Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mmoore@ub.d.umn.edu (Michelle Moore) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: An atheist's question Message-ID: Date: 28 Oct 90 08:43:59 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth. Information Services. Lines: 42 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu duncant@mbunix.mitre.org (Thomson) writes: >I don't know if you'll want to discuss this on your group, but I am really >interested in how Christians will answer this question, so here goes... > (line's telling of murder of Lebanese family deleted) > >My question is this: How can events such as these be reconciled with >the christian notion of a god who is both omnipotent and benevolent? > >It seems to me impossible to accept that an all-powerful god could allow >a child to be murdered in such a brutal way. If any person had the power >to prevent such an atrocity, and failed to act, in my opinion such a person >would be completely dispicable. > >Is there an answer? ("The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways" does not hack it >with me.) i also have a hard time trusting in "the Lord works in mysterious ways" and i am a Christian! i am asked this question and others much like it frequently (heck! i've asked it myself!), and i don't really have an "answer", but i do have an idea (i'm sorta new at this Christian business so if any of you "old timers" out there want to correct me i wouldn't mind): i recently read an excellent book on the subject of spiritual warfare called "This Present Darkness" (the title comes from Ephesians). while reading, this question surfaced to my mind again and again. and the only answer that i have is that God doesn't have the power to protect you unless you let Him, unless you invite him to take control of your life. that doesn't mean that Christians are free from evil. actually, quite the opposite. but a Christian has faith that a life with the Everlasting is worth it. at least i do. paghty! (peace and good health to you :-) -- Jesus loves me, Yup yup yup - don't know why... Michelle "Shelly" "Mic" "Mickey" "Mickster" "Micaroonie" Moore