Crap Like This Really Makes Me Question the Existence of God - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jlomon · #61 11-29-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

Back then, however, I was fascinated by Milton's thinly disguised fascination with Lucifer--the fallen, formerly wonder child.

Given the times in which he wrote, Milton couldn't make Satan the hero. But he sure tried to....

My belief is that Milton was trying to show us how easy it was to give into temptation by making the very personification of temptation so appealing. He offered us the choice of willingly choosing to side with Good (even if it was a little stodgy and boring) or siding with Evil, which seemed a whole lot more fun.

Milton was a complex and interesting guy. Maybe there's a name for your as-yet unnamed CE - Milton.

aklim · #62 11-29-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Aklim, you devil, you!

Hey! I resemble that remark.

Dee8go · #63 11-29-2007, 02:21 PM

I thought you would . . .

Carleton Hughes · #64 11-29-2007, 02:31 PM

Milton's Lucifer,as complex and fascinating as he appears,was liberally cribbed from Mephistopheles in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus.

SwampYankee · #65 11-29-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carleton Hughes

Milton's Lucifer,as complex and fascinating as he appears,was liberally cribbed from Mephistopheles in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus.

You know, I had that sneaking suspicion!

Carleton Hughes · #66 11-29-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

You know, I had that sneaking suspicion!

I told them,Dammit! But would they listen? NOOOOOO!!!!!

MTI · #67 11-29-2007, 03:16 PM

Remember the old days, when superior beings were allowed to express anger, jealousy, contempt, revenge and spite? Diety got a major personality upgrade with the coming of the so-called New Testament.

aklim · #68 11-29-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Remember the old days, when superior beings were allowed to express anger, jealousy, contempt, revenge and spite? Diety got a major personality upgrade with the coming of the so-called New Testament.

Think Greek and Roman mythology did that back then too.

MTI · #69 11-29-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Think Greek and Roman mythology did that back then too.

Hence the plural "superior beings"

kerry · #70 11-29-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan G

Couldn't the concept of free will permit evil things to happen (from a Christian standpoint)? Christians say we were given the choice at the start to make decisions (as in, love/worship God - he doesn't want robotic love). So in making that choice, although he doesn't want it/like it, to take it all the suffering away and undo it.....he would essentially violating our gift of free will?

This is a heresy according to orthodox Christianity, initially propounded by the great Welsh theologian Pelagius and relegated to a heresy by the work of Augustine. According to Augustine, only Adam and Eve had free will and even their choices were known in advance by God. All the rest of us are born without free will because we are born in original sin.

kerry · #71 11-29-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

The only logical conclusion is that he created a flawed world (a world with sin already built-in). But if God is also omnipotent and always right, why would he create an imperfect world?

Augustine argued that anything that God created would be less than perfect simply by the fact that it is not God. God being the only incorruptible perfection.

BENZ-LGB · #72 11-29-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Augustine argued that anything that God created would be less than perfect simply by the fact that it is not God. God being the only incorruptible perfection.

That is one way Augustine tried to get around the conundrum created by the notion of a perfect being creating a flawed, less-than-perfect world.