Do you believe in miracles?

[ThisYouWillDo]

I am one of the confirmed atheists who is prepared to admit that he is wrong. That's not to say I'm agnostic, I truly believe there is no god - but I could be wrong. You have completely failed to change my mind, however.

Now you might have been taught that God has no favourites, but the evidence is there to demonstrate quite clearly the opposite. Look at Africa. Look at the Middle East. Look, even, at the inner cities of the West. Then look at the wealth of western farmers, industrialists and bankers, most of whose wealth was taken from the poor: precious little was earned by the sweat of their brows! Look too at the ostentatious wealth of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Churches. Then regard their poor missions to developing countries. God's work or Satan's? You tell me.

(I recall it used to be said that most of the brothels in London were owned by the Church of England!)

The USA could take several of the poorest nations out of poverty at a stroke if it chose to, so too could Britain, Germany, France and Japan. Many other developed nations could make significant inroads on the dire poverty some of God's children face daily. They prefer to serve their own interests first.

Besides, the Bible tells us that the Jews are God's Chosen People after he made a covenant with Abraham to bless and protect the Jewish people provided they worshipped him faithfully.

If there is a God, he DOES have favourites. Your teachers lied to you, or at least, misled you.

We have already established, in another thread, that God is not perfect and also that he is probably malign, as he "tests" his perfect creations (which, if perfect, could not fail). We all know that we are imperfect and flawed, and God knew beforehand that we would fail his test.

After we failed, he punished us.

Some people see the truth clearly, others see mirages.

TYWD

[Thorne]

After we failed, he punished us.

Even that would be consistent. But we aren't even given a chance! IF the bible is accurate, then God has punished all the generations of mankind for the sins of one man and one woman! This is certainly not the action of a just and merciful god.

[ThisYouWillDo]

<deleted: just an unnecessary smart-arse comment.>