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AIBU?

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Original poster

How can you possibly believe in a benevolent God

886 replies

partialderivative · 30/04/2015 23:01

Once more, acts of 'god' have left communities blown apart.

Does any one really feel these vilages deserved it?

God's a bit of a cunt at times.

OP posts:
JassyRadlett · 04/05/2015 20:51

What I mean is - is it the initial posts, or the trim the discussion has taken in the last half dozen or so pages?

Icimoi · 04/05/2015 20:54

Five, "omnipotent" means all-powerful. And that does mean all powers, which must therefore include the ability to prevent earthquakes.

Hakluyt · 04/05/2015 20:55

Adrianna- please could you explain why? Apart from the word in the OP- I actually agree that shouldn't been used.

Hakluyt · 04/05/2015 20:56

"But surely if God exists and is omnipotent he could have prevented the earthquake happening?
why?"

Because Matthew 10:29.

adrianna22 · 04/05/2015 21:04

I don't think the thread or the OP is offensive. Sorry, I should of made that clearer. I think some of the posts are a bit offensive.

Hakluyt · 04/05/2015 21:09

Could you show us the offensive posts? This is a genuine question- it's something I am always trying to find out.

Sistermillyrose · 04/05/2015 21:10

I think so too Adrianna. But if calling someone a c**t isn't offensive then I don't know what is. If someone were to call me that I'd certainly be offended. Most people would.

Chiggers · 04/05/2015 21:20

Apart from the word used in the OP (which I agree has the capacity to offend some readers), can you point out what posts are offensive?

I don't think I've come across any offensive posts and have read the whole thread.

adrianna22 · 04/05/2015 21:44

Well comments like "God is a cunt", "Religious people are deluded", or making references to Santa claus, fairytales etc. I didn't read the whole thread. I'm not particularly a religious person, but I just hate it when some people make fun or insult other people's beliefs, sexuality, life-style etc.

Yes not everyone believes in a God and there's nothing wrong with questioning , challenging ideas, debating etc. But please, leave the offensive comments out.

JassyRadlett · 04/05/2015 21:57

Thanks Adrianna. I think for me there is a distinction between insulting people - as you point out - and expectations that those of us who don't share those beliefs will accord them special treatment in discussion of them.

I don't always think it's helpful to refer to fairy tales as I'd prefer reasoned discussion. But I referred to both Voldemort and dragons in my posts today - not to belittle, but to demonstrate firstly that it's possible to hold a view on the nature of a being or cobstruct one believes to be fictional, and the second (if I remember correctly) to demonstrate that the absence of theist belief doesn't constitute belief in and of itself.

I don't think either of those are mocking or insulting Christians. They're providing comparators to my view of theist constructs.

fatlazymummy · 04/05/2015 22:00

adrianna where do you stand on the cartoons of Mohammed issue then? Presumably you think no one should be allowed to draw or publish tgem because (some) Muslims find them offensive?

Hakluyt · 04/05/2015 23:11

Is it offensive if I say that for me there is no difference between believing in God and believing in Father Christmas?

adrianna22 · 04/05/2015 23:16

Thanks Jassy for explaining. I now understand your reasons. I was being a bit sensitive.

fatlazymummy Not necessarily no. I mean everyone is going to be offended by something, that's just part of life. I just quickly read the comments and thought 'whoah'.

thegreylady · 04/05/2015 23:21

It is much more comfortable not to believe in anything at all. I have no idea what I believe in except that a universe where humanity , with all its flaws and petty nastiness, is the pinnacle of development, would be a small and pointless place.
In the words of St Augustine:" Lord I believe. Help thou my disbelief."
I am not religious nor a regular church goer but I cannot believe that mankind is as good as it gets.

Sistermillyrose · 04/05/2015 23:23

Doesn't offend me Hak, just puzzles me slightly.

Hakluyt · 04/05/2015 23:26

So what does offend you on this thread? Leaving aside the use of the word "cunt". Which as I have said several times I agree was a mistake.

Hakluyt · 04/05/2015 23:27

And why does it puzzle you?

Sistermillyrose · 04/05/2015 23:36

It puzzles me that you can compare the two. We know 100% Father Christmas is a fairy tale. its impossible to say the same about the existence of God.

Hakluyt · 04/05/2015 23:56

You're right- Father Christmas was a bad example. Please substitute fairies. Or unicorns. Or (sorry, but sombody had to bring him up) the flying spqghetti monster.

DioneTheDiabolist · 05/05/2015 00:09

Grin @ the Adam & Eve Bellybutton arguments.

GrinGrinGrin

BigDorrit · 05/05/2015 00:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

keepitsimple0 · 05/05/2015 00:54

If you make categorical statements, you must expect disagreement. Totally agree, as I said that must work both ways.

the atheist position is that evidence for god is scant to none.

you say that you have no proof for god's existence. Do you have any evidence? if so, you don't actually disagree with atheists on how much evidence there is for god. you just choose to believe in spite of this.

keepitsimple0 · 05/05/2015 00:55

but I cannot believe that mankind is as good as it gets.

just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it's not true.

headinhands · 05/05/2015 05:48

we know 0 Father Christmas is a fairy tale

How?

JassyRadlett · 05/05/2015 06:10

It puzzles me that you can compare the two. We know 100% Father Christmas is a fairy tale. its impossible to say the same about the existence of God.

Isn't there rather more proof around the sometime existence of a man we've come to call Father Christmas or Santa Claus, even if the tale has been embellished over the years?