As we have seen, the Abrahamic religions are not so easily dismissed. But it is a good debating -point. And, as an adjunct of the 'problem of evil' it has come up time and again as a major deconverting question.
Why doesn't God Do Something?
Quite apart from the Flood looking pointless, unworkable and something God regretted doing (again underlining the unsettling idea that this deity is working in the dark), again and again we get the call for a bit of help and yet it seems that the devil is allowed to do whatever he likes.
Cue....more apologetics excuses than you shake a stick at. We brought it on ourselves, Satan is lord of this world (1) it's character building, God does help...we're still doing ok aren't we? And one I got on my last forum...
'I
t's all going to come good in the end so even the Bad is really 'Good'.
And the reply was and could only be (avoiding the mixed metaphor of the rabbit -hole full of worms of God Not being Good in the human sense but what God thinks is Good) that all such may enable the believer to sideline all doubt and question (which is really all they are intending to do...though to convert the atheist would always be nice) but what are the browsers and lurkers going to think?
Bottom line is that the Faithful have to block all doubt and question. As soon as they start to seriously work it out (as distinct from just coming up with Faith -protecting apologetics), as soon as they seriously start reasoning rather than letting Faith guide their tongues, they are pretty much on the slippery slope to unbelief. And those on the sideline to start with (they want answers) have to see and decide whose apologetics make the most sense.
Does the world look like God can do whatever he likes but is letting evil rule the place, or does it look more like a world would be if it we were on our own doing the best (and worst) we can, and there never was a god (or satan) there at all?
Let the lurkers decide. And, having decided, let them post.
(1) a nice example of dismissal of a problem with Bibklequote. Like the Q of where God came from. The Alpha and Omega quote is trotted out like the Lord of the World quote. But neither of them actually answer the question.
