The Big Bang (Origins)

by David Turell , Tuesday, May 04, 2010, 17:51 (5104 days ago) @ dhw


> Long before humans came on the scene, the principle of survival through competition was established ... competition for food, territory, sex, all of which involve selfishness, cruelty and pain ... together with random diseases and disasters caused by factors totally beyond the control of the creatures exposed to them. These are the roots of all suffering, and humans have inherited this system, which constantly results in the punishment of the innocent. -All of this is true and brings us to the area of theodicy. In evolution eaters have to eat. So we have the eaters and the eaten. Only vegetation avoids this problem, to a degree. There are plant viruses, plant parasites, etc. Among animals it gets worse. But if we consider Frank's approach, God set up a basis plan for evolution and has let it run. It is the most probable theory, based on what we know.-But as I pointed out in my book, we have been given a giant brain with the ability to research and combat many ills. We can't stop earthquakes, but we can analyze quake zones and seemingly are learning to issue warnings beforehand. It appears that to develop a planet for life those zones are necessary. The same is true for disease and medical care. This tells me we have a tough-love God who challenges us to compete with the problems and solve as many of them as we can. If we can plan to shoot down asteroids to save the Earth, we can do much more than that in other areas of nature's threats.-Evil in humans is because we have free rein to do as we wish. God has no control over that aspect of your problem. God wishes us to make mistakes in relations with other humans and learn from them. Again tough love. -I can only believe in a God where I find good reasons to help describe Him. Religious descriptions are of no help, just being fanciful wishes. I can wish also for easier challenges in living, but I have been given the gift of life, and I vowed to myself to make the most of it, and I am enjoying what I have done and how I have lived.-A friend of mine just sent me the following thought: -"I fully believe that changes come from the individual in pursuit of knowledge ... communicating the knowledge learned by example; verbal communication and goodness towards all. I, as an individual, have the obligation, as a child of God, to bring my best to everyone that crosses my path. And if I keep true to this cause then those who cross my path may bring my offerings to their circle of friends and family. And that is how an individual can make a difference .... groups are too easy to hide in and difficult to be true to who you really are and what you believe in. Listening to others is also the key to this learning cycle. Our entire life should be dedicated to this end .... so many of the Founders of this Country were on this path and sacrificed much. The Bible gives me hope that this can be done ... Moses and Job are favorites ... and Jesus who walked the hillside, spreading His Father's words ... and Paul, who never met Jesus but was so faithful to His teachings and so true to the Gospel. I often wonder if I will or can be as strong as they .... God says we can .... but we have to be faithful in our walk with Him." This is an excellent way to live a life!