Originally posted by Cris
Omni benevolence creates a paradox because evil exists in a universe created by the same god with omnipotence.
Evil, in this world, is caused by humans (as far as we know), which fits right into "freewill."
Omniscience creates a paradox with the claim of human free will.
Not so, lets break the word down; omni=all, science=knowledge (in this context).
What is "knowledge?"
1) The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact,
truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance;
cognition.
to "know",
2)To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception;
to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; -- often
with of.
In a nutshell, God is all knowing (omni-scient). Because He knows how everything works in "relation" with everything. As we are part nature (biblically speaking) and therefore interact with nature, He knows what all the possible outcomes will be, and that everything eventually leads to anihilation of matter. This whole universe, works like a system, a machine, everything is nicely placed, and in working order, at least we are testiment to that, so there is no need for God to intervene, its common sense. You don't see Richard Bransen on the shop floor, unless he decides to take a visit, not saying he is God, but he is a top entrepreneur, the head of a very sucsessfull buisness empire.
In a democratic society, we can vote who we want to reprisent us, in other words a "free" vote, but we a have a limited choice of who to vote for, it is usually between two parties. In the same way, we have "free" will, but only in accordance with our particular situation, but the beauty of this free will, is that we can ask serious questions pertaing to our identity and what happens when we die, how did this universe come about, etc.. When we start to question, then God, depending on the seriousness of our enquiries, will intervene. In the same way, if you don't require God in your life, then He does not intervene.
The claims create an impossible condition.
It is impossible, because we cannot concieve of a vehicle that can do that, but that is because we have never experienced, even the concept of this occurance, without splitting the vehicle, somehow, in two. But the same cannot be said for God.
In this case the Christian god CANNOT exist and therefore DOES NOT exist.
I take it then, you are ruling out every description of the Christian god, because it does not fit in "your" idea of life.
There is no point attempting to search every corner of the universe for something that cannot exist.
Where does it say in the Bible, that you should go out and seek God, until you find Him?
You are arguing about something which you clearly don't understand, the logical thing to do, would be to develop some understanding, and then make your point.
However, the claims made for the Deist god, for example, are fundamentally different and in that case it would be irrational for me to say that the Deist god does not exist. I simply do not know.
You sound all mixed up Cris.
Love
Jan Ardena.
