What is a reasonable explanation for the existence of evil, if God and absolute truth isn't believed in?
492090
What you just said makes no sense.
167969
I believe there is an Absolute Truth for certain things, the question however is can we discover it? As far as "Absolute Morality" then there are too many ways to look at it.
1591
Hi,\n\nI believe there is such things as absolute truth, variations only stand when different people believe differently.\n\nWhere do we go when we die? All brings back to the very reason for existence, very reason why God created mankind. (N.B. I do believe in God) Did God created man so that he could spend his time leisuring, get drunk, fool around, have intercourse for fun etc?\n\nYou asked for opinion and this is mine: No, God did not create us just for fun without any particular reason. The Supreme ONE must have had a cause for all of us. As for me, I believe that we are all created to 'enslave' ourselves to Him. Life is a test, and only His worthy subjects will be rewarded with heaven in hereafter.\n\nSurely, He must have provided us with a manual for us to navigate ourselves in life i.e. finding the true path to Him. Like we when buy a car, the manufacturer provides us with the manual. So it is up to us to look into the manual, or rather to look FOR the manual in any old 'drawer' that we might have misplaced it.\n\nGood luck. May God bless you.
804610
I am with you. I dont belive in any of it.  No God, heaven, hell, religion, afterlife, higher power...period.  It is the ultimate hoax, the greatest "story" ever told.  In the Bible it states that many of HIS followers eluded to the fact that Jesus or God himself asked them to sacrifice a life, fast...etc.  If ANYONE went and sacrificed a life TODAY, they would be found guilty of murder by the very people who will go that Sunday and pray in church with the Bible in their hand.  It is the ultimate form of hypocritical existence.   They say you must have FAITH to believe.  Well, if I was a religious man serving under the beliefs of God, I would have FAITH in a man who said he has repented his sins, he did it in the name of God and then I would set him free.  So, to all of those who judge, who convict a religious crime based on societal evidence, you have sinned equally in the eyes of YOUR GOD.  So, I am with you brother.  There is NO evidence, proof or otherwise to suggest a supreme supernatural power exists.  Evolution DOES on the other hand exist and it is proven to have existed LONG before any so called God, creator, or Hell existed.  We are born, we live and we die.  It is that simple.  You have to be strong to accept that kind of fate and I DO accept that.  Belief in God is for those who fear death and the impending nothingness that follows.  They cant accept that or figure out our beginning, so they SAID this and that happened.  The billions who have been fooled.
560797
Subject: Fw: Theory of Evil \n\n\n\n\n"Does evil exist? Did God create evil?" \nThe University professor challenged his students with this question: \n"Did God create everything that exists?" \n \nA student bravely replied, "Yes he did!" \n \n"God created everything?" The professor asked. \n \n"Yes sir", the student replied. \n \n        The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God \ncreated evil, since evil exists, and according to the principal that \nour works define who we are, then God is evil." \n        The student became quiet before such an answer. The professor, \nquite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven \nonce more that the religious faith was a myth. \n        Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a \nquestion professor?" \n    "Of course", replied the professor. \n \nThe student stood up and asked, "Professor does cold exist?" \n \n"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you \nnever been cold?" The students snickered at the young man's \nquestion. \n        The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. \nAccording to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in \nreality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible \nto study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes \na body or matter have or transmit energy. \n        Absolute zero (-460? F) is the total absence of heat; all \nmatter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. \nCold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how \nwe feel if we have no heat." \n        The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?" \nThe professor responded, "Of course it does." \n        The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness \ndoes not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light \nwe can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism \nto break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths \nof each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can \nbreak into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know \nhow dark a certain space is?    You measure the amount of light present. \nIsn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what \nhappens when there is no light present." \n        Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?" \nNow uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course as I have \nalready said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's \ninhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence \neverywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil. \n        To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least \nit does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is \njust like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe \nthe absence of God. God did not create evil.  Evil is the result of what \nhappens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's \nlike the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that \ncomes when there is no light." \nThe professor sat down. \nThe young man's name -- Albert Einstein\n=====================================\nhttp://patriotfiles.org/america.htm
672982
