Comment by Perthy on September 12, 2010 at 6:04pm

I hope he's thinking about his beliefs. I have to say, coming from a very devout family, my arguments to them never work. Religion is now a topic that is taboo with them. They don't want to even consider that they (or god) might be wrong. They don't want to examine religion that closely, because religion breeds fear of questions (doubting).

Good luck. I hope he is a rational, level-headed thinker.

Comment by rationalrevolution on September 12, 2010 at 6:53pm

Well, but Christian theology has answers for all of these issues. I don't think they are good answers, but its all been addressed before. There is nothing in Christian theology that says that life on earth is supposed to be free of suffering, the whole basis of the religion is the idea that the material world is corrupt because of original sin, and that a perfect world will only exist after the second coming, when the "true believers" will be taken up to the new perfect world created by Jesus (which of course at the time of the writing of the New Testament works everyone was sure was going to happen any day now, and of course every generation of Christians since has thought the same thing....)

Now of course this all sounds like crazy nonsense, because of course it is...

Comment by Reggie on September 13, 2010 at 2:25am

Doone wins.

I have nothing to add other than that. I lucked out and married an atheist.

Comment by Fancy Nancy on September 13, 2010 at 8:37am

Michelle ... maybe just agree to differ and save your arguments for something real!

Comment by DrDee on September 13, 2010 at 9:41am

You have the patience of Job, that wonderful propaganda piece from the OT. Seriously, hopefully he us examining the reality of the world. This weekend in Dallas there were big doings at several churches regarding spiritual warfare. To me that tells me that "Satan" is every bit as powerful as Yaweh because they're still fighting. It even god status to Satan otherwise, it would seem omnipotent god could end this invisible war with the metaphorical blink of an eye. So, why does the pain and suffering continue? Is the omnibenevolent god not good as his world or god can't stop it meaning that he isn't all-powerful. He has a lot to think on because as far as I know even the best Christian apologists can't adequately address theodicy.

Comment by DrDee on September 13, 2010 at 9:42am

Sorry for the typos!

Comment by kelltrill on September 13, 2010 at 10:25am

Also, ask him why God doesn't heal amputees. My oupa (grandfather) was an extremely devout Christian and he was an amputee. The same argument can be applied to people who thank god when they survive a tragedy. We had that here very recently. A taxi driver overtook three cars and a train crashed into him. 9 schoolchildren died on impact and a tenth died in hospital a few days later. An article was soon published with the headlines reading, "Thank God," featuring an interview with a child who survived. Why was she thanking god? Ten of her friends and classmates had died and she was thanking god for saving her? That angered me so much. When good things happen, like someone surviving against impossible odds, then it's all god's doing. But the moment ten children die then that is not attributed to god at all and he had no hand in their death. That's irrational and hypocritical.
Furthermore, when people say that the Bible holds many scientific insights into the future of medicine and such, tell them that the Qur'an holds much much much more information, and more accurate information at that. That doesn't make it accurate or divinely inspired. All that means is that it was written by men with insights into how the world worked, and nothing more. If God is omniscient why didn't he foretell that people would oneday use this argument and so put more scientific facts into the Bible than Muhammad put in the Qur'an? The fact that the Qur'an was written generations later shouldn't have effected his timelessness, but it did.

Comment by Michael Sizer-Watt on September 13, 2010 at 12:09pm

Yes, the patience of Job indeed as was mentioned earlier. I like the way Peter Singer puts it: "I can't revere the christian god and have any integrity, since I condemn acts that cause suffering". There's no need to argue beyond that IMO. If god is all powerful, he can end suffering, or at least distribute it fairly. He doesn't. Therefore, he's an ass.

Comment by Michael Sizer-Watt on September 13, 2010 at 12:11pm

Sorry, to that though, I do sympathize - it must be hard, and I wish you didn't have to deal with it. Sorry if I seemed insensitive. M.

Comment by Perthy on September 13, 2010 at 12:23pm

I agree whole-heartedly with Kelly. There is actually an entire website devoted to that first question - it helps clarify things, and if your husband ever seems receptive, why don't you have him look at it? Or better yet, just leave it up on the computer.

http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

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