I wish Alvin would have gone straight to God's revealed word as an argument against God not making Himself known or plain to us, as the interviewer implies that he doesn't. Another example of such revelation is everyday miracles. Recently a young mother lost three young children in a tragic car accident, and the next time out gave birth to triplets! So, it this coincidence or the compassionate hand of God? He who has ears to hear let him hear.
I'm somewhat baffled by philosophers and theologians who always try to make some sort of excuse or rational argument for God allowing evil. It plainly states in Genesis that the only reason we have knowledge of evil is because of Adam and Eve's first disobedience: This disobedience brought on evil, which we were never supposed to know about in the first place! So, God doesn't "allow" or "cause" evil, we allow and cause it ourselves by willingly choosing to know about it. Then, it seems to me that it follows logically that one can't use the existence of evil as an argument against God's existence. On the contrary, if one believes what God said would be the consequence of disobedience, then it is actually an argument for his existence. This is just one way to state this, and I would like to read or hear any argument that can refute this one. Thus, I don't mean to criticize this brilliant man, but he appears to miss the most important point of the argument - entirely!
Furthermore, in his closing statement he says that the existence of evil can be a real problem for Christians (or anyone else) believing in God - or more accurately suspicious of God, when in actuality, if one agrees with the above argument, it simply is no problem at all. Now, we might say that we don't like evil, but then that is no reasonable objection to it, because we caused it ourselves. We made the bed and we must sleep in it. Oh, well, mistakes have their payoffs. I'm sure all of you can relate to this point, yes?
One can also make an appeal to Matt 5:45 and 1 Cor. 13: 11, 12, and the latter quote/reference is what Alvin seems to be implying by saying that our cognitive faculties are sometimes damaged and not working properly because of sin. If this is a major problem for Christians, then so much more the problem for nonbelievers!In short, he did very well, but he could have been much more detailed. Sorry for being so long, but I thought these were important points to consider and might be helpful.
I wish Alvin would have gone straight to God's revealed word as an argument against God not making Himself known or plain to us, as the interviewer implies that he doesn't. Another example of such revelation is everyday miracles. Recently a young mother lost three young children in a tragic car accident, and the next time out gave birth to triplets! So, it this coincidence or the compassionate hand of God? He who has ears to hear let him hear.
ReplyDeleteI'm somewhat baffled by philosophers and theologians who always try to make some sort of excuse or rational argument for God allowing evil. It plainly states in Genesis that the only reason we have knowledge of evil is because of Adam and Eve's first disobedience: This disobedience brought on evil, which we were never supposed to know about in the first place! So, God doesn't "allow" or "cause" evil, we allow and cause it ourselves by willingly choosing to know about it. Then, it seems to me that it follows logically that one can't use the existence of evil as an argument against God's existence. On the contrary, if one believes what God said would be the consequence of disobedience, then it is actually an argument for his existence. This is just one way to state this, and I would like to read or hear any argument that can refute this one. Thus, I don't mean to criticize this brilliant man, but he appears to miss the most important point of the argument - entirely!
Furthermore, in his closing statement he says that the existence of evil can be a real problem for Christians (or anyone else) believing in God - or more accurately suspicious of God, when in actuality, if one agrees with the above argument, it simply is no problem at all. Now, we might say that we don't like evil, but then that is no reasonable objection to it, because we caused it ourselves. We made the bed and we must sleep in it. Oh, well, mistakes have their payoffs. I'm sure all of you can relate to this point, yes?
One can also make an appeal to Matt 5:45 and 1 Cor. 13: 11, 12, and the latter quote/reference is what Alvin seems to be implying by saying that our cognitive faculties are sometimes damaged and not working properly because of sin. If this is a major problem for Christians, then so much more the problem for nonbelievers!In short, he did very well, but he could have been much more detailed. Sorry for being so long, but I thought these were important points to consider and might be helpful.