I do not believe that there is such a thing as absolute good and evil; however, if there were, it would be impossible to tell the difference between the two.\n\nFor example, many people  believe that it would be evil to kill hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians; however, this is exactly what the United States did when it dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.  Some people believe that this was not evil and actually prevented a larger number of deaths by helping to bring an end to the war, while others believe that the end did not justify the means and regard the bombing as evil, regardless of the consequences.\n\nTwo research topics which may help you better understand this issue are the religious concept of dualism and the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.\n\nDualism is the idea that there is definite good and evil, and the two are separate from one another.  Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion from Persia, was one of the very first dualistic religions.  Before Zoroastrianism, gods and goddesses were often both good and evil.  For example, Greek and Roman gods were often considered neither good nor evil but were regarded as being capable of both.\n\nIt is believed that Zoroastrianism heavily influenced Judaism during the Babylonian Exile, and it is well known that Christianity is built upon the foundation of Judaism.  Many modern-day western ideas of good and evil are a product of this Judeao-Christian ethic; and these ideas have have been passed on from generation to generation, even when Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christianity themselves were not.  Conflicting ethical and religious systems have often been the cause of conflicts that led to wars between peoples.  The medieval crusades are a prominent example.\n\nFriedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher who vigorously challenged the Judeao-Christian ethic and the common understanding of morality.  Nietzsche saw traits like generosity, mercy, and modesty as against the normal and natural order and declared them immoral.  It should be noted that Nietzsche did not deny the existence of good and evil, he simply redefined what was good and what was evil.  It is for this reason that he is sometimes called a moral skeptic.\n\nAdolph Hitler claimed to have admired Nietzsche's writings, and it is possible that Hitler's obsession with German world domination was a result of a value system alien to most people--a system that valued the strength of the German nation above almost all else, even human life itself.\n\nWith the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japan joined Hitler's Germany as an Axis power during World War II.  Many Americans classify this surprise attack, which killed a large number of American soldiers, as evil; however, the Japanese value system highly regards honor and sees revenge for wrongs as a duty that must be performed.  The United States had placed an economic embargo upon Japan, and the Japanese saw this as an attack which required retribution.\n\nAs referenced earlier, the war ended with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  As you can see, the definition of good and evil, and ideas about good and evil, are constantly shifting and changing, depending on who is making the judgment and the history and context of each situation.\n\nThere is no such thing as ABSOLUTE good and evil--it is all a matter of perspective and only a subjective one at that.
412008
No - because belief in God is different from proving His existence - Faith allows and encourages belief in the creator without physically dragging God into a room and shouting - Here He is!.\n\nAs a christian, we believe we face evil everyday. It is either natural evil (Natural catastrophes) or evil inflicted on others by man.\n\nEvil exists - we can clearly see it, however this does not necessarily make it necessary to "believe" that there is an entity called "the devil" - however it's easier to believe that he exists than it is to believe that God exists.\n\nChristians believe that God is the Creator -look what he created - this wonderful and beautiful planet, He is the Saviour(and I use this not in the evangelical sense as I am a Catholic - and don't believe that God the Father willed his son to die in an atoning sacrifice.  I don't believe that his blood "had" to be shed for people's redemption - however it was a fact that it did take place - and it allowed the Christian community to accept the validity of Christs death on the cross.\n\nJesus preached forgiveness which was unconditional - the same applies with redemption -I dont believe that God the Father "willed" this to be the way of salvation.  God, being God could have chose another way.  If the forgivness of Jesus was limited to "asking for our own forgivness on the condition that we do the same too - then the same would apply to God the Father as the son of God is equally God in our own human state. \n\nMy rant is now over - I hope that this throws a wee bit more light on what your looking for.
1070249
"If God is good and all-powerful, why does evil exist in this world?"\n\nTime to bust out the big words:  Theodicy.\n\nTheodicy:  "an explanation for the presence of evil and suffering that is consistent with the nature and character of God."\n\nBoy, I'm not sure where to start.  There's so many points to make and I'm not sure how to organize my thoughts....but here goes nothing.  This is my theodicy:\n---------------------------------------------------------\nFirst, let's start by defining "evil."  Evil is not a force or a created thing, so it would be faulty to use the circular logic that either God created evil (meaning God isn't good) or that God isn't the Creator of everything (since He didn't create evil).\n\nEvil is the absence of good, much like rust on a car.  God, by giving us free will, allowed us to "create" evil by choosing against Him.  For, if God is good, then to choose against Him would by evil and the consequences would be death (since God gives life).  Just as darkness is the absence of light, so evil is the absence of good.\n\nSometimes evil is the perversion of good.  Cancer is a good non-moral example.  It's a harmful mutation of otherwise healthy cells.  Whether evil twists good or flat-out rejects it, the results are the same.\n\nEvil is not God's fault.  He created only good and we distorted it, which is evil.\n\nEnough on this topic.  