News0 min ago
Is God Good ?
37 Answers
I am going to a talk called 'Is God Good ' It's being presented by a Baptist Minister.
Now being as even the existance of God can not to proved . That question is impossible to answer directly. I will challenge the question at the outset but how do you suggest I could take it from there ?
Now being as even the existance of God can not to proved . That question is impossible to answer directly. I will challenge the question at the outset but how do you suggest I could take it from there ?
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Modeller, difficult to say when you don't know which direction the discussion will take after your initial challenge. Perhaps the organisers made a mistake in promoting the talk as a question rather than a statement. ;o)
Sir Alec. //I cannot walk down a street without some man telling me how ugly I am. //
You're giving them more credit than they deserve. They are not men. x
Sir Alec. //I cannot walk down a street without some man telling me how ugly I am. //
You're giving them more credit than they deserve. They are not men. x
Go and watch the Intelligence Squared debate "Is the Catholic church a force for good in the world?" with Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens vs Archbishop John Onaiyekan and Ann Widdencombe.
Obviously it's a motion about the Catholic Church, but many of the points are readily transferrable.
Also endorse the previous comment about Hitch's "Is God Great?" book, which is a very funny polemic.
Essentially, you need to get them discussing whether morality is defined by God, in which case, good becomes defined by what God does and means things like flooding the entire world and saving just 8 people are morally 'good' even though, if this had actually happened, it clearly wouldn't be, ditto the many genocides of the OT and thus 'good' is of no value as a standard or if good is an obectively good standard, then God manifestly does not fit it.
Obviously it's a motion about the Catholic Church, but many of the points are readily transferrable.
Also endorse the previous comment about Hitch's "Is God Great?" book, which is a very funny polemic.
Essentially, you need to get them discussing whether morality is defined by God, in which case, good becomes defined by what God does and means things like flooding the entire world and saving just 8 people are morally 'good' even though, if this had actually happened, it clearly wouldn't be, ditto the many genocides of the OT and thus 'good' is of no value as a standard or if good is an obectively good standard, then God manifestly does not fit it.
// Now being as even the existance of God can not be proved . That question is impossible to answer directly. I will challenge the question at the outset.. //
Rather than challenging his existence, you have to start with the assumption that he does. Then you can determine whether he's good or not based on the evidence you see all around.
Rather than challenging his existence, you have to start with the assumption that he does. Then you can determine whether he's good or not based on the evidence you see all around.
There's always this from Richard Dawkins...
“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."
Evidence aplenty in the Old Testament itself!
“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."
Evidence aplenty in the Old Testament itself!
bibblebub #Most of, if not all, the other attendees will probably take the existence of a deity as axiomatic#
It's not actually . We had a meeting entitled 'Grill the Vicars ' where the vicars were 'in the dock' and the audience were invited to challenge them on any theological subject . There were probably more non believers than believers .
I said it was impossible to judge an entity that only exists in peoples minds. Nothing has ever been written by GOD ! Therefore everything that is written or claimed comes from man.
Maybe if the organiser had used the title 'Is a belief in God Good' That would open up the discussion.
It's not actually . We had a meeting entitled 'Grill the Vicars ' where the vicars were 'in the dock' and the audience were invited to challenge them on any theological subject . There were probably more non believers than believers .
I said it was impossible to judge an entity that only exists in peoples minds. Nothing has ever been written by GOD ! Therefore everything that is written or claimed comes from man.
Maybe if the organiser had used the title 'Is a belief in God Good' That would open up the discussion.
-- answer removed --
billand I thought I had made this clear these meetings are attended by a wide range of people theists, atheists , and those who go along just because they like to dicuss any controversial subject and others for the beer (It is held in a community bar .) The title is a starter and meant to be challenged.
Quizmaster #Evidence aplenty in the Old Testament itself.#
I would suggest that may be evidence of the writers belief , not of a mythical God.
Richard Dawkins colourful language is purely repeating the rantings of clerics down the ages. He is not offering any proof that it is not pure mythology. He is however illustrating the fables on which many theists base their faith.
I would suggest that may be evidence of the writers belief , not of a mythical God.
Richard Dawkins colourful language is purely repeating the rantings of clerics down the ages. He is not offering any proof that it is not pure mythology. He is however illustrating the fables on which many theists base their faith.
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