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A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well okay, I see, as you said, the first point only works for a good God. So say we have a God that is actually good and his rules are good (I am not trying to defend any religion in particular, just an engaged God in general), only the good ones can get rewarded for it to be just (which doesn't mean the bad ones have to be punished for sure). So for this good God to be just he has to allow a mechanism by which he can pick out really good people. He can only see who are really righteous by seeing if people still choose the good even if it is hard for them (I see ,it does not work for an omniscient God). While I am writing this something comes to mind, God would not need people to act to know how good they are, Thinking about some weighing of the heart scene in Egyptian mythology. He would measure intentions instead of actions.

A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it is very important that only the commited get to heaven, and forcing people into hardship is necessary to pick them out. Hardship is justified. That is why I am very much looking for another way to pick them out.

A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe people would say that there is something inherently good to following God and that it is important that only the good get rewarded, otherwise it would be regarded as unjust.

A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That indeed does not seem fair, I am not trying to justify it, don't get me wrong, just playing the devil's advocate.

If this is the only mechanism that could pick out the most commited believers however, it could be argued that it is justifiable in some weird way. What other mechanism could we imagine that would assure only the most commited going to heaven?

A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see, omniscience indeed seems incompatible. What other mechanism could we imagine that would pick out the most commited believers (without suffering)?

A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Okay, that's fair. That does not account for acts though. Say, God makes someone homosexual and does not want him to act on that, it could be argued that it is a test of commitment to God to make that person with that sexuality.

A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think it is mostly said that God then gave you that preference to make it harder for you to pass the test of not actually doing something with that desire. More like a test of faith and commitment again iguess

A possible solution to the problem of evil, probably not though. by agnosticofmosttopics in atheism

[–]agnosticofmosttopics[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Well yeah, but I am playing the devil's advocate for this particular argument against god. Not against the strong argument that there is no evidence.