Saturday, May 17, 2008

Punishment or prevention?

     Suppose you knew that a brutal murder was about to occur. Suppose further that you were capable of either of two actions. You could prevent the murder at no risk to yourself or anyone else. (The victim would be removed from harm's way and the attacker would not try again.) Or you could sit back, allow the murder to take place and then have the murderer fry in the electric chair. What would you do?
     I certainly hope it wasn't too difficult to come to a decision. In a circumstance like that, anyone who would fail to prevent the murder is no better than the murderer. Now, you and I do not know when murders are about to take place; nor do we have the power to prevent them at no risk. However, the 3 major world religions today claim that there is a god with this knowledge and ability. So, what does this god supposedly do? He sits idly by, only noting the murder so he can punish later. I think that it is safe to say that any "laws" made by such a god are self-serving so that he may obtain the cruel, sadistic pleasure of tormenting people. Were such a being to exist, I would oppose him. I would definitely not worship such a monstrosity.

9 comments:

Clostridiophile said...

Is god able to prevent evil but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is god willing to prevent evil but not able?
Then he is impotent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him god?
-Epicurus

We should consider the "problems" of evil and suffering dually solved.

Anonymous said...

"oppose him" ?

Hmm.. your saying you have supernatural powers? the last I knew, all beings on earth are frail and weak in comparison.

I got to see this ! on Judgement Day! Wow !!!

Clostridiophile said...

Terry,

If one cannot "oppose god", i.e. disagree and refuse to accept his pronouncements, this would mean we do not have free-will, something you uber christians demand we have (even though this is not possible with what you think are god's "attributes"). One does not need "supernatural powers" (whatever that means) to come to a conclusion whether to worship this thing or not. Also, Terry, your "comparison" only works if and only if your god exists.

Anonymous said...

You really surprise me with your comments. Honest to Golly is slang for:

"Honest to God", which is a oath.

Yes, if you take GOD out of it, you just committed a sin.

Anonymous said...

Clos, IRT: God does not exist

You will see for yourself when you die. Your refusal to believe in Him will not get you to heaven, and Darwin is not there to help you. You will hear:

"Depart from me, I never knew you!"

Coming from Jesus Christ!

Splinters of Silver said...

Pvblivs,

If God did stop every 'brutal murder' or any evil act for that matter, would one not then contend that He is a 'monstrosity' for not allowing free will to prevail?

Tim

Pvblivs said...

Writer:

     Interesting question. I would say no. People actively interfere and stop harmful actions. We call them heroes for doing so. Although we value our freedom of action, we recognize constraints to impede deliberate malice.

Unknown said...

God let's us die because God can see beyond death. You're looking at the matter from a human perspective, which comes naturally to you, of course. But if you consider your objection from God's perspective you would see that death is not at all a negative development. Death is really only a bridge to something far better, can't you see that?

Pvblivs said...

Ornitheologist:

     Let's overlook the deaths themselves and consider the suffering involved. We aren't talking about the equivalent of going to sleep and not waking up. We are talking about situations involving extreme pain.