I delineanted quite accurately EVERYTHING that ‘aa’ expressed in their post. It’s ALL fear based.

The sad thing about being neurotic, is that while there, we can’t see the forest for all the trees.

It’s called scaring yourself silly.

Boohoo

This is so true. If you haven’t seen them, you should watch the Mr. Deity shorts at http://www.mrdeity.com. Episode 4, Mr. Deity and the Messages, deals with how god never answers prayer because he already gets credit for the good stuff and no blame for the bad stuff, so why should be bother listening to prayers?

The entire series is really funny and pointed without being nasty. The creator, Brian Dalton, is an ex-Mormon and current agnostic atheist and skeptic.

Sin, obviously.

This is the one-word explanation I have heard my entire life. That word “sin” blankets everything – it’s like a gigantic, dismissive way for fundie Christians to avoid thinking too hard about why children get cancer. Or peoples’ homes are destroyed by floods and tornadoes. Or why starvation exists.

I find it so strange that God is completely off the hook here. All the bad crap in the world is our collective fault. There is no nuanced thinking around why an innocent person should ‘pay’ for someone else’s sin; no nuanced thinking around well how did man’s sin cause bad weather patterns and viruses and cancer cells? I guess collectively we are reaping what we have sown. Except God is given a humongous “pass” in terms of any responsibility to intervene and prevent harm to innocents.

aA

**However, I don’t think I can count the number of times I have seen simple choice (or choices) in people’s lives that would have made all the difference **

I think this post is focusing more on situations where people didn’t seem to have a choice — like rape, or abuse (even arguing that women have a choice to walk away can be tricky. Yes, they do, but there are huge psychological factors at play) or even innocent victoms of crimes such as murder. In those, the people didn’t have the freedom to choose what happened to them. Someone else made the choice to do something to them. That’s when the question of a just and soverign God comes into play.

Those are good questions – but my response is an honest one with nothing more to gain theologically from it. I still have a tough time seeing how one’s belief in this ‘G-d’ can make life worse – ie: suffering – when we have been given the power of choice irregardless? Even the mind numbed fundie is subject to his/her choices – for the good or the bad?

I know the rant of natural weather phenomenons – and I ain’t no sizemologist so to answer for it (and for God) would be facetious.

I am yet to see my belief in G-d steer me in a direction more harmful then helpful – and I don’t speak for all of the faith systems and denominations – but I do construct my paradigm from bibilical texts (namely the Jesus writings).

I have no problem with a loving God giving me the right to choose…which is the bain of most people’s existence (ie: root of most problems). But if there is a problem with that – I am willing to be enlightened further.

LOL