IIIIITHE1IIIII said:
2) You are indeed not a bad parent just because tragedy happens to befall your child. However, if you are aware that a tradegy is about to befall your child and you do nothing to stop it despite being able to, you most certainly are a bad parent. 3) Who said that having a completely free will is a good thing? In heaven there is no evil and you cannot choose to enter hell even if you want to. And yet, heaven is a place that pretty much every religious person wishes to go to after they die. Alternatively put, where would you rather live: In a place where no one ever wishes to harm anyone and everyone lives in perfect harmony with one another, or in a place where everyone is free to harm and exploit his fellow men? I know which place I'd choose. And I know in which place I'd rather place my future children.
On a related note: Which religion you "choose" is almost always declared by your parents. Teaching your children what religion is the "right one" while they are still young and easily impressionable is a way of manipulating their "free" will to your own benefit. If you truly value free will you will not tell your children what faith you belong to and teach them about all major faiths in an unbiased manner. That way they will truly choose what path to follow instead of having you pick their religion for them. Something tells me that you'd rather interfere with their free wills in an attempt to protect them from terrible things though. Because unlike God you are a responsible parent. |
1) You make a valid point, however it is one of supposition and we simply do not know if God 'just decides and proceeds'. We have no understanding of how God works and anyone who says otherwise is not a believer nor worth yours or my time. We can suppose and offer anectodtes as I have but really it isn't in our realm to truly know. And even if that were true that He decides and proceeds then who are we to challenge that? We, who are the root cause of the great majority of atrocities that occur on our planet. God choosing not to act doesn't wash us of our wrong doings it only shows the great restraint He excercises in allowing us to live out our lives how we choose. I don't blame God or anyone else when I fail or do wrong. He doesn't need us, we need him is where I guess I would come down on that.
2) Again, I agree but when I talk about God and us as his children we are still talking about adults. Adults with responsibilities and the ablility to make informed decisions. Children are not for the most part (within reason).
3) Well I personally think free will is wonderful. Why live as an automaton? That's not living to me. And sure I would most certainly prefer to go to a place where bad things don't happen or there is at least peace and harmony. But according to scripture you definitely do have the ability to choose where you go. Every day on Earth the choice is presented to you when you awaken to a fresh new day.
And as for manipulating a child's free will to your own benefit is a very harsh accusation and one I definitely take umbrage to. I know it's not leveled personally (at least I hope not) but what are parents for other than to guide and protect their children? Should we never instill any ideas to our children? Or is it that you simply mean religion or matters of spirituality should be kept form our children? If you believe in God then you most certainly should teach that to your children. If you don't I recognize your right to teach them the opposite. I think it is wrong headed to omit matters of spirituality but hey they aren't my children. I do respect your idea of allowing ones child to learn about other religions etc. and for the most part most people of faith have no issue with this. Sure, sure that's not true of everyone but that is something best left up to each individual and is waaay more complex than we could ever get to here.
Thank you for at least being polite and thought provoking. Respect.
