One question about life that philosophers, theologians and thinking people, in general, have considered in all ages, has to do with the existence of suffering, injustice, and evil. If the world was created by a kind and loving God why does such an apparent contradiction exist?
Some truth seekers want to know why suffering would be so ubiquitous in creation. Some people simply acknowledge the perplexity of it and move on. Christian scholars may quote some scriptures and give a philosophical reason but still don't really have a complete answer. They often claim it is simply a mystery, as even God is a mystery to them.
If good and evil did not exist, what would there be in order for choices to exist? Why did God place of tree in Eden, calling it the knowledge of good and evil? We would simply be pawns in a random existence with no evident purpose if we didn't of choices and some over arching laws of the universe did not govern the nature of good or evil. If faith allows us to not deny God due to some negative event in our life, then we usually seek some reasoning as to why we are here on earth to experience these trials.
Some truth seekers want to know why suffering would be so ubiquitous in creation. Some people simply acknowledge the perplexity of it and move on. Christian scholars may quote some scriptures and give a philosophical reason but still don't really have a complete answer. They often claim it is simply a mystery, as even God is a mystery to them.
If good and evil did not exist, what would there be in order for choices to exist? Why did God place of tree in Eden, calling it the knowledge of good and evil? We would simply be pawns in a random existence with no evident purpose if we didn't of choices and some over arching laws of the universe did not govern the nature of good or evil. If faith allows us to not deny God due to some negative event in our life, then we usually seek some reasoning as to why we are here on earth to experience these trials.
What would life be without a spectrum or continuum of choices that are oppositional in nature, including death, disease, and injustice?
What if the evil, injustice, and suffering we are currently exposed to are only temporary and end at death? They are in fact temporary. Isn't death a relief to all those that endure them?
We have some 6000 years of written history that for some part coincides with biblical time frames? If the materials of the earth are millions or billions of years old, why don't we have 100,000 years of written human history or more? How is it that our intelligence only became sufficient to make a written record about the time of the Adam as recorded in Genesis?
We have some 6000 years of written history that for some part coincides with biblical time frames? If the materials of the earth are millions or billions of years old, why don't we have 100,000 years of written human history or more? How is it that our intelligence only became sufficient to make a written record about the time of the Adam as recorded in Genesis?
Some philosophically minded people have concluded that earth life with its limited individual mortal life, generally 100 years or less for most of us, is a time to learn and to be tested by a higher intelligence. How is it that such a test could be necessary?
Do we not see that any penalties or rewards for good or bad behavior are delayed so that choices are not controlled by fear of punishment or joy of reward. The good people suffer and evil people seem to prosper. Individuals must make choices without coercive influence between two eternally existing and opposing paths according to their own desires or will. Those paths are good or evil.
Each choice comes with its own set of consequences associated with the laws that govern the existence of all truth and creation. In the end, each person will be judged according to their choices, their desires, and their circumstances. The system of perfect justice will be administered by a perfect judge, even the Savior himself. The rewards will be commensurate with faith and works, the penalties will have been paid by the Jesus Christ and all will be redeemed. How does such a system begin?
The Fall of Adam and Eve
The Fall of Adam and Eve is an event that often gets discussed on a superficial level. Agnostics mock and make jokes about it. Orthodox Bible scholars, theologians, and philosophers heap the blame for suffering, sin, and evil on Adam and Eve for heeding the devil.
Modern theologians and philosophers inject the story with personal philosophies. With great zeal they throw Adam and Eve under the proverbial bus. They create a circle of the blame around Eve and the serpent. They don't bother to think that Adam had already resisted the temptation and obeyed God. They think
If a Bible reader interested in theology and doesn't understand what happened in Genesis, how are they to understand the rest of the Bible? What is the purpose of creation, both of planet and of people?
There are abundant essays and theological positions of mainstream Christian scholars all over the Internet that confirm what I am saying. I have included one example at the end of this post.
The mainstream scholars teach that God had never before created a world with people on it. They teach that his plan was for Adam and Eve to dwell in the Garden of Eden forever and that the fall was a negative event. It now required a new plan they say to deal with this falling out.
