If GAE were true, the God of the OT is worse than Dawkins and Hitchens describe

[DaleCutler]

@John_Harshman

What’s neutral, then?

Did someone say that there was anything neutral?

[John_Harshman]

@DaleCutler

Did someone say that there was anything neutral?

Someone definitely did.

[DaleCutler]

Sure, somewhere sometime. But here, recently?

[John_Harshman]

Yes. If you have something to say, perhaps you should say it.

[DaleCutler]

Don’t get testy. Since a word search on this conversation was negative, I was looking for a citation. Apparently you haven’t got one.

[John_Harshman]

So you have nothing to say, then?

[DaleCutler]

@Roy

…you) are mistaking indifference

With respect to God, there is no such thing as indifference, it’s binary, black and white. Concerning the ‘Ground of all being’, the Source, that with which we cannot do without, the most valuable thing there is, the sum and essence of all good, ignorance of and the ignoring of him is evil. Not being for him is being against him.

[Roy (34-year veteran)]

@DaleCutler

Don’t get testy. Since a word search on this conversation was negative, I was looking for a citation. Apparently you haven’t got one.

I’m sure I could provide one, but I think it would be more enlightening if you did your own research. It might help to know that John exaggerated the timescale somewhat.

[Joe_Felsenstein]

John: Well, he does have a sense of humor too. A plague of frogs?? A ban on wearing clothing made by mixing different kinds of fibers?? Please stop it God, I’ve just had the coffee/monitor problem.

[dga471 (Daniel)]

@Roy

If the Samaritan who helped the wounded traveller is “good”, and the Levite and the priest who passed by on the other side of the trail because they lacked the compassion of the Samaritan are “evil” - then what adjective can be used to describe those who harmed the traveller?

Good and evil are a continuum, of course. The robbers were even less good than the Levite, who was in turn less good than the Samaritan.

@Roy

There’s also the equivocation between ‘good’ as in helpful and compassionate vs ‘good’ as in working perfectly. A ‘good’ tool can be used for an ‘evil’ act. These are both different from your own definition of ‘good’ as meaning towards God. You appear to be mixing the three in your description of God.

When we help someone, we are doing what is best for their own good.

Tools (such as a knife) can be used for moral good or evil, yes. And there are also good and bad knives, in the sense of sharp vs. blunt knives. But in this latter case we are using “good” in a sense other than moral goodness. Knives are not moral agents.

[Roy (34-year veteran)]

@dga471

@Roy

If the Samaritan who helped the wounded traveller is “good”, and the Levite and the priest who passed by on the other side of the trail because they lacked the compassion of the Samaritan are “evil” - then what adjective can be used to describe those who harmed the traveller?

Good and evil are a continuum, of course. The robbers were even less good than the Levite, who was in turn less good than the Samaritan.

Yes, it’s a continuum, just as real numbers are a continuum, and forward/backward motion is a continuum. The Samaritan was less evil than the Levite, who was less evil than the robbers. It’s further complicated in that for people, goodness/evilness varies over time, circumstances and ‘tribe.’ None of which negates my point in any way.

@Roy

There’s also the equivocation between ‘good’ as in helpful and compassionate vs ‘good’ as in working perfectly. A ‘good’ tool can be used for an ‘evil’ act. These are both different from your own definition of ‘good’ as meaning towards God. You appear to be mixing the three in your description of God.

When we help someone, we are doing what is best for their own good.

That’s a fourth meaning.

Tools (such as a knife) can be used for moral good or evil, yes. And there are also good and bad knives, in the sense of sharp vs. blunt knives. But in this latter case we are using “good” in a sense other than moral goodness. Knives are not moral agents.

So which sense are you intending when you say “God is perfect goodness”? Remember that there are opportunities for good Samaritans, and that there isn’t always one around.