Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: allenroy@cs.pdx.edu (callen roy) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Question? Message-ID: Date: 9 Jun 91 18:34:50 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 53 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu ogorman@unix1.tcd.ie writes: >if god is the first cause, and if our conception with regard to his >character is correct (i.e. that he is omnipotent, omniscient, and good) >and if we believe that god is love, then since satan (the devil, >whatever you like) was brought into existence by god he must have been >good. totally good since god could not create evil. if so then how could >he be corrupted? indeed how could evil exist if god did not create it? > ollie g Hi Ellie: This is probably one of the most important questions any person can ask. If God is Love how can He allow evil to exist? I'll try to give an answer that makes the most sense to me. James R S Jr posted a similar question just a few days ago, and let me suggest that you read his question and my reply at that time. It will kind of set up common ground for the rest of this note. In quich summery, Lucifer had a perfect love relationship with God until he cherished envy of God and pride of his 'beauty' and position. He broke off his love relationship with God and has been ploting to take God's place ever since. This is sin and evil. But this does not explian how it could be allowed. The answer is in a four letter word--LOVE. The Bible says God is Love and that He loves us and all his Creation (including angels and perhaps other intellegent life in the Universe He created). Love is a binary relationship. All God wants is for us to love Him back. And He wants us to love Him in the same way He loves us--out of free choice. He didn't have to create us, or love us, but He did because He chose to. He did'nt want us to try to love him because of His authority--such as His omiciense, omnipotence, omnipresence. Demands from authoity simply cannot cause heartfelt love. He didn't want us to try to love Him out of fear and threats of annihlation or 'eternal torment.' It is impossible for true love to come out of fear. Love can only exist in an environment of free choice---freedom to choose to love Gon or NOT love God! That enviromnet must exist at all costs. So long as God exists, freedom of choice must exist. It existed when lucifer made his choices. It exists now as each of us makes our choice to love God or love ourselves. It will exist forever, even after the sin problem in the universe has been solved permanently. We will love God foever in the same freedom that we now enjoy. No one will ever sin again, not because we couldn't, but because everyone will know the horror that sin and evil brings. I hope this helps. Love: Allen Roy God Loves you. All He wants is for you to love Him back.