Why was the fall necessary and planned and not a sinful rebellion as the mainstream teachers say? Why did God create the circumstances for sin to occur, death to result and man to be cast out of the garden?
The obvious answer should be that if there hadn't been a fall there would be no need for a Christ. In fact, there wouldn't be any Christians at all or a Bible for that matter? I personally do not understand how this is not plain to any logical thinking Bible reading person.
Without the fall there would be no need for an atonement or payment for sin and therefore no suffering on the cross or in the Garden. We would not have the teachings of Jesus and his acts of healing if there had been no fall. There would have been no empty tomb. We would not have been born and there would have been no people to save. We could not be "born again."
Wouldn't the viewpoint that the fall was not God's original plan actually be the non-Christian perspective? Isn't this evidence that these erroneous conclusions of mainstream Christian scholars and philosophers are the philosophies of men? They don't want to accept the fact that a young man that called himself a prophet in upstate New York corrected this gross misunderstanding that had been established in mainstream doctrines for almost 2000 years.
Mainstream theologians would have Bible believers think that God created the very large world and infinite stars and planets, galaxies and solar systems only for two people to inhabit a small garden on this one small planet. How was this supposed to please God and to keep him company for all of eternity? This is the implication of mainstream classical Bible scholarship. It is especially nonsensical considering that Adam and Eve did not procreate until after fall. If they had the world would be overrun with immortals creating other immortals.
Do we not see that any penalties or rewards for good or bad behavior are delayed so that choices are not controlled by fear of punishment or joy of reward. The good people suffer and evil people seem to prosper. Individuals must make choices without coercive influence between two eternally existing and opposing paths according to their own desires or will. Those paths are good or evil.
Each choice comes with its own set of consequences associated with the laws that govern the existence of all truth and creation. In the end, each person will be judged according to their choices, their desires, and their circumstances. The system of perfect justice will be administered by a perfect judge, even the Savior himself. The rewards will be commensurate with faith and works, the penalties will have been paid by the Jesus Christ and all will be redeemed. How does such a system begin?
The Fall of Adam and Eve
The Fall of Adam and Eve is an event that often gets discussed on a superficial level. Agnostics mock and make jokes about it. Orthodox Bible scholars, theologians, and philosophers heap the blame for suffering, sin, and evil on Adam and Eve for heeding the devil.
Modern theologians and philosophers inject the story with personal philosophies. With great zeal they throw Adam and Eve under the proverbial bus. They create a circle of the blame around Eve and the serpent. They don't bother to think that Adam had already resisted the temptation and obeyed God. They think
If a Bible reader interested in theology and doesn't understand what happened in Genesis, how are they to understand the rest of the Bible? What is the purpose of creation, both of planet and of people?
There are abundant essays and theological positions of mainstream Christian scholars all over the Internet that confirm what I am saying. I have included one example at the end of this post.
The mainstream scholars teach that God had never before created a world with people on it. They teach that his plan was for Adam and Eve to dwell in the Garden of Eden forever and that the fall was a negative event. It now required a new plan they say to deal with this falling out.
Why was the fall necessary and planned and not a sinful rebellion as the mainstream teachers say? Why did God create the circumstances for sin to occur, death to result and man to be cast out of the garden?
The obvious answer should be that if there hadn't been a fall there would be no need for a Christ. In fact, there wouldn't be any Christians at all or a Bible for that matter? I personally do not understand how this is not plain to any logical thinking Bible reading person.
Without the fall there would be no need for an atonement or payment for sin and therefore no suffering on the cross or in the Garden. We would not have the teachings of Jesus and his acts of healing if there had been no fall. There would have been no empty tomb. We would not have been born and there would have been no people to save. We could not be "born again."
Wouldn't the viewpoint that the fall was not God's original plan actually be the non-Christian perspective? Isn't this evidence that these erroneous conclusions of mainstream Christian scholars and philosophers are the philosophies of men? They don't want to accept the fact that a young man that called himself a prophet in upstate New York corrected this gross misunderstanding that had been established in mainstream doctrines for almost 2000 years.
