Problem of Evil Take Two!
Ok, well I have introduced my ideas. Next will be Augustine’s ideas, well not all of the ideas but a few. I mean really, if you want to know more about his ideas please read them. I am not intellectual enough to assume I can fully understand his ideas and be able to pass them onto a reader population. (Not that anyone reads this, but I like to pretend)
I applied my mind to understanding what I was hearing: namely, that free will was the reason why we commit evil, and your righteous judgment (Ps. 119.37 [Ps. 118.37]) the reason why we suffer it; but I could not understand it as it was. Therefore as I endeavored to raise my mental sight from the depths, I was drawn down again; and often as I tried, I was drawn down again and again. What raised me up towards your light was the fact that I knew that I had a will just as much as I knew I was alive. Thus, when I will or did not will something, I was wholly certain that it was I and no one else who was willing it or not willing it; and I was now on the point of perceiving that therein lay the reason for my won sin. As for the evil I did against my will, I aw that I was suffering it rather than committing it, and adjudged it not so much my guilt as my punishment; conceiving of you as being just, I was swift to acknowledge that I was not being punished unjustly. But once again, I said: ‘Who made me? Was it not my God, and is he not only good, but the Good itself? What, then, is the origin of my willing bad deeds and not willing good ones- why I should justly pay the penalty for my deeds? Who was it that set and planted this bitter plant (Heb. 12.15) in me, seeing as I cam into being entirely from my God, the supreme Sweetness? If the Devil is responsible, what is the origin of the evil will by which he became the Devil, seeing as he was made wholly an angel by the supremely good Creator?’ These anxious thoughts dragged me down and choked me again and again, but I was never brought to that abyss of error in with no one confesses you (Ps. 6.5 [Ps. 6.6]). Of thinking that you suffer evil rather than that man commits it. (7.3.5)
Well here is his “introduction” to the problem. The standing assumptions (And yes I do mean that these are the base ideas we are starting from. If you and I do not agree on the assumptions, then we will not agree on the logic.) are those in Genesis. God created the heavens and the earth; they were all pleasing to him. Then the next assumption is that God is all good and void of evil. So at this point, man was not tainted with the evil deeds or desires because man was pleasing. The race was perfect. So then it must be assumed that Evil entered in at a later time than creation, but when?
I believe that that to look at the problem of evil, we must examine what evil is. So I guess looking at what I have previously said, I will state the assumption that evil is going against the will of God. If he is all good, then his will would be the perfect will. If we go against this then that is evil.
Now with that assumption, some of the natural disasters will not be considered evil. Notice I did not say all. I strongly believe that some of the “natural disasters” would not be as disastrous if we had followed God’s full plan in the first place. The moment we decide to go against God’s will we have willing committed an evil. This can not be blamed on someone else, it can not be sited that God allowed it to happen, or the “Devil” caused it to happen; it is our responsibility to be faithful to our creator and we decide not to do so. Therefore, I think my stance is that evil is not created, but manufactured though out own free wills. It is a lack of God in our desires that causes the evil to occur. God gave us all we needed to be happy and blissful. However, we used it for harm instead.
For an example, they guy who started the Nobel Peace thing… He was the one who invented the use of explosives. His though was that it was a useful tool for removing rock and other objects so that progress could be made. However, it was used for warfare and other foul things. It was not his intention for these uses, however, though the will of others, this was how it was used and became known for.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Thursday, August 18, 2005
The Problem of Evil?
Ok, I think I am going to have to do this in parts. Here is my rendition of “The Problem of Evil”. The major problem is that it exists. Ok, I am done….
Why are you still reading (like anyone is actually reading this LOL). Anyway, here it goes for real this time.
