In order to avoid any further confusion on this issue, let me say this: A person does not need to experience extremes of misery, suffering, emotional duress, or any other such phrase meaning "Negative experiences beyond what is typical from life" in order to have a well reasoned opinion on the Problem of Evil. In fact, a person could have much less negativity in their life than is normal, and still have a well reasoned opinion. Further, such a person could go on and make a coherent argument for the justification of God and evil, in other words, a sound explanation of how a benevolent God and terrible suffering can coexist- providing that such a justification exists.
Second point, a person who has experienced terrible suffering has no special insight that will help them form successful arguments regarding a benevolent God and terrible suffering.
If you don't disagree with any of this, then I guess I made a horrible mistake, and I'm sorry for dragging it out.
PAX, now.
Under your previous statement, though, you can’t have a Good Atheist, because if he were good, he would be automatically worshipping God, which atheists don’t do. I do see another option, though:
- A person can worship God without believing God exists.
Is that possible?
Well, that was part of Jesus' purpose, was to live as a human and be the perfect example of correct human behavior, including humility. I don't think there's cause to believe Jesus's life is also meant to be an example of proper behavior for a God, though.
As far as "Do what I say, not what I do!", the main reason, as I see it, that that attitude is looked down on is it assumes the speaker is somehow justified in laying down the rules without being subject to them. God is actually legitimately in that position, where no human is.
Which raises the question in my mind “What was Hitler’s God like?”
Do you think it’s possible, that as God, you would do things that some mortals would find evil?
I don’t exactly disagree with this statement, but I do think it would be impossible to prove. In case people haven’t caught on, I’m a big believer in the ‘is vs. ought’ gap.
Do you agree, then, that you're worshipping a deified vision of yourself? That's the only thing I find blasphemous, not the other statements you've made.
The main thing I'm driving at is that a proper understanding of God in general, and Christianity is particular, is about changing and conforming the [i]self[/i] to God's will, not having our views of God conform to how we may change as a person.