Years ago, while working in an office filled with people, two young atheists were talking about all of the world’s problems, including wars, were a result of religion. I felt embarrassed and afraid to speak up or disagree. Strangely, I felt there might be some truth to this, but why couldn't I respond? Why couldn’t I defend my beliefs?
The topic of course is important and complex. One reason for such thoughts is the culture in which we live. Bigotry in the United States, for the most part, is entirely unacceptable. But, not completely. The last respectable bigotry in the U. S. is religion. Not all religions, but you can pile up on the Christians and the Jewish people.
In 2017, Richard Dawkins was recently deplatformed by a radio station in Berkley, California. Understandably, he was pretty surprised. After all, he has become quite popular, famous, and financially well off, attacking the Christian God. Occasionally, he makes negative statements about Muslims. The station classified it as hurtful and abusive.
In his book The God Delusion, Dawkins writes: " the God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; Petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; even addictive, bloodthirsty, ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully " The radio station doesn’t have problem with this.
Sadly, the southern
“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea? But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?” ― C.S. Lewis.of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?” ― C.S. Lewis.
It is an important question and needs answers. It can be a real hang-up for believers and non-believers. To understand, one needs to understand that:
- God created all humans (free agents) with free will.
- Suffering may be for the greater good.
- There are four possible worlds that God could have made.
- The ultimate purpose in life is to know God.
If humans are just a bag of chemicals, they do not have free will. You can mix two chemicals, and the result is always the same. We are not just chemicals; God created us with a soul, and we make decisions independently. The term free agent describes humans. God does not force us to believe in him or follow his commands.
God will not take our freedom away.
