is a god created by human beings who take it upon themselves to say WHAT God should or should not be like.

  • tink
    tink
    all of Creation indicates there is a Creator

    sorry, but i think this theory is ompletely flawed.

  • Stacy Smith
    Stacy Smith

    Like I've said Bradley, god could learn from my parents.

  • logansrun
    logansrun

    Double Edge....By YOUR line of reasoning, who created the Creator? And the Creator's Creator? Ad infinitum. Your argument that the "real" God is not like the God I describe is bogus beyond belief. I didn't cite the insane carnage done by Biblegod in the OT or that predicted in the NT. I simply stated the facts: this is how life is, how could anyone with a half a brain allow that.

    Tink, azzy, Stacey....my gals! hehe...

    Bradley

  • Double Edge
    Double Edge
    all of Creation indicates there is a Creator

    sorry, but i think this theory is ompletely flawed.

    Of course you jest (let's hope), since we both know an opinion is not a theory.

    If anyone cares, here is a somewhat interesting link for those who haven't completely turn down the shades:

    http://www.evidenceofgod.com

  • tink
    tink
    Of course you jest (let's hope), since we both know an opinion is not a theory

    ok, i do wish i had not spelled completely without a "c"...but despite that fact don't attempt to insult my intelligence. your OPINION smacks of the argument from design, which, as bradley has spelled out for you, is flawed.

  • Kenneson
    Kenneson

    Nietzsche is dead.

  • Double Edge
    Double Edge
    Double Edge....By YOUR line of reasoning, who created the Creator? And the Creator's Creator? Ad infinitum.

    You're right... MY line of reasoning is exactly that, MINE. It is my opinion when I look at this awesome planet. Who created the Creator?... I don't know, let's ask him when we get to the other side... right now, I'm busy trying to get through this life.

    Your argument that the "real" God is not like the God I describe is bogus beyond belief. I didn't cite the insane carnage done by Biblegod in the OT or that predicted in the NT. I simply stated the facts: this is how life is, how could anyone with a half a brain allow that.

    And I think YOUR reasoning is inane. I will simply state the facts as I see them - AGAIN, MY opinion, not yours:

    "This is how life is" ... yes it is... the good, the bad, and the ugly...PERIOD. Since in MY opinion I live on this creation, obviously (to me) made by a Creator with a plan, then there must be reasons why the bad and the ugly exist along with the good. Some of them are evident, others are mystifying. Since I don't believe this earth could be possibly created by someone with a "half brain" I can only conclude that the all of the reasons why certain things are allowed to exist will at sometime be understood... like I said, some things are evident, such as the progression of knowledge through overcoming obstacles.

  • Enishi
    Enishi

    If we were to say that God is Infinity, then suffering and evil would be a natural part of that Infinity. Therefore, suffering and heartbreak are part of God as well. In searching for a personal, loving God, you need look no further than your own reflection in the mirror, or the eyes of those close to you.

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