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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | God sought Moses to kill him | Ex 4:24 | budderfligh | 198406 | ||
Hello Doc, Just wanted to let you know that I had the opportunity to visit the website on Theodicy and I learned much from it. There was a link on the site that I'd like you to look at when you get time. I'd like your opinion on it. You will find the link at the bottom of the page titled "A Good reason for Evil by Gregory Koukl". I am unfamiliar with the author. The article is written in simple, easy to understand language and even though I found a few of his statements rather contradictory I'll have to admit he gave me a lot to think about. His views coincide with St. Augustine's stance on evil. I plan to do further study on Augustine's writings but I just wanted your viewpoint on what he had to say. I'm not saying that I agree with him, merely that he's given me new food for thought. I also found an opinion held by Norman Geisler that states that evil is nothing more than a result of free will. Geisler also draws upon St. Augustine's opinion (but does not, in my opinion, tend to agree with Koukl cited above). "In trying to answer the question of where evil came from, Geisler says that the basic elements in the theistic response to this problem are found in Augustine and Aquinas. Since their time theists have followed the contours of their thought. Both agreed on the response that can be stated as follows: 1. God is absolutely perfect. 2. God created only perfect creatures. 3. One of the perfections God gave some of His creatures was the power of free choice. 4. Some of these creatures freely chose to do evil. 5. Therefore, a perfect creature caused evil. In a nutshell Geisler says, God is good, and He created good creatures with a good power called free will. Unfortunately, they used this power to bring evil into the universe by rebelling against their Creator. So evil did arise from good, not directly but indirectly, by the abuse of a good power called freedom. Freedom in itself is not evil. It is good to be free. But with freedom comes the possibility of evil. So God is responsible for making evil possible, but free creatures are responsible for making it actual." God bless you and keep you, budderfligh |
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2 | God sought Moses to kill him | Ex 4:24 | DocTrinsograce | 198539 | ||
Hi, budderfligh... I'm familiar with both Greg Koukl (Stand to Reason ministry) and Norm Geisler. I find Koukl to be a lot more solid in his theology. Geisler equivocates on some pretty important doctrines. There's much that we could say regarding Geisler's theodicy. The whole question of this freedom of which he speaks is fundamentally questionable. Dogs are fully free to be dog-like, rocks are fully free to be rock-like, etc. It seems to me that everything is free to express itself within the limits of its own nature. Even God is ever and always true to His nature, nor can He be otherwise. Besides, if freedom is the cause of evil, what then is the cause of freedom? Furthermore, how does Geisler define the will. A great deal of truth can be sacrificed if we are not clear about the definition of our terms. Also, what of the elect angels who, still exercising free will, are still not fallen? This topic is, indeed, a broad one. I find it tends to cause one to wander beyond those areas about which we can be clear. It is interesting to talk about, but we have to remember that for which we will be held accountable. We instruct people in sound doctrine. If we lack the authority of Scripture to assert a teaching, then we might as well be another Pelegius, Harmenson, Peale, Schuler, or Osteen. :-) It has been a pleasure discussing this with you. In Him, Doc |
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3 | God sought Moses to kill him | Ex 4:24 | budderfligh | 198596 | ||
The pleasure has been mine. Thank you for you input. God bless and keep you, budderfligh |
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