Posted on 09/27/2009 3:38:59 PM PDT by NYer
That is not spitting hairs. That is exactly how the video puts it, which is the whole basis of the video. To call that spitting hairs shows you just don’t get it.
Darkness exists because light was created (in one way or another).
Which is the whole point of the video that you are moving away from...
The teacher says that God is evil because evil exists. The point the video is making is that evil exists but that does not mean God is evil.
To say otherwise is like saying light is darkness. Are you saying light is darkness? I don’t think so, therefor because there is evil that does not mean God is evil.
“Darkness exists because light was created (in one way or another).”
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Note that Isaiah 45:7 does not say this:
“I form the light WHICH CREATES darkness, I bring prosperity WHICH CREATES disaster; I, the LORD, do THINGS which results in an evil opposite.”
“The point the video is making is that evil exists but that does not mean God is evil.”
I agree with that point. The point the teacher makes is a stupid one, whether or not God created something that was evil, does not mean he is evil—it means he’s omniscient.
I think Boogieman said it best:
“...the line of reasoning in the video is conflating scientific definitions with observed phenomena. Science may define darkness as the absence of light, but the fact still remains that the phenomena of darkness exists, or there would be no need to define it.”
Your previous statement implied that darkness, being defined by the absence of light, is therefore less real than light. If the abscence of light is real, then darkness, which is a description of that condition is real as well, eh?
People are just trying to hold on to this video, plain and simple. The professors premise and the rebuttal put god in a very SMALL box IMHO.
“I form the light. I create darkness. I bring prosperity. I create disaster. I, the LORD, do ALL these things.”
The second is clearly a result of the first. That is why it is written in relation and in the same structure.
“The point the teacher makes is a stupid one, whether or not God created something that was evil, does not mean he is evil—it means he’s omniscient.”
Obviously I can’t speak for God but since we are having this discussion I would say that God in his infinite wisdom knew that when he created light and it was good, that there would be darkness and also evil as a result.
You see - as a result. Just like Isaiah 45:7 tells us. First comes the good and following comes the bad. In the same structure, for a reason.
positive - negative, positive - negative
Look at it this way:
If all there was is good with no evil then good would flourish and prosper forever and ever. Sounds like heaven doesn’t it?
If all there was is evil with no good then evil would torment itself (hell) and be stagnant.
So evil needs good for a purpose but good does not need evil.
If God created evil like he created good (light,life,etc), then evil would be as powerful as good. Evil is not as powerful as good because evil NEEDS to corrupt good (sin).
We can agree that what the teacher said is incorrect, but there is an important reason why he is incorrect and it is important to understand it. Otherwise, according to the teacher, it could be misunderstood that evil would ultimately prevail and consume everything including God and his Kingdom of Heaven.
And that is not the case - at least not in my Bible!
But anyway - if i have not convinced you by now then we just simply disagree.
I think we both agree that God is in complete control, and leave it at that.
I for one think his consciousness is BEYOND good and evil, and feel that it’s not a contradiction of the bible when someone interprets the contended scripture as him creating evil.
God is ALL there is IMO, everything else is just form.
“In Christ were created ALL things in heaven and on earth
EVERYTHING visible and everything INVISIBLE.... Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in UNITY.” —Col. 1-15-17
Darkness seems exist when the number of photons in a given area are diffused. When I was in Vietnam we used a “Starlight Scope” which amplified the available photons to give a greenish image of the terrain, and we were thus able to pick off a lot of VC and NVA who otherwise would have gotten away.
I also think there is no evil without a human (or other intelligence somewhere) mind to produce and process it. Or anyway, it can’t be demonstrated without mind.
Goodness on the other hand is the province of God who made a universe in which we live and operate in....
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