The problem of pain (see the eponymous book by CS Lewis, or Where is God When it Hurts, by Philp Yancy, or When God Doesn't Make Sense by James Dobson are helpful reads, but I really appreciate your forthrightness. Indeed, this IS the major problem for many. Fact is, the greatest argument against God is the existence of evil; but parodox…
The problem of pain (see the eponymous book by CS Lewis, or Where is God When it Hurts, by Philp Yancy, or When God Doesn't Make Sense by James Dobson are helpful reads, but I really appreciate your forthrightness. Indeed, this IS the major problem for many. Fact is, the greatest argument against God is the existence of evil; but parodoxically, it is one of the greatest arguments FOR God. Fact is, if all we are is the result of a random collision of atoms, there is no good, there is no evil. It is all just nature, end of story. As Swiss American philosopher Francis Schaeffer put that position, for them, "whatever is, is right." Period. End of story. Hamas brutally murdering people? Or Hitler, Or Ghengis Khan? The atheist has ZERO ability to say that is wrong, period, end of story.
And that Hinduism issue? Sorry, but I have read ALL the major religious literature in the world, the Qu'ran twice. Monism, in HInduism, says that all is one in Brahma. All. If you read more, in Hinudism, there is no distinction between good and evil, it is all "maya," or illusion. Watching a baby being murdered is, ultimately, neither good nor evil. And in fact, India almost became Christian until Mohan Roy made major reforms to make Hinduism more Christian in ethics. The caste system was only reformed due to Christian influence. And please don't let them do the Buddhist thing. MOst of them don't even know the difference between , Big Wheel, Little Wheel (mahayana, hinayana - sp?) and Zen, nor do they know the fourfold noble path and 8fold noble truths. Fact is, Buddha might have just been a mystic, and we don't know if he believed in God or not. Rather, it really is a psychology more than anything. I have a friend whose son fancies himself a Buddhist, because its groovy. Sadly, it is all just posturing. He would know ZERO of what it is about and indeed would be in Buddhist hell given how materialistic he is.
I am not concerned about church going or baptism; nor do I expect Christian behaviour from non-Christians. I am not concerned about religion, or religious practices. The law does nothing; rather, the good news of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus changes everything. Does the person have a personal relationship with a Christ who literally raised from the dead. Cf. Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnson Body of Proof: 7 Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, or former atheist, former legal editor for the Chicago Tribune and Yale graduate Lee Strobel and his books on it.
I just ask people, do you have an open mind? If God does exist, wouldn't that be the most incredible thing is so? Most say yes. So, I just tell, them, do a grand experiment: if you really honestly mean this, and willing to respond honestly, I just tell people to, in their privacy, alone in their room, ask God, if He exists, to show HImself. It's the grand experiment - if He isn't there, nothing will happen. But if He is, be prepared for the adventure of your life.
The problem of pain (see the eponymous book by CS Lewis, or Where is God When it Hurts, by Philp Yancy, or When God Doesn't Make Sense by James Dobson are helpful reads, but I really appreciate your forthrightness. Indeed, this IS the major problem for many. Fact is, the greatest argument against God is the existence of evil; but parodoxically, it is one of the greatest arguments FOR God. Fact is, if all we are is the result of a random collision of atoms, there is no good, there is no evil. It is all just nature, end of story. As Swiss American philosopher Francis Schaeffer put that position, for them, "whatever is, is right." Period. End of story. Hamas brutally murdering people? Or Hitler, Or Ghengis Khan? The atheist has ZERO ability to say that is wrong, period, end of story.
And that Hinduism issue? Sorry, but I have read ALL the major religious literature in the world, the Qu'ran twice. Monism, in HInduism, says that all is one in Brahma. All. If you read more, in Hinudism, there is no distinction between good and evil, it is all "maya," or illusion. Watching a baby being murdered is, ultimately, neither good nor evil. And in fact, India almost became Christian until Mohan Roy made major reforms to make Hinduism more Christian in ethics. The caste system was only reformed due to Christian influence. And please don't let them do the Buddhist thing. MOst of them don't even know the difference between , Big Wheel, Little Wheel (mahayana, hinayana - sp?) and Zen, nor do they know the fourfold noble path and 8fold noble truths. Fact is, Buddha might have just been a mystic, and we don't know if he believed in God or not. Rather, it really is a psychology more than anything. I have a friend whose son fancies himself a Buddhist, because its groovy. Sadly, it is all just posturing. He would know ZERO of what it is about and indeed would be in Buddhist hell given how materialistic he is.
I am not concerned about church going or baptism; nor do I expect Christian behaviour from non-Christians. I am not concerned about religion, or religious practices. The law does nothing; rather, the good news of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus changes everything. Does the person have a personal relationship with a Christ who literally raised from the dead. Cf. Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnson Body of Proof: 7 Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, or former atheist, former legal editor for the Chicago Tribune and Yale graduate Lee Strobel and his books on it.
I just ask people, do you have an open mind? If God does exist, wouldn't that be the most incredible thing is so? Most say yes. So, I just tell, them, do a grand experiment: if you really honestly mean this, and willing to respond honestly, I just tell people to, in their privacy, alone in their room, ask God, if He exists, to show HImself. It's the grand experiment - if He isn't there, nothing will happen. But if He is, be prepared for the adventure of your life.