Mainstream theologians would have Bible believers think that God created the very large world and infinite stars and planets, galaxies and solar systems only for two people to inhabit a small garden on this one small planet. How was this supposed to please God and to keep him company for all of eternity? This is the implication of mainstream classical Bible scholarship. It is especially nonsensical considering that Adam and Eve did not procreate until after fall. If they had the world would be overrun with immortals creating other immortals.
Interestingly God's plan of eternal love and salvation would require the creation of endless worlds. Agency, mortality and redemption and resurrection are eternal principles. To the point though, the death of mankind was tied to Adam and Eve's choice as was the knowledge necessary to know the goodness of human intimacy as authorized by God as well as its counterfeit relationships.
We are here like we are because God wants us to be. This IS God's plan. Mortality is a stage of learning with all its hardships. It is part of who God is as a loving creator. The fall was necessary and is a part of God's eternal plan for the progress of his children. Exaltation can only be given according to the existence of Moral Agency as I mentioned before.
Why do classical theologians assume that being captive in a garden paradise, living in eternal ignorance and innocence with the devil forever bothering us could somehow be a preferred state of existence? The creation of the world and of mankind are key components of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In order for us to have eternal freedoms and infinite potential in glory much beyond any paradise, we could imagine we have to come to an earthly creation.
What is the reason that Christianity exists at all? Does it simply exist because there was an event that occurred called "The Fall"? Did the principles of Christianity exist before that event occurred? Not according to classical theologians and Bible scholars. Creedal Trinitarian doctrines teach that the Trinity made up the whole concept of biblical Christianity starting about 6000 years ago and then waited 4000 years to implement it.
They don't seem to recognize that it was God who set the stage for the fall to take place by giving Adam and Eve a choice and allowing Satan to be there to tempt them.
When Adam and Eve partook from the "tree of Knowledge", the Gods (plural) said that man had become like one of them, to know good and evil. The ground was cursed, but it was cursed for their sake, to bless them and teach them to work. It is especially important to notice that God did not say that man had become evil like the devil because of what they had done.
The commandment to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge no longer exists on this planet. It was there for one reason only and specific to them. It was God’s way of making the fall Adam's choice and not being forced upon him or Eve. The lack of force by a deity is an essential element of moral agency.
This event was the means for implementing moral agency, not just for the salvation of God's children but for their exaltation. The opposition that we experience in life is necessary for us to have the agency to make choices and be accountable for them. It is in every sense of the word a testing period.
Eve did what God wanted her to do, that was to open the door to a greater more abundant life with the ongoing opportunity for creation and family life. Adam recognized this as well and followed Eve. According to trinitarian scholars, Adam and Eve should still be in the garden being tempted to eat from the one "bad tree".
If you don't believe our current state of existence is God's will then you are implying that existence of the rest of humanity is the result of Satan's influence and the rebellion of two people. Accordingly, the gospel would just be God fighting back or reacting with a plan B rather than being in charge or acting according to his plan A.
God's eternal plan required mortality, death and a resurrection to a glorified incorruptible body. Only Jesus Christ could provide this through his atonement and the power it would give to mankind.
Adam and Eve did not have access to the full measure of their potential until after the fall. The new body they and we receive after the resurrection will not be corruptible and will never die again under any circumstance.
The life they enjoyed in the Garden was a static, limited life with no growth or increase. They knew no real joy because they had no sorrow. The immortal body that Adam and Eve had in the Garden was obviously corruptible as death was able to come upon them.
Who then would doubt that God wanted the fall to happen or that Adam and Eve were this world's first Christians? God did reveal the full plan of salvation to them and they rejoiced in the hope of salvation through their Savior.
LDS believe that God created the world because he loved us first because we were and are his literal children. We lived with him in a pre-earth time period. Trinitarians believe that God created the earth, then man and then imputed a love to the creature that man was.
