This is a short YouTube debate, based on a movie by, conserative commentator, Ben Shapiro. I actually like a lot of what Ben says on politics, but when it comes to religion, he's as delusional as anyone else. The movies was titled "Ben Shapiro Perfect Answer To WHY GOD ALLOWS EVIL."
Me
How can an intelligent person believe such BS. Amazing!
I made this comment deliberately confrontational to see if anyone would bite (trolling, if you like) and sure enough, someone did!
Supporter
To avoid admitting to themselves that they don't actually believe god exists.
Me
Yeah, I often wonder if, beneath the surface, they really do have a lot of doubt.
Opponent
Of course we have doubt sometimes. We are humans who have weaknesses. But we ultimately know putting our trust in Jesus and his death and resurrection will make us right with God.
Me
Are you sure it's not all a big delusion and you only believe it because you are told to by church leaders, etc?
Opponent
Literally what part of this is BS? so God is just obligated to be here right in front of us 24/7 not doing anything if He existed just because He made us? if He's real He takes care of your entire life making sure nothing on Earth ends your story prematurely and that's still not enough for you? God wants people to know Him for HIM. Not because He's some magic being floating in the sky. Why would we even be grateful for Him if we ALWAYS knew He existed? if it was just "oh, hey it's god"? knowing that we're imperfect but we don't even have to be nice for Him to be nice to us? not a good idea. We'd take the fuck outta that for granted. Right away. Everything happened exactly in the way it was supposed to.
Opponent
In case you didn't realize... EVERY Christian has doubt. if they don't then God is at work in them. this is not about "denial", and "doubt". The whole POINT of God's hidden-ness is to incite doubt. So humans can either choose to choose Good and see Him, or choose evil and be pushed further away from Him. FAITH is the key.
Me
OK, let's just keep this simple: why does your god allow young children, babies, even unborn children to die horribly from disease, flood, famine, etc? Have they sinned? Have they even had a chance to live yet? It makes no sense, unless god is either uncaring or doesn't exist.
No reply, so I tried a slightly different tack...
Me
But have faith in what? I could have faith in Allah, or Vishnu, or Thor, or one of thousands of other gods. How do you choose?
And I never got a reply on those two points, which I think are two of the most powerful ones I make about religion. The first: bad things happen to good people, even innocent children, who could hardly be blamed for sinning so early in life. Why does God allow this? The second: they say I need faith. OK, but faith in what? I could just as easily have faith in Yahweh, Allah, Vishnu, or Buddha. How do I decide?
DEBATE PAGE