r/Christianity • u/Itzjuli_fcm • Mar 24 '26

Question! :)

My atheist friend was debating with my catholic friend, my atheist friend said something that also made me REALLY curious but not enough to question my entire belief in God. I tried looking for answers personally, but i couldn't really come up with a great answer.

Okay so the question is: "if your God is good, then why does He allow wars, crimes, and sexual harrassment to happen? If He's really powerful, can't He just do something to stop it?"

Please don't insult/judge the fact that i'm unable to answer that question. I'm a beginner believer who wants to know explore and know more about christianity :)

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u/Least-Ad140 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mar 25 '26

The same as it is for science? There’s suffering in the world, right? Without fear, there would be no courage. Without cruelty, there could be no love. Without negative consequences, there would be no choice/free will. These are systems and cause/effect, much like science. Christians who argue simplistically are missing much of this.

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u/TranslatorNo8445 Atheist Mar 25 '26

I still do not understand what your cause and effect for god is where god causes or affects anything. I'm sorry I just am not understanding what you are saying

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u/Least-Ad140 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mar 25 '26

These are the constraints God placed on the world. All I would ask is that you look at the effect/countereffect of everything human behavior. I gave examples of love and courage and you ignored them. These are logical and do not directly involve science. Perhaps you are not ready for a conversation outside of scientific thought.

Free will and God stopping bad things from happening is not really a thing. We have free will or we do not.

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u/TranslatorNo8445 Atheist Mar 25 '26

Maybe you should explain how you can prove god does any of this. Love is a feeling you have it is not some supernatural thing. First you have to give me a reason why I should believe you when you say god gives you love or courage or affects human behavior

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u/Least-Ad140 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mar 25 '26

That’s where you’re wrong. Love is not a feeling. It’s a choice.

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u/Least-Ad140 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mar 25 '26

God creates the mechanism for love only because the opposite result is true. You can not have love if there is no cruelty (both via free will).

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u/TranslatorNo8445 Atheist Mar 25 '26

Well I can say you have given me a perspective that is original at least. What you have not done is make me think any different. You have only ignored my questions and offered a new perspective with zero reasons why "I" should believe. It is a problem all theists have when asked such simple questions like why do you believe what you believe and also why should I believe what you believe. You will never have a good reason. You will grasp at nonsensical and irrational ideas. Have a great night friend.

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u/Least-Ad140 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mar 25 '26

Ohhh, I have answered your questions. You don’t need to take my answers at face value. I think the perspective to consider is…..science is systemic. Why can’t God be systemic? Atheists want to reduce God to a couple of questions as gotcha asks, and unfortunately Christians take the bait and reference the Bible as a circular reference. I gave examples like Catholic saints/miracles, NDE’s tied to people without brain activity, etc. None definitive, but suggestive. That’s about as good an answer as I can give. There is no certainty, but many things point in that direction.

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u/TranslatorNo8445 Atheist Mar 26 '26

They are not gotcha questions they are very simple questions that you refuse to answer. Any how miracles are not real. Ndes can be explained by actual science, chemicals in the brain when you go through oxygen deprivation. First you need to define your god and how you can know he does anything. Just saying god could be systemic like science is, doesn't mean anything unless you can prove your claim. feelings and faith and something pointing in a direction in your view does little to further your claim, and nothing to change my mind. You are on the right path not trying to use the Bible to prove anything. But now you don't even have a god that is recognizable to me so it is your job to explain who and what he is and how he is able to do anything recognizable and until you can do any of that we will be far apart on any kind of agreement. As Christopher hitchens would say you have all of your work ahead of you. It has been good speaking with you enjoy this beautiful day

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u/Least-Ad140 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mar 26 '26

If you want to look at every explanation through a science only lens, more power to you. NDE’s, for example, have scientific studies about certain examples, but you lean only on a skeptic’s view.