I see part of the problem as very easy to explain. As humans, we do not truly enjoy being totally happy. Like the movie the Matrix, where they built a simulation that was a utopia, but it was rejected by the humans. This is what we do. As humans, we have to find problems and make them worse. We refuse to look on the bright side and be happy. Let us examine my place of employment. The management has a cook out with hot dogs, chips, pop, and other stuff. It is free, and we can eat on our lunches. However, this can be a “great” source of frustration because people want to complain. A couple could be very happy, in fact, they could be almost blissfully happy. However, then one decides that things “just are not working”. There is no reason; they just think that grass is better somewhere else. Then there is the more direct approach that we set out to harm ourselves such as suicide, or having sex with anyone who comes along.
This self-inflicted evil could be explained it is because we were designed wrong. However, I would say that we, as people, just don’t understand what it is like to be truly happy, so we make it up, fail and this is what happens.
Next, there is the more indirect “self”-inflicted. This tends along the lines of; we are paying for our “parents” sins. This can be direct; such as parental neglect or just the incompetence of the parents have left a void in life. This would account for the poor aborted children, the children who are abused, and so on. The next is a bit more indirect, economic status. For example, I am poor, not my some standards, but by most. I make less than $30,000 (by far), live alone, and go to school full time. This does not leave me with much. However, others don’t work, have nicer apartments than mine, and get more money from the government for school because they do not work. This I would consider some form of evil. I am in this spot because I do not have parents with money. I am “suffering” due to their economic status. This would run along the likes of “the rich get richer”. I plan to do great things, and I am currently doing MUCH better than my parents (overall) and I will continue to do so; however, it is just harder for me. Then there are things that are more indirect.
Here is where the arguments can begin. I have always had a Darwinian thought process on keeping the “weak” alive. I think that in many cases we try to play God by keeping individuals alive long after their life should be extended (look at the nursing homes). I am not sure if it is really God’s will for those people to be kept alive to slowly rot in bed. This goes for sickly people as well. One of my co-workers told me of a situation in her family. One if her family members married a woman who came from a very weak mother. In fact, if it were not for modern day technology the mother nor the wife would have been able to reproduce. Well now, there is a young girl, about 12, who is in Riley hospital. She has cancer and some other type of disease. This child is suffering greatly due to the fact she was born with weak genes. Is this God’s will? Because I am not God, I cannot answer that. (Thankfully!) Now this situation is shown many times in different times and places. However, it is there. Please understand I am not saying let them all die, because I would not presume to say that that would be the will either. I am just saying this is self-inflicted and yes, God lets it happen, but it is caused because we, overtime, are destroying God’s perfect creation.
This brings me to natural disasters… and this is where I will stop for now. I am not ready to tackle this issue. I do hope to get it out within the next week or so.
Why are you still reading (like anyone is actually reading this LOL). Anyway, here it goes for real this time.
I see part of the problem as very easy to explain. As humans, we do not truly enjoy being totally happy. Like the movie the Matrix, where they built a simulation that was a utopia, but it was rejected by the humans. This is what we do. As humans, we have to find problems and make them worse. We refuse to look on the bright side and be happy. Let us examine my place of employment. The management has a cook out with hot dogs, chips, pop, and other stuff. It is free, and we can eat on our lunches. However, this can be a “great” source of frustration because people want to complain. A couple could be very happy, in fact, they could be almost blissfully happy. However, then one decides that things “just are not working”. There is no reason; they just think that grass is better somewhere else. Then there is the more direct approach that we set out to harm ourselves such as suicide, or having sex with anyone who comes along.
This self-inflicted evil could be explained it is because we were designed wrong. However, I would say that we, as people, just don’t understand what it is like to be truly happy, so we make it up, fail and this is what happens.
Next, there is the more indirect “self”-inflicted. This tends along the lines of; we are paying for our “parents” sins. This can be direct; such as parental neglect or just the incompetence of the parents have left a void in life. This would account for the poor aborted children, the children who are abused, and so on. The next is a bit more indirect, economic status. For example, I am poor, not my some standards, but by most. I make less than $30,000 (by far), live alone, and go to school full time. This does not leave me with much. However, others don’t work, have nicer apartments than mine, and get more money from the government for school because they do not work. This I would consider some form of evil. I am in this spot because I do not have parents with money. I am “suffering” due to their economic status. This would run along the likes of “the rich get richer”. I plan to do great things, and I am currently doing MUCH better than my parents (overall) and I will continue to do so; however, it is just harder for me. Then there are things that are more indirect.