The idea that the fall was not a good thing or that it was a rebellious act is not congruent reasoning and such thinking makes Jesus a backup plan and a reaction to the fall.
Such reasoning puts Satan as the instigator of what can only be considered a plan B by God to deal with what mainstream scholars seem to think was an unintended consequence. Was the fall an intended consequence or not?
I am aware that Christian apologists teach that God knew Adam and Eve would fall, which he must if he is all knowing, however, the idea that the fall was a bad thing is still a contradictory position to redemption by Jesus Christ. Teaching that the fall was a mistake or a bad thing or a rebellion that wasn't planned is the anti-Christian position.
The fall and the atonement of Jesus Christ go together. Jesus was always the plan to save mankind and give us eternal life. He always was and is the main plan for our redemption. Trinitarian scholars cannot explain why the fall was necessary, Mormons can.
The fall hinges on the concept of moral agency and so does accepting Jesus as our Savior. Trinitarian scholars say that God gave man free will so he wouldn’t be a robot. Based on this statement, free will is still something that God gave to man.
These scholars say God is the "first cause" of all things and that if not he would not be sovereign over all things and if he is not sovereign then he cannot be all powerful. This isn't true, it is their philosophical conclusion.
If God is the first cause of all things including man’s will then he is also the cause of man's choices and sins. This is the logic of Christian scholar-theologians. They like to use the analogy of a robot. This is how their argument goes. A robot was created, it was given free will and now it is supposedly not a robot because it has a will and can choose to love or disobey God? This imputed will can now bring about the condemnation of the soul of the individual. Is this somehow a gift from God?
Biblical apologists in defense of God not being the cause of evil created the free will argument, yet they subscribe to the first cause argument and absolute sovereignty of God. These are incongruent positions with conflicting logic.
Actual free will can only exist if our intelligence is not created by God and exists eternal on its own. The doctrine of moral agency and the premortal existence of our spirit sets the foundation for free will and does away with the contradiction in the false first cause doctrines.
Our spirit is here in a mortal body as part of a learning process that God governs over with his powers of creation. It is God's will that we are here in a mortal state to learn to subject our will to his will. This is a time of preparation for a glorious eternal life built on families relationships.
The Bible teaches that Satan was a liar from the beginning. He was and is the father of lies and fought against Christ. In the book of John, we understand that Jesus was with God in the beginning and he was God.
We are here like we are because God wants us to be. This IS God's plan. Mortality is a stage of learning with all its hardships. It is part of who God is as a loving creator. The fall was necessary and is a part of God's eternal plan for the progress of his children. Exaltation can only be given according to the existence of Moral Agency as I mentioned before.
Why do classical theologians assume that being captive in a garden paradise, living in eternal ignorance and innocence with the devil forever bothering us could somehow be a preferred state of existence? The creation of the world and of mankind are key components of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In order for us to have eternal freedoms and infinite potential in glory much beyond any paradise, we could imagine we have to come to an earthly creation.
What is the reason that Christianity exists at all? Does it simply exist because there was an event that occurred called "The Fall"? Did the principles of Christianity exist before that event occurred? Not according to classical theologians and Bible scholars. Creedal Trinitarian doctrines teach that the Trinity made up the whole concept of biblical Christianity starting about 6000 years ago and then waited 4000 years to implement it.
They don't seem to recognize that it was God who set the stage for the fall to take place by giving Adam and Eve a choice and allowing Satan to be there to tempt them.
When Adam and Eve partook from the "tree of Knowledge", the Gods (plural) said that man had become like one of them, to know good and evil. The ground was cursed, but it was cursed for their sake, to bless them and teach them to work. It is especially important to notice that God did not say that man had become evil like the devil because of what they had done.
The commandment to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge no longer exists on this planet. It was there for one reason only and specific to them. It was God’s way of making the fall Adam's choice and not being forced upon him or Eve. The lack of force by a deity is an essential element of moral agency.
This event was the means for implementing moral agency, not just for the salvation of God's children but for their exaltation. The opposition that we experience in life is necessary for us to have the agency to make choices and be accountable for them. It is in every sense of the word a testing period.