I'm leaving a few loose ends and there's much more to say on this, but I would be getting off track.\n\nSecond, let's point out a major implication of the question.  Anyone who asks our topic question for today is demonstrating the influence of Christianity on western thinking.  Hindus don't ask this question.  Animists don't grapple with it.  To them, the gods themselves are evil and corrupt and evil is to be an expected, embraced part of this world.  Suck it up and live with it.  It's the ying and the yang.  The Dark Side and the Light Side of the Force.  It's still the same Force.\n\nBut by asking the question, you are saying that there is a definite "evil" in this world that can be defined and identified.  There's something wrong and not right.  There is injustice.  And you presume that whoever this God fellow is, it's supposed to be His job to oppose this stuff and He's doing a lousy job.\n\nThis is a Christian worldview:  that evil is not normal and should be opposed.  The Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. are Christian influences in our society.  There is something in us as human beings that desires to fight injustice, help the suffering, etc.  This would make sense if we are made in God's image... but I'm getting off track again.  Let's move to the third point.\n\nThe question is usually vague and impersonal.  What I mean is that people who ask this question usually have in mind for God to go over and fix that mess in Iraq, or do something about sweat shops and child labor in China.  Why doesn't He oppose child pornography, or hold to account genocide in Africa?\n\nBut they don't want God to interfere with the sin and evil in their own hearts and lives.\n\nSee, for God to come in judgment, He would have to be fully just and judge all...  and this brings me to my final point.\n\nThe question neglects another key element of God's character.  Yes, He is good.  Yes, He is omnipotent.  But He is also merciful.  This may seem like a contradiction (i.e., why would He then allow suffering?), but let me explain.\n\nGod holds back His judgment with patient love in order to give us time to repent and be set right.  The painful side of this is that we also then have more time choose evil.  But the day will come when He will judge the earth.  The sweat shop owners will be held to account...and so will you and I.  God is good.  He is perfect, holy, and righteous.  He is pure.  He opposes evil.  We all have evil in our lives:  the t
332692
God has a reason for everything. Human beings cannot comprehend God and the reasons things happen.
929913
An argument could be made -- a yin yang comparison.  Even from a more traditional Judaeo-Christian perspective, since god is omnipresent, couldn't he be both god and satan?  A method of introducing free will, perhaps.
865755
Falsehood has existence. It does exist so long as it is unfolded and the Truth emerges out of it. It is Francis Bacon who said that Truth emerges more from errors than from confusion.
330550
nope, and nope\n\n   1. If God exists, then God is omnipotent, omniscient, and morally perfect.\n   2. If God is omnipotent, then God has the power to eliminate all evil.\n   3. If God is omniscient, then God knows when evil exists.\n   4. If God is morally perfect, then God has the desire to eliminate all evil.\n   5. Evil exists.\n   6. If evil exists and God exists, then either God doesn't have the power to eliminate all evil, or doesn't know when evil exists, or doesn't have the desire to eliminate all evil.\n   7. Therefore, God doesn't exist.\n\nSo it seems kinda silly to die in the name of god, right?
870561
If I didn't believe in God, or in a divine being with laws, what would motivate me to be good?\n\nWhere does morality come from in the absence of God? Would moral laws be designed just for the avoidance of chaos? What would be the point of doing good unto others if you got nothing in return?\n\nSociety itself would crumble into anarchy if no one believed.
1092979
If all things are from God, than what evil is there aside from what the human mind perceives. \n\nGood and Bad, are like positive and negative energy. In harmony and in balance, these entities are useful forces. When they become out of balance and one over shadows the other, we sometimes fail to understand and our perception becomes distorted and refer to it as, evil.
664550
God never ordains evil.\n\nBut He permits it only when a greater good will come from it.\n\nThe ultimate example is the crucifixion of Jesus. God permitted this evil to happen in order to raise Himself up on the 3rd day so that we may believe in Him and be redeemed from the Devil.\n\nHowever, this does not excuse those who do evil. Those who die unrepentant in mortal sin will be separated from God forever in the place called hell.
451630
It depends whether you belive that absolute truth exists, or if truth is subjective.  Absolute truth would say there are definite rights and wrongs, but subjective truth would say that it was 'his truth' that it was good what he was doing. Liberal society today is desperately trying to make peace by saying there are no absolute truths and that every thing must be tolerated except intolerance. However, most of us are good at being absolute on some things and subjective where it suits us.  Think on this though: If I were to say that the earth is not spherical but flat, then that would be 'my truth' but it would be wrong. Absolute truth does exist, both scientifically and morally, and I think we have a responsibility to look for it.
506164
There is absolute truth. \n\nIt would be irrational for a person to state "there is no absolute truth" (because the person would be claiming to be stating an absolute truth that there is no absolute truth).\n\n:)\n\nSome truths are Absolute (like the existence of God, the existence of the Universe etc). \n\nThere could be other truths (e.g., subjective preferences) that could change with time and may therefore not be absolute (in the sense of unvarying and eternal, or universally binding). \n\nE.g., a person says "I like pink" and two years later she changes her mind and says "I like purple". Each statement was/ is true at the time the person made the statement. However with time that truth (as a statement of subjective preference) has changed.\n\nCordially,\nJohn\nhttp://www.GodSci.org\n[God and Science]