Questions from an atheist part 9
Templeton’s previous question highlights the problem of evil and suffering. This perennial problem presents us with at least four challenges, which will wrap up this part of the discussion.
Questions from an atheist part 8
Q: How can a loving, omnipotent God permit—much less create—encephalitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer, leprosy, Alzheimer’s, and other incurable illnesses to afflict millions of men, women, and children, most of whom are decent people? (From Charles Templeton’s Farewell to God).
A: The first answer to this question can be found under the previous two articles (addressing natural disasters), found here and here. God has the prerogative to take life. He does not owe us an explanation of why He does it. But His reasons are completely consistent with His goodness, love, and justice.
But there is another layer to this question. In some cases, we are told, partially, why God allows some things…
Questions from an atheist part 7
The second reason no explanation of God’s actions is forthcoming is simply that He owes no explanation to us. He is worthy of our trust regardless. As Job’s friends learned, it is the height of hubris to presume that one ought to know God’s reasons for His actions. God appeared to Job and his friends in order to declare, “I am God; you are not. I do not have to justify My actions to you; you do not have the right to an explanation. I am good; I am just. I do all things well. That, not your own understanding, is the justification for your trust.”
Questions from an atheist part 6
“The answers to this question lie largely in the book of Job. When Job suffered the loss of all his property to foreign raiders; his sons and daughters to natural disaster; and his quality of life to horrific disease, Job acknowledged that God had allowed all of this. Job’s response to God? ‘Yahweh [”the LORD”] gave, and Yahweh has taken away; blessed be the name of Yahweh.’ (Job 1:21)
Job recognized that God is the giver of life; therefore, as life’s giver, God has the right to take the life He gave. When God does so, it is not murder. It is His prerogative. Murder is the unlawful taking of human life. While it is unlawful (immoral) for one human to take another human life, except under strict circumstances prescribed by law (see Ex. 21, Gen. 9:6), this is so because humans did not give life. God did…”
Questions from an atheist part 5
Now, on to Templeton’s next question:
Q: ‘If there is a loving God, why does He permit–much less create–earthquakes, droughts, floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters which kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children each year?’
The answer: ‘I don’t know.’ And neither does anyone else.
Though more can be said in connection to this question (and more will be said), the straightforward answer is, ‘I don’t know.’ Everything else that will be added to the discussion serves to explain why it is that we don’t know; but nothing changes the basic answer. Christians need to be unafraid of this…
Questions from an atheist, part 4
This article will be the last addressing this particular question (I promise):
“Is it not likely that you are a Christian because your parents were?”
Templeton led up to this question by asking a series of questions suggesting that if one were born in Saudi Arabia, one would be a Muslim; in India, a Hindu; in Jerusalem, a Jew; and so forth. The underlying implication being that humans are conditioned in our beliefs by our environments.
This I heartily affirm. Therefore, I ask: Is it not likely that Mr. Templeton is an atheist because he was born into a largely post-Christian, secular, agnostically academic culture? It is most fashionable these days to be an unbeliever, especially if you are moving in any sort of educated or academic circles…Read more.
