The document discusses several questions and perspectives on the existence of God and the problem of evil and suffering in the world: - If life on Earth is unusual, why do people insist God created it and what would be the purpose if humanity is destined for self-destruction? - How can a loving God allow pain and suffering? Either God doesn't exist or isn't loving. - The statement "If God were good and almighty, creatures would be happy but they're not, so God lacks goodness and power" is flawed because God's goodness and power are not dependent on making creatures perfectly happy. - Free will and intrinsic impossibilities limit God's power to override evil choices. Good

1. 7 September 2012

2. Journal Prompt
7 September 2012

3. According to secular
science, what is the
probability of life
outside Earth?

4. “In fact, the researchers
conclude, the current
knowledge about life on
other planets suggests that
it's very possible that Earth
is a cosmic aberration where
life took shape unusually
fast. If so, then the chances
of the average terrestrial
planet hosting life would be
low.” Princeton
University, Jan 2012
If life on earth is an aberration, why do people insist that a god created it? And
what would be the purpose for doing so—especially since it is apparent that the
human race is destined to self-destruction?

5. Why would a “loving
god” allow pain and
suffering in the
world? Either he
doesn‟t exist or he is
not loving. No way.
“ If God were good, He would wish to make His creatures perfectly
happy, and if God were almighty He would be able to do what He
wished. But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God lacks either
goodness or power or both.” (379)

6. What is wrong
with the logic
of the
statement?
“ If God were good, He would wish to make His creatures perfectly
happy, and if God were almighty He would be able to do what He
wished. But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God lacks either
goodness or power or both.” (379)

7. Nothing which implies contradiction
falls under the omnipotence of God.
Thomas Aquinas

8.  What is free will?
 Can God do the
impossible? (380)  Why doesn‟t God
 What is “intrinsic
override it when a
impossibility” and person chooses to
why is it important do evil? (382)
to define? (380)  How can we
understand that
goodness and
suffering are not
contradictory? (383)

9.  Define “goodness”  “If God is Love, He
 Where do humans get is, by
their “existing moral definition, something
judgment”? (385) more than mere
What makes it kindness….He has
flawed? never regarded us
with contempt. He
 “We want, in
has paid us the
fact, not so much a
intolerable
Father in heaven as a
compliment of loving
grandfather in
us, in the
heaven…” (385)
deepest, most
tragic, most
inexorable sense.
(385)

10. We are, not metaphorically but in very
truth, a Divine work of art, something
that God is making, and therefore
something with which He will not be
satisfied until it has a certain character.
(386)

11. The problem of reconciling human
suffering with the existence of a God
who loves, is only insoluble so long as
we attach a trivial meaning to the word
“love”, and look on things as if man
were the centre of them.
(388)

12. An interesting question

13.  To be God
 To be like God and share His
goodness in creaturely response
 To be miserable
Why?

14. “To say that a man is evil is to say
that, having the capacity
to be good,
he is nonetheless evil”.
Immanuel Kant

15.  How do we use  “When we merely
feelings to justify say we are bad, the
wrong „wrath‟ of God
actions/attitudes? seems a barbarous
(391) doctrine; as soon as
 What is the purpose we perceive our
of “shame” and badness, it appears
what has happened inevitable, a mere
to it in our current corollary from God‟s
culture? (392) goodness.” (392)

16.  We are deceived by looking at the outside of
things.
 There appears to be a growing social
conscience.
 We believe time cancels sin.
 We think it‟s okay if “everyone is doing it.”
 Our sins aren‟t as bad as those of other
generations.
 Holiness is more than a moral duty.
 “The devil made me do it.” We blame God
for making sin our nature.

17. Ouch.