Here is where the arguments can begin. I have always had a Darwinian thought process on keeping the “weak” alive. I think that in many cases we try to play God by keeping individuals alive long after their life should be extended (look at the nursing homes). I am not sure if it is really God’s will for those people to be kept alive to slowly rot in bed. This goes for sickly people as well. One of my co-workers told me of a situation in her family. One if her family members married a woman who came from a very weak mother. In fact, if it were not for modern day technology the mother nor the wife would have been able to reproduce. Well now, there is a young girl, about 12, who is in Riley hospital. She has cancer and some other type of disease. This child is suffering greatly due to the fact she was born with weak genes. Is this God’s will? Because I am not God, I cannot answer that. (Thankfully!) Now this situation is shown many times in different times and places. However, it is there. Please understand I am not saying let them all die, because I would not presume to say that that would be the will either. I am just saying this is self-inflicted and yes, God lets it happen, but it is caused because we, overtime, are destroying God’s perfect creation.
This brings me to natural disasters… and this is where I will stop for now. I am not ready to tackle this issue. I do hope to get it out within the next week or so.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Next on the list
The next "real" entries will be about a trail of blood, the problem of evil, and (what the hell) more on the problem of evil. Don't expect anything too deep on that one. As a protestant I am not sure I can delve too deeply on that one :)
Stuck in the Mud
We will start with our “friend” the saint being frustrated for being 30 years of age, and having yet to find the truth. Remember he started when he was 19…
“…I was not some thirty years old, and still ‘stuck in the same mud’ in my avid desire to enjoy things present, even though they tore me in so many directions; and all the time I said, ‘Wisdom ? I will discover it tomorrow. It will appear before my eyes, and I will lay hold on it… Rather, let us seek more diligently, and not despair.’ … “But where shall I seek it? When shall I seek it? Ambrose has no time to spare, and I have no time to read. And the books themselves – where will I seek them? Where and when shall I buy them? From whom shall I get them?’ – ‘I will set aside time, and allot certain hours to my soul’s welfare.’ … my mornings are taken up with my students; what do I do with the rest of my time? Why do I not make that my business?’ – ‘But when will I pay my greeting to my powerful friends, whose backing I need? When Will I prepare new merchandise for my students? What time will I find for my own refreshment and relaxation, after giving my mind to all these concerns?” (6.11.18)
Where do we find time? There always seems time to do things that are not worth our time and energy. We find time to fight with the ones that “love us” and do not forget to find time to drink and party. It seems to me that most of the world could use a lesson on time management. Not so more can be fit into our lives, but so we can reorganize so less items need direct attention. For example, after many years of engagement (to two separate people) I have found there is no reason to continuously fight with the significant other. It is a waste of time and energy. There is no need to worry about things that you cannot change. Lastly, there is absolutely NO reason to spend energy or time on ones who do not care enough about us to not to put us though that kind of hell.
