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From: gds@mit-eddie.UUCP (Greg Skinner)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Omnipotence, justice and suffering: a very long question.
Message-ID: <4803@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 28-Jul-85 11:26:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.4803
Posted: Sun Jul 28 11:26:14 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 08:21:53 EDT
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Organization: MIT Lusers and Hosers Inc., Cambridge, Ma.
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> From: hedrick@topaz.ARPA (Chuck Hedrick)

> So one possible answer would be that there is some level of reality
> which God himself must take as given.  If we claimed that some
> competing entity had prevented God from doing what he wanted, I think
> that would be un-Biblical.  But I'm not sure it says he set up the
> laws of physics, much less whatever metalaws might govern the setting
> up of the laws of physics.

The Bible does give indication that not only did God create the heavens
and the Earth, but also the laws which govern them.  These verses can be
found in Job 38 -- here are a few, quoted from NIV:

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?  Tell me, if you
understand.  Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know!  Who
stretched a measuring line across it?  On what were its footings set, or
who laid its cornerstone -- while the morning stars sang together and
all the angels shouted for joy?"  (Job 38:4-7)

"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I
said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud
waves halt'?"  (Job 38:8-11)

"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades?  Can you loose the cords of Orion?
Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the
Bear with its cubs?  Do you know the laws of the heavens?  Can you set
up God's dominion over the Earth?"  (Job 38:31-33)

These are the words of the Lord to Job.  In general, the answer the
question (from a Biblical perspective) of God's justice and mercy vs.
suffering -- it's not ours to question the will of God, but to obey, and
to have faith that he can (and will) deliver us from all suffering, in
this life and ultimately.
-- 
Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards,
for they are subtle and quick to anger.

Greg Skinner (gregbo)
{decvax!genrad, allegra, ihnp4}!mit-eddie!gds
gds@mit-eddie.mit.edu