Is God evil?

[Compassionist]

There are many verses in the Bible about God's predestination. https://www.openbible.info/topics/predestination Why would a good God predestine anyone to do evil? Surely, a good God would predestine all to do good? Does the existence of evil prove that God is evil? Surely, a good God would have made all living things to be autotrophs instead of making some autotrophs, some herbivores, some carnivores, some omnivores, and some parasites? Here are some examples of evil events which caused or are causing suffering, deaths, and injustices:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinction_events
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_n ... death_toll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_g ... death_toll
https://thevegancalculator.com/animal-slaughter

[William]

[Replying to Compassionist in post #69]

I see lots and lots of evil and God's total failure to prevent them.

That is a heavy bias to bear. No wonder you appear to be in a state of perpetual suffering.

I have to consider the possibility that you were predestined for that particular role and that you chose it for yourself, and therein, wonder what the purpose of doing so might be.

It appears to me that Theism meets the problem half way and finds hope in the seemingly hopeless.

[Compassionist]

[Compassionist]

[Replying to Compassionist in post #69]

I see lots and lots of evil and God's total failure to prevent them.

That is a heavy bias to bear. No wonder you appear to be in a state of perpetual suffering.

I have to consider the possibility that you were predestined for that particular role and that you chose it for yourself, and therein, wonder what the purpose of doing so might be.

It appears to me that Theism meets the problem half way and finds hope in the seemingly hopeless.

What bias are you talking about? If God predestined our lives, then we are prisoners of his will.

[William]

[Replying to Compassionist in post #73]

What bias are you talking about?

The propensity to conflate "we exist within a creation" with "The creator/creators must therefore be evil"

If God predestined our lives, then we are prisoners of his will.

That all depends upon what storyline one is following...I find the idea that an all knowing entity creator/creators making us prisoners of Its/their will to - logically - build a stress-free environment in my mind, even in the midst of storms of suffering and death out in the world.

[neverknewyou]

Is God evil?

More like just plain stupid.

[Compassionist]

[Replying to Compassionist in post #73]

What bias are you talking about?

The propensity to conflate "we exist within a creation" with "The creator/creators must therefore be evil"

If God predestined our lives, then we are prisoners of his will.

That all depends upon what storyline one is following...I find the idea that an all knowing entity creator/creators making us prisoners of Its/their will to - logically - build a stress-free environment in my mind, even in the midst of storms of suffering and death out in the world.

I am not convinced that we exist in a created reality or that God exists. Please prove that God is real and he created the universe we live in and created all the living things. The Bible is not evidence - it's a book of stories. Biblical stories don't mesh with what we know through the scientific method.

I understand the appeal of religions. Without religion, life's a bitch, then we die. With religion, life's a bitch, then we go to heaven forever. I don't blame you for finding your belief in God comforting. I used to be very religious so I can totally understand.

[AquinasForGod]

[Replying to Compassionist in post #1]

Predestination has nothing to do with God choosing what actions you take.

[Athetotheist]

There are many verses in the Bible about God's predestination. https://www.openbible.info/topics/predestination Why would a good God predestine anyone to do evil? Surely, a good God would predestine all to do good? Does the existence of evil prove that God is evil? Surely, a good God would have made all living things to be autotrophs instead of making some autotrophs, some herbivores, some carnivores, some omnivores, and some parasites? Here are some examples of evil events which caused or are causing suffering, deaths, and injustices:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinction_events
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_n ... death_toll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_g ... death_toll
https://thevegancalculator.com/animal-slaughter

[William]

[Replying to Compassionist in post #76]

I used to be very religious so I can totally understand.

I am not religious myself. I too have gone through theistic thinking, but my conclusions are different from your own, nor do I consider nature to be evil. Perhaps that part of your religious learning has yet to be exorcised...or did you pick up that theme through atheism?

[The Tanager]