Eve did what God wanted her to do, that was to open the door to a greater more abundant life with the ongoing opportunity for creation and family life. Adam recognized this as well and followed Eve. According to trinitarian scholars, Adam and Eve should still be in the garden being tempted to eat from the one "bad tree".
If you don't believe our current state of existence is God's will then you are implying that existence of the rest of humanity is the result of Satan's influence and the rebellion of two people. Accordingly, the gospel would just be God fighting back or reacting with a plan B rather than being in charge or acting according to his plan A.
God's eternal plan required mortality, death and a resurrection to a glorified incorruptible body. Only Jesus Christ could provide this through his atonement and the power it would give to mankind.
Adam and Eve did not have access to the full measure of their potential until after the fall. The new body they and we receive after the resurrection will not be corruptible and will never die again under any circumstance.
The life they enjoyed in the Garden was a static, limited life with no growth or increase. They knew no real joy because they had no sorrow. The immortal body that Adam and Eve had in the Garden was obviously corruptible as death was able to come upon them.
Who then would doubt that God wanted the fall to happen or that Adam and Eve were this world's first Christians? God did reveal the full plan of salvation to them and they rejoiced in the hope of salvation through their Savior.
LDS believe that God created the world because he loved us first because we were and are his literal children. We lived with him in a pre-earth time period. Trinitarians believe that God created the earth, then man and then imputed a love to the creature that man was.
The idea that the fall was not a good thing or that it was a rebellious act is not congruent reasoning and such thinking makes Jesus a backup plan and a reaction to the fall.
Such reasoning puts Satan as the instigator of what can only be considered a plan B by God to deal with what mainstream scholars seem to think was an unintended consequence. Was the fall an intended consequence or not?
I am aware that Christian apologists teach that God knew Adam and Eve would fall, which he must if he is all knowing, however, the idea that the fall was a bad thing is still a contradictory position to redemption by Jesus Christ. Teaching that the fall was a mistake or a bad thing or a rebellion that wasn't planned is the anti-Christian position.
The fall and the atonement of Jesus Christ go together. Jesus was always the plan to save mankind and give us eternal life. He always was and is the main plan for our redemption. Trinitarian scholars cannot explain why the fall was necessary, Mormons can.
The fall hinges on the concept of moral agency and so does accepting Jesus as our Savior. Trinitarian scholars say that God gave man free will so he wouldn’t be a robot. Based on this statement, free will is still something that God gave to man.
These scholars say God is the "first cause" of all things and that if not he would not be sovereign over all things and if he is not sovereign then he cannot be all powerful. This isn't true, it is their philosophical conclusion.
If God is the first cause of all things including man’s will then he is also the cause of man's choices and sins. This is the logic of Christian scholar-theologians. They like to use the analogy of a robot. This is how their argument goes. A robot was created, it was given free will and now it is supposedly not a robot because it has a will and can choose to love or disobey God? This imputed will can now bring about the condemnation of the soul of the individual. Is this somehow a gift from God?
Biblical apologists in defense of God not being the cause of evil created the free will argument, yet they subscribe to the first cause argument and absolute sovereignty of God. These are incongruent positions with conflicting logic.
Actual free will can only exist if our intelligence is not created by God and exists eternal on its own. The doctrine of moral agency and the premortal existence of our spirit sets the foundation for free will and does away with the contradiction in the false first cause doctrines.
Our spirit is here in a mortal body as part of a learning process that God governs over with his powers of creation. It is God's will that we are here in a mortal state to learn to subject our will to his will. This is a time of preparation for a glorious eternal life built on families relationships.
The Bible teaches that Satan was a liar from the beginning. He was and is the father of lies and fought against Christ. In the book of John, we understand that Jesus was with God in the beginning and he was God.
The Bible doesn’t say God created Satan and gave him free will so he could become evil. Philosophers imputed this idea to cover the theological contradiction that a good and sovereign God would create a place where the existence of evil, injustice, and suffering could be so prevalent.
