"With great power, comes great responsibility" Uncle Ben, Jeremiah 10:2-4
Sure there's the concept of free will but that doesn't take away God's accountability. If I put convicted child molestors in a room with children and they get raped I'm still to blame, regardless of the free will those molestors exerted, I enabled the situation. God saw how evil we were and even planned to eradicate all life because of this. That's not an answer as to why God should intervene but at that point he was going to so surely there must be a reason? God created mankind and the wickedness that came with us so to me that makes Him responsible. The people making bad choices are also to blame but they couldn't have done any of it without God's help.
FlipMo your lottery ticket analogy is faulty. In your analogy the only variables are 1) cash the ticket 2) don't cash the ticket. Since you're not the only one with free will you can make the "right" choice and decide to cash the ticket but that doesn't stop someone else from exerting their free will and robbing you. Someone who received this very power from God. Different people receive different tickets as well. Still-born babies were not handed a ticket at all. The introduction of religion is more along the lines of an advertisement for the lottery rather than being handed a winning ticket. And since only 1 religion can be right it also leaves room for buying a ticket from a lottery that falsely advertises rewards.
Don't feel like going any further into this but just because there's a "concept" or an idea behind the way the world is doesn't mean this concept is automatically justified.
Now Chronic.
I knew you'd show up and give me a run for my money. lol. You also brought up certain things that I can't even answer... But I'll start from the top and answer to the best of my personal opinion and ability...
This wickedness God put into people from the beginning of time, say Adam and Eve just for the sake of argument, wasn't manifested by God. Technically, the snake (IE, Devil, so it is said) tricked Eve into biting it.
I don't want to get too into theology, because the snake represents something more complicated that has to do with the jealousy of angels. (This will get some eyes rolling lol.)
Now, I do understand what you mean in a general sense. Why would someone all mighty give us the opportunity to create such evil? Like your pedophilia/children example. We're given a choice to do good or bad, some do good others bad. I like to think we're tested on those choices. I guess this is where the heaven or hell concept comes into place. Do good for yourself and others, you will have a place among the elite in heaven, do bad, and sit by the devil.
Also, personally, I don't like shifting blame for my actions. If I put a pedo in a room with kids, even I know the consequences of my actions. I'm as responsible as the next guy who knows about it, but does nothing. I'm given say this knowledge of the danger of putting both together, so my best move would be to stop it from happening, and keeping each apart. Knowledge to do good.
The lottery ticket use was just a broad comparison example, and I don't believe only 1 religion is right. I think all religions are intertwined.
As for the rest, now you're getting philosophical on my ass. lol. I would love to get into it sometime, but at the moment, I have American 2nd great awakening stuck in my head.
Oh, as for the babies not given a ticket at all. I assume you are speaking about babies that have died right after birth/prematurely.
To be honest, even I do not know how to explain that. This where a leap of faith takes place. The whole idea that God works in mysterious ways. I've spent a lot of time thinking about it, and I'm still stuck on it. I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss.
Sorry, if I'm not clear on something. Like I said, haven't been sleeping much as of late. Finals...
So lemme know if you need clearing up.
