Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: malt@watcsc.waterloo.edu (Mark Tompsett) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: An atheist's question Message-ID: Date: 5 Nov 90 10:13:57 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Waterloo Computer Science Club Lines: 37 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article 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... >I read a story in the news yesterday about the killing of a politician >and his family in Lebanon. Gunmen came into his house, and shot him a few and other gorry details >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. > He then asks is there an answer. Yes, but mine might not be it. Your question could be rephrased to: Why didn't God stop this occurence? And that can be answered by the fact that God gave us free will. He gave us free will, and we may abuse it or not, and it isn't any of God's business to intervene, with the exception of Heaven/Hell. Where would this world be if we expected God to intervene every time something bad was about to happen? We would have a "perfect" life, and the Christian life would require no effort at all! However, maybe it was to this families benefit? If they went to Heaven, are you going to get mad at God for giving them the superior atmosphere of Heaven verses this planet? Maybe they even deserved it! How do you know they didn't blaspheme against God,etc. God has in the past killed people because of things like that. Take Herod, for example. He tried to set himself up as God, and well ZAP! He's dead! Take for instance, Sodom and Gommorah! They were vile! God being all knowing knew they wouldn't change, and so ZAP! They're gone! I don't know if that has helped any, and I doubt that all will agree, however, I can honestly say that this was the result of some serious thought! God inspired? Maybe not, but then again, if it was, it wouldn't make much difference, because God is always contraversial! He can offend some, and not others. I'm on a quest to know what God wants - Mark Tompsett