04 Mar 10
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Originally posted by karoly aczelSo, on the one hand, things run as good as they could assuming free will is present. However, you then say that you would only punish evil doers if they harmed others. Also people would all go to heaven eventually. Free will would then consist of nothing more than being properly educated not to choose the wrong path. So really you don't believe things are run as well as could be expected, right?
1. You cant improve on things. They are run as well as can be expected with allowance for free will.
2.I would punish evil doers only if that evil was done to others and not themselves. Their punishment would be like psychological torture. perhaps bad dreams
3.No
4.Everyone would get to heaven, but possibly not in this incarnation. Others would goto purgatory to learn their lessons.No one would goto hell.
5.heaven,yes. Hell,no
04 Mar 10
Originally posted by rwingettYou didn't write the Old Testament did you? 😛
I would punish evil doers with my auto-smite capacity. Not all evildoers, though. Maybe just the 10% worst evildoers each year. You have free will to do whatever you want with the knowledge you could be smitten at year's end. In order to make room for free will I would renounce any claim to omniscience.
There would definitely not be either a heaven or a hell. You goal is to do good and live well in this life.
04 Mar 10
Originally posted by twhiteheadSo you would prefer to restrain free will.
That would probably depend on what super powers I had available.
I think I would certainly cut down on suffering.
I would probably prevent evil doers from doing evil rather than going for the punishment route. I find punishment the reactive way of solving something, I prefer proactive methods. For example, with children, punishment is a sign of failure ...[text shortened]... off there and stay there. If hell is a horrible place to be, then I wouldn't put anyone there.
04 Mar 10
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Originally posted by twhiteheadIn addition to what Robbie said, we realize the complexity of the task at hand, assuming free will is the optimal state of creation. In short, anyone can be a back seat driver, however, get him to the stearing wheel and things change quickly.
Isn't it interesting how not one Christian has yet given us a pretty picture of what they would do if they were God?
If there really is a God, I sure hope he's an atheist.
Have you ever watched Bruce Almighty? Its a good flick and I watched it the other night which gave rise to this thread.
04 Mar 10
Originally posted by whodeyActually, I suspect you are assuming a lot more than that. You are assuming the current world order which is a whole lot more than just 'free will' is the optimal state of creation. You cannot think of anything better because you know that doing so would be to criticize God. You cannot criticize God because that would be questioning your faith. You cannot question your faith because that might ..... well you know where I'm going.
In addition to what Robbie said, we realize the complexity of the task at hand, assuming free will is the optimal state of creation.
In short, anyone can be a back seat driver, however, get him to the stearing wheel and things change quickly.
Quite true. I think the thread is an excellent idea. I would expect nearly every sane human to say that they would create a world with far less suffering and a bit more happiness and love.
Of course if you actually gave people the opportunity, they might behave quite differently.
Have you ever watched Bruce Almighty? Its a good flick and I watched it the other night which gave rise to this thread.
Yes I have watched it. However, I must point out that it does not really present the same scenario. It plays the old Biblical trick of telling a story that appears to explain Gods actions - but when you think about it - doesn't.
It appears to be saying: well if you were God you couldn't do any better, so stop criticizing God. But this simply doesn't work on so many levels that it is worth discussing a few of them - which I think I will in another post.
04 Mar 10
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Originally posted by whodeyGeez Whodey,I thought I would just slip this through...
So, on the one hand, things run as good as they could assuming free will is present. However, you then say that you would only punish evil doers if they harmed others. Also people would all go to heaven eventually. Free will would then consist of nothing more than being properly educated not to choose the wrong path. So really you don't believe things are run as well as could be expected, right?
My answer is a slight contradiction, yes.
I was trying to get in the spirit of the question and keep it simple.
Simple like in the outback or the desert where martial law rules and God is god and man is man.
In short I wouldn't change anything about my life or the planet I live on and I think my answers are a portrayal of that view. Its not that sinple, of course, but then again I didn't have a go at you for your simple questions either🙂
04 Mar 10
Originally posted by whodeyNo Hell, no possibility of doing evil. Pure bliss. Heaven begins at birth, not death.
If you were God, how would you run things? Would you punish evil doers or would you turn a blind eye? If you did punish evil doers, how would you punish them? Would you erradicate free will? Who would go to heaven and who would go to hell? Would there even be a hearven or hell?
04 Mar 10
Originally posted by rwingettYou'd model the universe after whack-a-mole?
I would punish evil doers with my auto-smite capacity. Not all evildoers, though. Maybe just the 10% worst evildoers each year. You have free will to do whatever you want with the knowledge you could be smitten at year's end. In order to make room for free will I would renounce any claim to omniscience.
There would definitely not be either a heaven or a hell. You goal is to do good and live well in this life.