ElShamah - Reason & Science: Defending ID and the Christian Worldview
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ElShamah - Reason & Science: Defending ID and the Christian Worldview

Welcome to my library—a curated collection of research and original arguments exploring why I believe Christianity, creationism, and Intelligent Design offer the most compelling explanations for our origins. Otangelo Grasso


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Evil: Why does God allow evil and suffering in the world?

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Otangelo


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Why did God create evil? The answer struck me to the core of my soul!
A professor at the university asked his students the following question:
- Everything that exists was created by God?
One student bravely answered:
- Yes, created by God.
- Did God create everything? - a professor asked.
“Yes, sir,” replied the student.
The professor asked :
- If God created everything, then God created evil, since it exists. And according to the principle that our deeds define ourselves, then God is evil.
The student became silent after hearing such an answer. The professor was very pleased with himself. He boasted to students for proving once again that faith in God is a myth.
Another student raised his hand and said:
- Can I ask you a question, professor?
"Of course," replied the professor.
A student got up and asked:
- Professor, is cold a thing?
- What kind of question? Of course it exists. Have you ever been cold?
Students laughed at the young man's question. The young man answered:
- Actually, sir, cold doesn't exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is actually the absence of heat. A person or object can be studied on whether it has or transmits energy.
Absolute zero (-460 degrees Fahrenheit) is a complete absence of heat. All matter becomes inert and unable to react at this temperature. Cold does not exist. We created this word to describe what we feel in the absence of heat.
A student continued:
- Professor, does darkness exist?
— Of course it exists.
- You're wrong again, sir. Darkness also does not exist. Darkness is actually the absence of light. We can study the light but not the darkness. We can use Newton's prism to spread white light across multiple colors and explore the different wavelengths of each color. You can't measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into the world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you tell how dark a certain space is? You measure how much light is presented. Isn't it so? Darkness is a term man uses to describe what happens in the absence of light.
In the end, the young man asked the professor:
- Sir, does evil exist?
This time it was uncertain, the professor answered:
- Of course, as I said before. We see him every day. Cruelty, numerous crimes and violence throughout the world. These examples are nothing but a manifestation of evil.
To this, the student answered:
- Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist for itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is like darkness and cold—a man-made word to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is not faith or love, which exist as light and warmth. Evil is the result of the absence of Divine love in the human heart. It’s the kind of cold that comes when there is no heat, or the kind of darkness that comes when there’s no light.
Student's name was Albert Einstein..

Evil: Why does God allow evil and suffering in the world? - Page 2 42985310

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Otangelo


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Understanding Old Testament Commands and Their Fulfillment in Christianity

The Bible commanded in the Old Testament to:  

Kill adulterers (Lev 20:10)  
Kill all witches (Ex 22:18)  
Kill blasphemers (Lev 24:14)  
Kill false prophets (Zech 13:3)  
Kill fortune-tellers (Lev 20:27)  
Kill anyone who sins (Ezek 18:4)  
Kill the curious (1 Sam 6:19-20)  
Kill gays (Lev 20:13, Rom 1:21-32)  
Kill all non-Hebrews (Dt 20:16-17)  
Kill sons of sinners (Isaiah 14:21)  
Kill nonbelievers (2 Chron 15:12-13)  
Kill anyone who curses God (Lev 24:16)  
Kill any child who hits a parent (Ex 21:15)  
Kill children who disobey parents (Dt 21:20)  
Kill those who work on the Sabbath (Ex 31:15)  
Kill disobedient children (Ex 21:17, Mk 7:10)  
Kill strangers close to a church (Num 1:48-51)  
Kill all males after winning battles (Dt 20:13)  
Kill those who curse father or mother (Lev 20:9)  
Kill men who have sex with other men (Lev 20:13)  
Kill any bride discovered not a virgin (Dt 22:21)  
Kill those who worship the wrong god (Num 25:1-9)  
Kill anyone who does not observe the Sabbath (Ex 31:14)  
Kill everybody in a town that worships the wrong god (Dt 13:13-16)    
Kill anyone who kills anyone (Lev 24:17).[/size]

Response:

Many of these verses cited come from the Old Testament, specifically under the Mosaic Law, which governed ancient Israel in a unique historical and theological context. These laws, given by God to Israel, were meant for a specific purpose: to establish Israel as a distinct, holy nation among ancient cultures.

Context is key. The punishments were severe because Israel had a covenant relationship with God, who required them to maintain strict holiness. The cultural and historical context in which these laws were given is crucial to understanding why such harsh penalties existed. These laws reflected ancient standards of justice and punishment, which were not exclusive to Israel but were common in the ancient world.

Christianity, particularly through the New Testament, introduces a new covenant of grace and forgiveness. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law (Matthew 5:17), and his teachings focused on love, mercy, and reconciliation rather than strict enforcement of the Law. The New Testament teaches, for example, to love your enemies and forgive those who sin against you (Matthew 5:38-44), a stark contrast to the Old Testament penalties.

Jesus' life and teachings shifted the focus from punishment to grace. He forgave sinners (e.g., John 8:1-11, where he forgave the woman caught in adultery) and taught that love and mercy should guide moral action. The laws listed were specific to the ancient Israelites, and under the new covenant established by Christ, they are no longer applied in Christian practice.

The Bible's overall message moves towards mercy, forgiveness, and love, especially in the New Testament. Understanding the Bible as a whole, rather than isolating individual verses, leads to a deeper understanding of God’s justice and grace.


As we analyze the broader message of the Bible, it's essential to acknowledge the progression of its teachings. The severe punishments seen in the Old Testament served to enforce order and sanctity in a specific historical context. However, these laws were not intended as universal, timeless commands for all humanity to follow indefinitely. They were designed for the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant, a covenant that was meant to maintain purity and obedience in a theocratic society.

With the coming of Jesus, the New Testament marks a dramatic shift from a system of law and punishment to one of grace, love, and forgiveness. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the requirements of the Old Testament Law, introducing a new way of relating to God, based not on strict legal adherence, but on faith, grace, and forgiveness (Galatians 3:23-25).

Key points in response:

1. Contextual Application: The Old Testament laws were specific to Israel's covenant with God and their cultural context. They were not intended to be timeless moral commands for all people at all times. The Bible should be read in its full narrative arc, from creation, through Israel's history, to Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.

2. Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law (Matthew 5:17), meaning that Christians are no longer bound by the ceremonial or civil aspects of the Old Testament laws. This fulfillment brings a new focus on love, mercy, and forgiveness, as demonstrated by Jesus' teachings.

3. Ethical Shift: The New Testament shows a clear shift from retributive justice (e.g., "an eye for an eye") to restorative justice, focusing on forgiveness, redemption, and the transformation of hearts. Jesus taught that the greatest commandments are to love God and love one's neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40), and his life exemplified this.

4. Progressive Revelation: The Bible reveals God's will progressively, meaning that later parts of Scripture (especially the New Testament) offer a more complete and fulfilled understanding of God's intentions for humanity. What was strict law in the Old Testament is transformed into a call for love, grace, and reconciliation in the New Testament.

While the Bible contains laws and commands that seem harsh from a modern perspective, they must be understood in their historical and theological context. The arrival of Jesus transformed the application of these laws, ushering in a new era of grace and mercy that continues to guide Christian ethics today.

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