Posted by Adam on June 6, 2002, at 22:15:15
In reply to God only gives us as much as we can take...., posted by beardedlady on June 5, 2002, at 13:44:10
I believe this line of thinking is relevant to the theodicy (roughly the argument that the existence of evil is not antithetical to the existence of a just and loving god..."why do bad things happen to good people," etc.). Yes, we may suffer, but faith in God gives us the strength to endure it, and no trial is sent our way that our faith cannot overcome. I suppose the further logic is that, in the end, through faith, the curse will only be transformed into a blessing; surviving the test will bring us closer to God. I suppose the story of Job would be a perfect example of this kind of apology.
I think it's a bunch of hooey, myself. The flip side of the coin is that, if you do not endure the trial and your faith waivers at the final moment, you will be damned. Some people just can't handle what life deals them. They may even curse God for their misfortune, or deny His existence. Those who do not have the patience of Job may find themselves in perdition, but what got them there could have been the evil of another man, exercising his free will...cosmically, a random event. It's difficult to escape the conclusion that, at least in some instances, our torments, and our responses to them, are collectively up to humanity, and out of God's hands, to preserve free will. Since God gave us free will, he clearly gave us something that is often more than we can handle.
> There was a song on the radio with this line, and my husband and I had an argument it. (He's an athiest; I'm an agnostic.) I just wanted to know what others think.
>
> I say that if this were the case, what would explain suicide or death from illness? Or immense suffering, even? Because if we could "take it," we wouldn't kill ourselves, right? If we could "take" cancer, we wouldn't die from it, right?
>
> Why would a god "give" a child abusive parents? Why would a god "give" someone Leukemia? And what is the purpose of believing that? Can't we get cancer from cancer cells, rather than god? Can't we get abuse from bad people, rather than from god?
>
> I don't like anything about that line. I can't see how it works logically--even if you believe that god gives you all the good and bad stuff in your life.
>
> Okay. Discuss.
>
> beardy : )>
poster:Adam
thread:90
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20020527/msgs/97.html