I am posting the ancient epicurian paradox of God to see what others have to say about it. Very interested to see opinion on this one. Epicurianism was developed around 370 BC by Epicurus, this is the theoretical paradox of God: "God either wants to eliminate bad things and cannot, or can but does not want to, or neither wishes to nor can, or both wants to and can. If he wants to and cannot, he is weak -- and this does not apply to God. If he can but does not want to, then he is spiteful -- which is equally foreign to God's nature. If he neither wants to nor can, he is both weak and spiteful and so not a god. If he wants to and can, which is the only thing fitting for a god, where then do bad things come from? Or why does he not eliminate them?" opinions?
it's yet another contradiction found in religion but I'm sure there'll be a few fanatics who will try to spin this around somehow
One needs to first of all understand who He is. It's not your ordinary joe on the street. He's All-Powerful, the All-Mighty, All-Forgiving... At leat Epicurus understood who God was. Epicurus knew that God is not weak nor He's spiteful. God is above all things and one cannot even imagine the power of God. God has no beginning and no end. Where do bad things come from? It comes from ourselves, we have been reminded so many times to come on the straight path by not following our evil desires. Yet we do not. This is where evil comes from. Satan will do all he can to make us do evil things, that's where we have to try our best to stop him.
Has anyone ever questioned why the ever powerful God just doesn't put and end to Satan and let us all live peacefully for ever and ever.
Yeah. I did. But then I found out how patient God is. Think about it. We know from what the Bible says that Armageddon is coming. Many think Armageddon is the end of the world physically. The Bible teaches it is the end of the society or the system of things. Therefore, Jesus (God's appointed King) will judge everyone at that point in time. However, it would be fair that everyone is given an opportunity to learn about God and HIS son and about why judgment day is coming so they can make an informed decision whether they want to side with God or to side with Satan. Hence, the worldwide preaching work. No different to how the early Christians preached wherever they could, following Jesus as a perfect example. The Word or the message is being preached currently in over 250 lands in over 400 languages. The prophecy at Matthew 24:14 is happening right now as we speak. Except the very end of that verse. This work will not stop until that final part of that verse happens. The Bible clearly says God will put an end to this system we live in and by all the prophesied signs we see around us, it is so close we can almost smell it. Is there any harm in learning about this?
Wow Cheap SEO, I must say I am very impressed and have a great deal of respect for you. A lot of other people on here who share your views tend to be a bit more... personal attackish in when giving their views and opinions, which I always kind of thought went against what they were preaching. It is probably not hard to figure out from my posts that I am predominatly atheist, however I do not think I am what most religious people invision as an atheist. For instance, I think I live my life upholding a lot more morals than quite a few of the religious people I know. Most of them think being an atheist entails a life of hatred and doing bad things, and being an overall bad person. This is however rarely the case. I have the utmost respect for every person I encounter, until they give me reason not to hold that respect, I also respect the planet a heck of a lot more than most people I know. But, because I do not really beleive in the stories of the bible a lot of people peg me as a bad person, not that it bothers me, I know the truth and I am happy with it. Anyways, sorry getting off topic there, it was just nice to take advantage of having a dialogue with a person who was actualling willing to exchange posts in a respectful way, I commend you. Back to the topic, I do not necissarily agree with your views... however I turly hope they do come true in one way or another because this world is in need of a major change in the way that we do things otherwise I see us hurdeling toward extinction at a very fast rate.
Thanks mate! Even though I am a Christian (hmmm...not of the mainstream type though) I have many friends that are atheistic. I never condemn them or talk down to them. I respect them because they deserve respect. It's their decision in how they live their lives, just as it is mine. I have some atheists that I can have excellent thought provoking conversations with them that are always respectful from both sides. My job is not to bash people with the Bible. My job is to invite people to find out for themselves. Sure, I can help them learn via studying with them, but only if they accept. However, there are some who heavily oppose God, the Bible or anyone religious. I can understand the anger because what some people have done in God's name. But, we are not all like that. Some of us are true Christians and behave responsibly so. In regards to the major change. Yes! The world certainly needs it. It is spiralling downwards at a rate of knots. There is so much hate in the world. It is that hate that I like the least of all things. Col
I totally agree with the thought provoking conversations... I mean, I do enjoy conversing with other athiests... but I find I gain more from having a good conversation with someone who opposes my views.. and not jst on this subject, on all subjects. By having someone who does not agree with you discuss a topic with you it can open you up to a whole new area that you not have been aware of, and either help you strengthen your view, or change it.. either way its a win win situation.