God created the first humans perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4,5; Job 14:4; Ecclesiastes 7:29). If Adam and Eve had obeyed God, there would never have been suffering or problems. They were warned of the dire consequences of disobedience (Genesis 2:16,17). Yet, they chose to believe lies, and rejected God’s truthful warnings (Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:44). God mercifully allowed humans to live long enough to produce the human race, albeit with inherited sin (Romans 8:21; 5:12). But, God allowed the consequences of sin to develop, without his intervention. Why? Because to interfere with the natural results of sin would be to help Satan’s cause, that is, that people could violate God’s standards with impunity (Genesis 3:4,5; John 8:44).
God has provided his creation to prove his existence (Psalm 19:1-7; Romans 1:20), and the Bible to guide us in living (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Psalm 119:97-15). In the future, God will undo all the harm that has been done (Isaiah 65:17; John 5:28,29; Revelation 21:4). God has a precise timetable set for these tremendous changes for the better, and has advised humans that they can be beneficiaries of these changes, if they will meet his standards, which are not too difficult (Psalm 15:1-5; Habakkuk 2:3; Zephaniah 1:14; John 3:16,36; 1 John 2:1,2; 5:3,4). He has not told us the exact time for these radical changes, but has warned us to be ready at all times (Matthew 24:37-25:46).
RT1: God created the first humans perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4,5; Job 14:4; Ecclesiastes 7:29). If Adam and Eve had obeyed God, there would never have been suffering or problems.
GW1: If God existed, if Adam and Eve existed, and if they disobeyed God, there never would have been the kinds of death and suffering we have been talking about. First, Adam and Eve’s disobedience wasn’t ethically wrong. Secondly, God would never punish the descendants of sinners for the sins of the sinners. To do so would be unethical in itself.
RT1: They were warned of the dire consequences of disobedience (Genesis 2:16,17). Yet, they chose to believe lies, and rejected God’s truthful warnings (Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:44).
GW1: If God did exist, he would not make rules, give warnings, and enforce punishments for acts that are ethically permissible or obligatory. It would be like the county sheriff making a rule against walking backwards on the sidewalk, giving a warning to not do it, putting the offender in prison for a lifetime for breaking the rule, and imposing an additional penalty on all of his descendants throughout history. Simply ridiculous!
RT1: God mercifully allowed humans to live long enough to produce the human race, albeit with inherited sin (Romans 8:21; 5:12).
GW1: Sin is not inherited. If he existed, God would never make sin inheritable. That would violate the principle of individual accountability.
RT1: But, God allowed the consequences of sin to develop, without his intervention. Why? Because to interfere with the natural results of sin would be to help Satan’s cause, that is, that people could violate God’s standards with impunity (Genesis 3:4,5; John 8:44).
GW1: If God existed, punishments for sin would not be natural results. They would be social results imposed by God. Furthermore, if God existed, he would punish sins immediately after they occurred in a fair and just way.
RT1: God has provided his creation to prove his existence (Psalm 19:1-7; Romans 1:20), and the Bible to guide us in living (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Psalm 119:97-15).
GW1: This first claim indicates circular reasoning and is invalid. There is no good evidence that the universe was created by anyone. Even if God did exist, the Bible cannot be his word since the book is full of inconsistencies, contradictions, falsehoods, and moral failings.
RT1: In the future, God will undo all the harm that has been done (Isaiah 65:17; John 5:28,29; Revelation 21:4). God has a precise timetable set for these tremendous changes for the better, and has advised humans that they can be beneficiaries of these changes, if they will meet his standards, which are not too difficult (Psalm 15:1-5; Habakkuk 2:3; Zephaniah 1:14; John 3:16,36; 1 John 2:1,2; 5:3,4). He has not told us the exact time for these radical changes, but has warned us to be ready at all times (Matthew 24:37-25:46).
GW1: If God did exist, there would be no reason to undo harm since God would not have created, caused, or allowed harm to occur in the first place. For example, there would have been no Hurricane Michael and no Holocaust, if God did exist.
GW1: You have not shown why all this suffering would exist, if God did exist. Your theory violates reason, science, and common sense. Of course, it mostly isn’t your theory. You were indoctrinated into it as a child, and these early religious doctrines are hard to overcome.