God On Trial The Controversy Behind The Existence Of God

The film God on Trial explores the controversy behind the existence of God and his goodness, in terms of the Jewish people and the Holocaust. One argument that is presented is that God cannot exist because he allowed the suffering of the Jews, despite the covenant that they shared; and if God did exist, then he could not possibly be good for the same reason. The other side of the trial that is presented is that God does exist, suffering is merely a test, and through faith the Jews and the Torah will prevail as shown in history. In actuality, this argument can be summed up in one sentence: God cannot be both all powerful and just. If God were all powerful then He would be able to put an end to suffering, and because he does not, He is not†¦show more content†¦God may have delivered them from evil, but He was also the creator of said evil and the one who placed the Jewish people in the center of it. God was the one who created their famines, placed them in the hands of the Eg yptians when he should’ve been aware of their intentions, and subjected them to numerous genocides like the Holocaust and pogroms. If they were His people, why must they constantly suffer under His watch? Another example of this is the fact that not only did the Jewish people suffer at the hand of God, those around them had to suffer as well. This is similar to the wasp that Jacques mentions in the film; it lays its eggs inside a caterpillar and then eats its way out, which kills the caterpillar. Sometimes in nature, in order for one to survive, another must die. In his article â€Å"The Bible and the Legitimation of Violence,† Collins says, that the book of Deuteronomy â€Å"repeatedly tells the Israelites to be compassionate to slaves and aliens, and to remember that they were slaves in the land of Egypt.† Therefore, God’s inclination towards violence does not make sense. God wanted all of humanity to be good and preach goodness, despite whatever hardsh ips they had faced. In His eyes, everyone was deserving of love and no one should be forced to have faith in Him. The reason for this was quite simple, if one has to be forced by threat of violence to believe and trust in a higher power, then they are not being faithful for their own sake but only out of fear. GodShow MoreRelatedThe Myth Of Evil By Phillip Cole1384 Words   |  6 PagesEvil has been a topic that has always been discussed with some amount of controversy—especially in the religious aspect. People who have the Judeo-Christian-Islamic perspective wrestle with the notion of how there can be an omniscient, omnipotent, and perfect God who allows such atrocities to happen in the world. It is also difficult to understand how God also allows natural evils — like hurricanes or cancer— to ruin people’s lives and harm people in any way. However, the discussion of evil expandsRead More Creationism vs. Evolution Essays1663 Words   |  7 PagesCreatio nism vs. Evolution This paper will focus on the huge controversy between Creationism and Evolution. I will provide two opposing viewpoints on this subject. First, the discussion will focus on the question of why many people believe that God created the universe and all living things. On the other end of the spectrum, scientific information will be presented that substantiates the evidence against the existence of God. This creationism counter-argument known as evolution has itsRead MoreReconciliation Between Victims And Perpetrators1640 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the course of human history, violence has been a reoccurring theme in the conquest for power in countries across the planet. Understanding the ideology behind some of this violence have puzzled historians and psychologists for centuries; furthermore, the presence of reconciliation between the victims and perpetrators after some of these horrific acts of terror is even more astonishing. This form of reconciliation was a significant factor during South Africa’s Truth and ReconciliationRead MoreThe Presence Of Reconciliation Between Victims And Perpetrators1647 Words   |  7 PagesThe Presence of Reconciliation Through Violent Acts Throughout the course of human history, violence has been a reoccurring theme in the conquest for power in countries across the planet. Understanding the ideology behind some of this violence have puzzled historians and psychologists for centuries; furthermore, the presence of reconciliation between the victims and perpetrators after some of these horrific acts of terror is even more astonishing. This form of reconciliation was a significantRead MoreJohn Calvin And The Doctrine Of Providence2135 Words   |  9 PagesCalvin accepted that God was responsible for suffering however refused to believe that God was also guilty of it. Calvin composed the doctrine of Providence, this referred to God’s interaction in all that occurs during our lives; â€Å"everything is subject to God and ruled by his will and that when the world has done what it may, nothing happens than what God decrees† . This innovative concept sparked instant controversy as it potentially challenged ma ny standing ideologies of existence and religious understanding;Read MoreTypes Of Depression : Major Depression2516 Words   |  11 Pagesdifferent struggles and trials in our life that can bring us to the very end of our wit. There are good and bad days, but nonetheless, there will always be a struggle at some point in a persons life. Whether it be a struggle that was in the past and is still dwelling deep inside, or a struggle that is continuous, and almost effortlessly holding onto our very souls. As that struggle holds on, there is always a sense of â€Å"is this all worth it?† Many people question their existence, why they are the wayRead MoreThe Big Bang Theory, The Theory of Evolution, and the Bible Essay2843 Words   |  12 Pagesprovides background and analysis into the subject of science versus religion and analyzes how significant discoveries (namely the Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Evolution) have swayed generations of people into attempting to understa nd the science behind the universe’s, as well as our own, origin. It is not an explanation as to why one side is correct over the other, but simply an explanation of the trending upward of the demographic of those who prefer to believe scientific hypotheses over BiblicalRead MoreEvolution vs. Intelligent Design Essay3619 Words   |  15 PagesThe Evolution of the Creation Controversy in Twentieth Century America The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded on an improved theory, is it then a science or faith? Charles Darwin The empirical detectability of intelligent causes renders intelligent design a fully scientific theory. William Dembski Introduction Questions on the origin of life and of the universe must have permeated human thought sinceRead MoreThe Battle For Equal Rights Among Women Essay1428 Words   |  6 Pagesaffairs. The 1995 PBS documentary, â€Å"One Woman, One Vote† successfully established an informative timeline, using letters, film reels, photographs and a variety of voices, to recreate the events during this strenuous fight for equality. In a 72 year existence of the Declaration of Independence and woman having no right over their children, their own bodies and absolutely no political foothold; woman ceased to exist legally for far too long. Half of the citizens in America were keeping the other half fromRead MoreThe Classical Version Of Skepticism1218 Words   |  5 PagesBCE) was one of the first religious skeptics. He questioned the existence of the various gods the people in his society believed in and the religious authority. He was seen as an anti-religious enemy of the state that was poisoning the younger generations’ minds, which led to his arrest, trial, and ultimately his death. However, Socrates was only skeptical of religious beliefs and practices because he was unsure of the truth behind it and not because he was anti-religious. And throughout his life