Well enough of my ramblings… what does Augustine say in response to his “responsibilities” to the other mortals…
“’Let them all go hang! Let us cast them away, vain and hollow as they are. Let us betake ourselves to the quest for truth, and nothing else!’ – ‘Life is unhappy, death uncertain; it creeps up on us unexpectedly, and how can we escape it? Or where will we learn what we have neglected here? Will we not rather pay the penalty for our negligence?’ – ‘Suppose death itself cuts short and puts an end to all our senses, and all our cares with them? This question too, must be asked.’ – ‘But for be it that this should be so. It is not for nothing, not in vain that the authority of the Christian faith should stand so high, and be diffused throughout the whole world. Never would the divine power work so many or such great things for us, if the life of the soul were extinguished in the death of the body. Why, then, do we hesitate to abandon our worldly hope and betake ourselves to search for God, and for the blessed life?’ – ‘ But wait. Worldly things too are pleasant, and have no little charm of their own. It is no easy matter to cut short our striving for them, for it would be ridiculous to go back to them afterwards.’" … (6.11.19)
“…I was not some thirty years old, and still ‘stuck in the same mud’ in my avid desire to enjoy things present, even though they tore me in so many directions; and all the time I said, ‘Wisdom ? I will discover it tomorrow. It will appear before my eyes, and I will lay hold on it… Rather, let us seek more diligently, and not despair.’ … “But where shall I seek it? When shall I seek it? Ambrose has no time to spare, and I have no time to read. And the books themselves – where will I seek them? Where and when shall I buy them? From whom shall I get them?’ – ‘I will set aside time, and allot certain hours to my soul’s welfare.’ … my mornings are taken up with my students; what do I do with the rest of my time? Why do I not make that my business?’ – ‘But when will I pay my greeting to my powerful friends, whose backing I need? When Will I prepare new merchandise for my students? What time will I find for my own refreshment and relaxation, after giving my mind to all these concerns?” (6.11.18)
Where do we find time? There always seems time to do things that are not worth our time and energy. We find time to fight with the ones that “love us” and do not forget to find time to drink and party. It seems to me that most of the world could use a lesson on time management. Not so more can be fit into our lives, but so we can reorganize so less items need direct attention. For example, after many years of engagement (to two separate people) I have found there is no reason to continuously fight with the significant other. It is a waste of time and energy. There is no need to worry about things that you cannot change. Lastly, there is absolutely NO reason to spend energy or time on ones who do not care enough about us to not to put us though that kind of hell.
Well enough of my ramblings… what does Augustine say in response to his “responsibilities” to the other mortals…
“’Let them all go hang! Let us cast them away, vain and hollow as they are. Let us betake ourselves to the quest for truth, and nothing else!’ – ‘Life is unhappy, death uncertain; it creeps up on us unexpectedly, and how can we escape it? Or where will we learn what we have neglected here? Will we not rather pay the penalty for our negligence?’ – ‘Suppose death itself cuts short and puts an end to all our senses, and all our cares with them? This question too, must be asked.’ – ‘But for be it that this should be so. It is not for nothing, not in vain that the authority of the Christian faith should stand so high, and be diffused throughout the whole world. Never would the divine power work so many or such great things for us, if the life of the soul were extinguished in the death of the body. Why, then, do we hesitate to abandon our worldly hope and betake ourselves to search for God, and for the blessed life?’ – ‘ But wait. Worldly things too are pleasant, and have no little charm of their own. It is no easy matter to cut short our striving for them, for it would be ridiculous to go back to them afterwards.’" … (6.11.19)
Beauty
What is beauty? This is a grandfather holding his first grandchild! Is he excited, and scared. He has not held a baby in many years. He works on autos for a living and things nothing of a 2nd to 3rd degree burn. However, is this beauty?
