One of the chief arguments against the depiction of the Christian God -- particularly the fundamentalist version -- are events like Tucson, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood and Columbine High School. If God is all-powerful, merciful, loving and just, why does he allow such things to happen?
Each of these events and countless more include numerous senseless deaths, life-altering injuries, pain and suffering for the families and the possibility of life-long psychological trauma. They also cause many in the overall society to feel less safe.
Why didn't God intervene to stop these tragedies from occurring in the first place?
From the Old Testament, we KNOW he has the power and we are told that he has done so on many occasions. To offer just one example, consider 2 Chronicles, Chapter 32.
So, why didn't God direct the taxi Jared Loughner rode in to the Safeway shopping center away from his planned destination and into the desert instead? Why didn't God send an angel to quiet the demons in the young man's head? Why did God take a hands off approach in this case?
Some folks might argue that today's America is filled with wicked people and this is why the merciful God wasn't moved to intervene. However, such an argument holds little water when you consider that the "chosen people" in 2 Chronicles were constantly falling off the holy wagon!! In verse after verse, we're told that the people did evil and committed abominations in the eyes of the Lord, yet, in the cited incident and countless more, God intercedes on their behalf.
So, this brings us back to the uncomfortable question: Why didn't he intervene in Tucson?
To see what other questions I've asked about the Christian Bible, go here.
Each of these events and countless more include numerous senseless deaths, life-altering injuries, pain and suffering for the families and the possibility of life-long psychological trauma. They also cause many in the overall society to feel less safe.
Why didn't God intervene to stop these tragedies from occurring in the first place?
From the Old Testament, we KNOW he has the power and we are told that he has done so on many occasions. To offer just one example, consider 2 Chronicles, Chapter 32.
And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. (verses 21 & 22)In this case, the king of Assyria planned to slaughter the inhabitants of Jerusalem -- kill tens of thousands -- but God sent angels to avert the attack. In other words, God intervened to halt mass murder before it could take place.
So, why didn't God direct the taxi Jared Loughner rode in to the Safeway shopping center away from his planned destination and into the desert instead? Why didn't God send an angel to quiet the demons in the young man's head? Why did God take a hands off approach in this case?
Some folks might argue that today's America is filled with wicked people and this is why the merciful God wasn't moved to intervene. However, such an argument holds little water when you consider that the "chosen people" in 2 Chronicles were constantly falling off the holy wagon!! In verse after verse, we're told that the people did evil and committed abominations in the eyes of the Lord, yet, in the cited incident and countless more, God intercedes on their behalf.
So, this brings us back to the uncomfortable question: Why didn't he intervene in Tucson?
To see what other questions I've asked about the Christian Bible, go here.
I don't presume to know the thoughts of God, but just for the sake of creative speculation, I would venture it probably would have something to do with the law of free will. Where each person must be allowed to choose for themselves between good and evil. For God to intervene, would be a negation of this freedom.
ReplyDeleteOK, but why intervene in days of yore? Such intervention would necessarily negate free will.
ReplyDelete"OK, but why intervene in days of yore? Such intervention would necessarily negate free will."
ReplyDeleteSome Christians say that there are different dispensations that history is divided into, and that God moved in different ways during each of them. Others would say that God does what he does in his great wisdom, and that it is not for us to question his ways. Some are Calvinists and don't believe in free will. Still others would say this story is not literally true, and look at it as a parable to find meaning in, or search for the context of its time and culture for understanding. I suppose that there are as many interpretations of each bible story as there are Christians.