People,
I have a hard time understanding some viewpoints, especially athiests. Why is it always fault finding with "god" that supports your reasons for their not being a "god"? If there is no "god" there is no fault, no injustice, no error- stuff just happens because it happens, not because "god" isn't there. There is no right - no wrong. The basis for all justice systems in civilization is baseless. For what makes anything right or wrong? Who is the "judge"? Very illogical. Also your arguments seem to stem from a great "distaste" of the "god" as portrayed by almost all organized religions.
If "god" were to step in now and right all wrongs and stop all badness (from our viewpoint) from ever even getting a start, how is free will exercised? Like it or not all of recorded human history shows that badness has been committed on every level concieveable without restraint (by a "god"), thus truly allowing free will (even bad choices) to be exercised without restraint. For example I can do anything I want, albeit not without consequences, but I CAN DO IT IF I CHOOSE! You would have "god" step in and stop all of this.
I've been around "liberal" minded people my whole life, and you would never hear so loud a cry of "FOUL", if "god" actually did that. You think you're mad at "god" now for what He allows? If He didn't allow all the "bad" things that people practice, they would hate Him even more and would have an "intellectual" argument to boot. Imagine the debate you could have with "god" if he put the brakes on things you WANTED to do!
Now I must temper this with that I agree the world is a very unpleasant place for most at this time. Love (as the Judeo/christian concept) dictates that this cannot go on indefinitely and the wrongs and injustices must be fixed. The Bible is almost obsessive in this thought of "atonement" and "justice", the whole "eye for an eye" and "ransom" concepts. The problem is in the meantime there IS great suffering, no one would deny. Most of this suffering is because for now, God is not doing anything, for reasons that can be debated endlessly.
Religion has and continues to mis-represent the Creator. Look at how many of us have been slandered and shunned and "skinned and thrown about" by the "so-called people of Jehovah". If they treat this many people this badly, how do they treat their "God"? Just look, you know...
Please don't let people make you bitter toward a "creator", and if they do (it can defy the intellect and heart, I know), try to recognize it for what it is- very poor (even wicked) examples at times. Remember too haven't we ALL done things and "god " didn't stop us, and we probably wouldn't have wanted us to, even if it were for our own "good"?
Peace,
U/D