What I did not yet see was that this great question turned upon your craftsmanship, O Almighty, who alone work wonders (Ps. 72.18 [Ps. 71.18], Ps. 136.4 [Ps. 135.4]). My mind was proceeding by means of corporeal forms; I defined the beautiful as being that which is harmonious in itself, and the congruent with some other object. This I distinguished between these terms, illustrating my distinction with the whole heap of examples drawn from the corporeal world. I then turned my attention to the nature of the mind, but the false opinion that I held about spiritual matters did not permit me to see the truth. (4.15.24)
Death and loving mortals
I do hope that the “loves” of my life do not read this entry. Funny thing is, I do not think that anyone reads this. Anyway, if you are one of the Gray boys… you may just want to stop reading :)
September of 2004, I lost a man who was so close to me. I did not realize how much he had changed my life, or how much I cared until he was gone. Life changed for his family in more drastic ways than it did for me, I know that I am on the outside of the family, but I did enjoy my time as his daughter. I have no words to express how I felt at that time, and no words to express how I feel now. All I know is going to his house, seeing his wife with another, watching his son put a heartless wretch before the family… all these things are like someone stabbing me in the chest. I see things the way he wanted it, so if things are not so, I get very angry. However, my feelings on the matter don’t matter. All that is left is my devotion to a family name that will soon leave me behind…
Here is the funny thing; here is what reminded me of my missing life:
“What pain darkened my heart! (Lam. 5.17). All that I saw was death. My hometown was torment to me, my home strangely cursed; all the things I had shared with him were, without him, transformed into grievous tortures. My eyes looked expectantly for him everywhere, but he was denied to their sight. I hated everything, because it did not contain him; could when he had been absent during his life. I became the object of my own investigation, and asked my soul repeatedly why it was sorrowful, and why did it trouble me so deeply; and it did not know what to say in return. And if I said, Hope in God (Ps. 42.5, II, Ps. 43.5 [Ps. 41.6, 12, Ps. 42.5]), It would not obey, and rightly; for the friend I had lost was, though a man, a thing more real and better than the illusion in witch I bade my soul trust. Weeping alone was sweet to me, and took the place of my friend among the pleasures of my mind.” (4.4.9)
This and almost a year, the wounds are healing. Good news.
“Time is not empty, nor does it wash over our senses without effect; it works wonders on the mind. For day to day it came and went, and coming and going engrafted other hopes and other memories within me. Little by little it restored me to my former kinds of pleasure, and my grief gave way before them. But in its place came not fresh griefs, but the seeds of them For why had my former grief been able to pierce me so easily and so deeply, if not because I had, as the saying goes, ‘ split my soul on the sand’ by loving a mortal as if he were immortal? What refreshed and renewed me most of all was the solace I derived from other friends, who shared my love for the thing I loved instead of you…” (4.8.13)
September of 2004, I lost a man who was so close to me. I did not realize how much he had changed my life, or how much I cared until he was gone. Life changed for his family in more drastic ways than it did for me, I know that I am on the outside of the family, but I did enjoy my time as his daughter. I have no words to express how I felt at that time, and no words to express how I feel now. All I know is going to his house, seeing his wife with another, watching his son put a heartless wretch before the family… all these things are like someone stabbing me in the chest. I see things the way he wanted it, so if things are not so, I get very angry. However, my feelings on the matter don’t matter. All that is left is my devotion to a family name that will soon leave me behind…
Here is the funny thing; here is what reminded me of my missing life:
“What pain darkened my heart! (Lam. 5.17). All that I saw was death. My hometown was torment to me, my home strangely cursed; all the things I had shared with him were, without him, transformed into grievous tortures. My eyes looked expectantly for him everywhere, but he was denied to their sight. I hated everything, because it did not contain him; could when he had been absent during his life. I became the object of my own investigation, and asked my soul repeatedly why it was sorrowful, and why did it trouble me so deeply; and it did not know what to say in return. And if I said, Hope in God (Ps. 42.5, II, Ps. 43.5 [Ps. 41.6, 12, Ps. 42.5]), It would not obey, and rightly; for the friend I had lost was, though a man, a thing more real and better than the illusion in witch I bade my soul trust. Weeping alone was sweet to me, and took the place of my friend among the pleasures of my mind.” (4.4.9)
This and almost a year, the wounds are healing. Good news.
“Time is not empty, nor does it wash over our senses without effect; it works wonders on the mind. For day to day it came and went, and coming and going engrafted other hopes and other memories within me. Little by little it restored me to my former kinds of pleasure, and my grief gave way before them. But in its place came not fresh griefs, but the seeds of them For why had my former grief been able to pierce me so easily and so deeply, if not because I had, as the saying goes, ‘ split my soul on the sand’ by loving a mortal as if he were immortal? What refreshed and renewed me most of all was the solace I derived from other friends, who shared my love for the thing I loved instead of you…” (4.8.13)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