Evil is an inherent possibility and exists eternally along with the good, otherwise, God would be its creator. There would be no good if there were no evil and there would be no evil if there were no eternally existing laws through which God is sovereign. He cannot be holy by designating himself as holy. He is holy because he has overcome evil and upholds all eternal law.
Jesus was the only way to God, he did have to die and he agreed to do it before the world was ever created. Adam and Eve too were chosen before to be our first parents. This was the only way the Father could offer a glorious opportunity of exaltation to his children. It is offered to all those willing to follow Christ and make eternal covenants. It is based on eternal principles and laws. It requires that we be moral agents in a fallen world.
The mainstream philosopher-theologians claim that the Trinity made up the laws, thus forcing people to suffer on earth. It also made up the punishments and created a hell for those creatures that it created out of nothing.
The reason for creation was and is to let us have a learning experience. It requires that we have the means to be liberated from the negative consequences of our sins and death because of our mistakes. Jesus overcame death and sin so we could rise with him. Our earthly suffering and the injustice inflicted by evil people ends at death. It is temporary in that respect.
When we accept Christ his mercy becomes available to us and we won’t have to suffer the full consequences our sins and we can become free beings in eternity. By living his gospel we also find joy in the journey of life, understanding our divine purpose for living, and the nature of our relationship to God.
The reason Jesus could satisfy the demands of eternal justice is that he lived a perfect life. He was not subject to the laws by which sin results because of his perfect obedience. This does not refer to the law of Moses but to eternal laws. All those that receive the gift of his atonement likewise attain that perfection in him.
Jesus was foreordained to be the Savior of the world. His Godhood allowed him to give up his life. It was not taken from him. The condition of his mercy is that is we that repent of our sins. Faith in him is what causes us to do this.
Prophets of God have been called again to preside over the Savior's church. They are the shepherds that lead the flock of Christ. They are chosen by him and have His authority and receive divine guidance for His Church. I invite you to learn more and to know that you are literally a child of God your Eternal Father.
Evil is an inherent possibility and exists eternally along with the good, otherwise, God would be its creator. There would be no good if there were no evil and there would be no evil if there were no eternally existing laws through which God is sovereign. He cannot be holy by designating himself as holy. He is holy because he has overcome evil and upholds all eternal law.
Jesus was the only way to God, he did have to die and he agreed to do it before the world was ever created. Adam and Eve too were chosen before to be our first parents. This was the only way the Father could offer a glorious opportunity of exaltation to his children. It is offered to all those willing to follow Christ and make eternal covenants. It is based on eternal principles and laws. It requires that we be moral agents in a fallen world.
The mainstream philosopher-theologians claim that the Trinity made up the laws, thus forcing people to suffer on earth. It also made up the punishments and created a hell for those creatures that it created out of nothing.
The reason for creation was and is to let us have a learning experience. It requires that we have the means to be liberated from the negative consequences of our sins and death because of our mistakes. Jesus overcame death and sin so we could rise with him. Our earthly suffering and the injustice inflicted by evil people ends at death. It is temporary in that respect.
When we accept Christ his mercy becomes available to us and we won’t have to suffer the full consequences our sins and we can become free beings in eternity. By living his gospel we also find joy in the journey of life, understanding our divine purpose for living, and the nature of our relationship to God.
The reason Jesus could satisfy the demands of eternal justice is that he lived a perfect life. He was not subject to the laws by which sin results because of his perfect obedience. This does not refer to the law of Moses but to eternal laws. All those that receive the gift of his atonement likewise attain that perfection in him.
Jesus was foreordained to be the Savior of the world. His Godhood allowed him to give up his life. It was not taken from him. The condition of his mercy is that is we that repent of our sins. Faith in him is what causes us to do this.
Prophets of God have been called again to preside over the Savior's church. They are the shepherds that lead the flock of Christ. They are chosen by him and have His authority and receive divine guidance for His Church. I invite you to learn more and to know that you are literally a child of God your Eternal Father.
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