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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal writes:
> > As to what would prove the existence of specifically the Christian God, I
> > guess I'd want Him to show up, explain some stuff, show me some miracles, and
> > most specifically explain ethics and His grand purpose. It would probably be
> > easier for Him to just change my mind and give me faith.
>
> lol God would never rob you of the greatest gift He ever gave you-- the
> ability to exercise free will.
Actually, He already did that, if one accepts the notion of original sin.
The predisposition to sin (ie, an inherent tendency toward evil) is hardly a
tabula rosa for free will. If God has inflicted upon us (or allowed to be
inflicted) a propensity toward evil, then he most certainly has not given us
free will.
> But even if He did show up as you would wish, would
> that *really* convince you? Wouldn't you maybe wonder if it were some
> elaborate deception-- what would be the odds of the Creator of the Universe
> doing such a thing? Personally, I think miracles are overrated as
> believer-getters. Even *I* would be skeptical;-)
You just answered your own question. Even if God showed up to explain
things, the act of doing so would in no way eliminate free will, as long as
he allowed us still to reject or accept him. Adam and Eve, within the
confines of that myth, certainly new that God existed (within the confines
of that myth), yet their free will still allowed them to sin (again, within
the confines of that myth).
> > Of course, if He could explain to me why He's good even though He seems bad,
> > I might reconsider.
>
> Perhaps you are referring to His followers who seem bad.
My question is more like this: "how can an infinitely just and merciful
God allow anyone to suffer infinitely and eternally for anything less than
an infinite and eternal wrongdoing?"
Dave!
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: slight
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| (...) Okay, that's interesting to me that you would acknowledge a resistance the idea of the existence of a Creator. Taken all the way to the beginning, one needs to agree on *some* starting point. Either you believe it all just started from (...) (22 years ago, 15-Jul-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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