Posted on 01/03/2005 8:16:57 AM PST by crushelits
Yes, so....that doesn't make God any less in my eyes. I don't understand why God does what He does either, but I believe that He is responsible for all since He is the creator of all.
ping
I think that in all of this tragedy most poeple look to God for answers or look to blame Him.
Many may be forgetting that there are forces of evil, the dark side, re: the devil.
There is a constant struggle between good and evil.
One cannot expect God to win all of the battles. He apparently loses some of them.
This battle was won by the devil himself.
Look at it that way and it helps to explain.
Matthew 5: 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[a] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
I believe that all things...including our concept of good and evil, come from God.
So many children; I cannot begin to imagine the pain of those parents pictured....
Yes and no... We still have the choice to do good and/or bad. Do we blame the actions of Hitler on to God?
Of course not. Ultimately it is Hitler who is responsible for the evil he perpetrated. He chose to fall away from God.
In regards to nature, I still don't know. I can't see blaming God for this at all. Part of our existence on earth is to deal with an ever changing planet. We knew it wouldn't be a perfect world when Adam committed original sin. Perhaps there lies our lessons. We have this myth that we can create a "heavenly" world. Unfortunately many subscribe to that myth, and then when we are thrust into cataclysmic events, we don't understand it.
Anyawy... I appreciate the discussion. It allows me to digest this whole thing, and try to make sense out of it as well. By this discussion I am able to think through my thoughts and philosophy.
God Bless.
Jay
In the coastal villages of Indonesia, that does not tell the story.
The people lived there because that's where their food supply is, not because it was beautiful.
Yes and No???
If it is truly yes and no, then we may both be right...or wrong. It must not really matter then, what one believes.
God allowed Hitler to live, knowing what he was going to do, just as He allowed Mother Theresa to live, knowing what she was going to do. If it is yes and no, then what is the problem with believing that God allows our concept of evil, just as He allows what we conceive of as good? Perhaps God is beyond what we perceive as good or evil...He is, after all, God.
I think, to be more accurate, we should substitute the word responsible for blame.
I do not know that Adam committed original sin.
Perhaps God is beyond all that we perceive.
In the end it's up to us to find our way.
I believe the way has already been determined...it's just up to us to live, then die, then...???
People have not populated coastal areas simply because they are beautiful and alluring, they have populated them because of fishing and shipping and because the streams all run to the sea and there's plenty of water for populations close to the coast.
I would say that throughout history most of the people in the world have lived in coastal areas.
Then when disaster occurs, they shouldnt be surprised.
So who are you blaming? Them?
And where do you live that is so immune from natural disasters?
Do you not live somewhere where you could be affected by floods, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, lightning, dam breaks, Tidal Waves? Do you live somewhere where there is no danger of a natural disaster? If so, where is it?
We could go round and round on this one. If our lives have already been dertemined, then why are we here? Yes, God certainly knows of what is to come, but we don't!
Again I go back to free choice. Your nor I know what is to come of our future, but it is our actions and belief that determine that outcome, and how we handle what we are faced with in our future.
I guess the earthquake was a human decision.
After that, the tsunami was also a human decision.
Or was it?
I don't know what to make of this huge tragedy.
Human decisions had been made not to have a warning system in place that could have possible aleviated part of the deaths - not the destruction.
Give me a break.
What amazing devasation this tsunami has caused. Tears.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.