God, Suffering, Evil and Disease Revisited

[Royce]

Now I am going to throw away all of the assumptions of the original thread and make one other.

Let's assume that the physicalists are right. There is no God or Creator.
All that is is the natural result of the Laws of Physics, Chemistry and evolution.

Who or what now do we blame for all the evil, suffering, starvation, disease and killing in the world?

 

[selfAdjoint]

Now I am going to throw away all of the assumptions of the original thread and make one other.
Let's assume that the physicalists are right. There is no God or Creator.
All that is is the natural result of the Laws of Physics, Chemistry and evolution.
Who or what now do we blame for all the evil, suffering, starvation, disease and killing in the world?

Most of your list comes from the human species. No-one ever said they were Good, unlike god. Much of what cannot be blamed on mankind is just the way of the world, for example medicine enables us to live longer, but that gives various systemic weaknesses more time to show themselves.

In general if people don't keep trying to persuade us there's an All-Good big daddy responsible for the world then we don't have any puzzle about its more unpleasant features. What can be amended we should work to amend, and what can't be must be borne.

 

[Royce]

I agree completely with everything that you say.

Especially; "In general if people don't keep trying to persuade us there's an All-Good big daddy responsible for the world then we don't have any puzzle about its more unpleasant features. What can be amended we should work to amend, and what can't be must be borne."

It seems to be human nature to search for something or someone to blame rather than doing something about it. In this way religion becomes a crutch, an opiate and a way to absolve ourselves of guilt, blame and responsibility.

Given what you said above, for the sake of the discussion, assume that God, the creator and master of the universe does exist. Now tell me please, what changed here on this tiny spec of a world lost in the cosmos.

 

[selfAdjoint]

Well if you assume some deity is "creator and master of the universe", then the way it is here and everywhere IS the responsibility of that being. And he either wills it to be this way or he doesn't will it and it is that way anyhow in spite of his will. This is not about fixing blame but just about the definition of "creator and master" As masters go he doesn't shape up really good or competent.

The blessed relief is not to make that assumption. No master, loving or otherwise, no creator, competent or otherwise. Just forces and practical mechanisms like evolution. And admitted ignorance about how it all started, but ignorance is better when it can't be avoided than unsupported fairy tales.

 

[Rade]

Except for your first concept "evil" the other four are the way of nature. Thus, animal prey suffer when not killed completely by predator, some starve, many die of bacteria-virus disease, and of course many more are killed for food (even some plants kill animals for food). So, no "blame" needed, by definition, none of these concepts are "bad". Only humans are "evil", but what does it mean to be "evil" ? I have suggested in another thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=103519
that the root of all evil is when a person uses another person as a means to an end. Thus, let us blame such humans for evil.

 

[selfAdjoint]

If use of animals as things by other animals is the way of nature, not evil, and just to be accepted calmly, then your other thing, about humans doing the same being evil, loses a lot of its force. For we are animals too!

But if you assert that this whole setup is the deliberate work of some deity then I repeat that it shows, assuming he is competent, that he is not good by any human standard, and those are the only standards we have. Of course if he is incompetent then he may be good, but just ineffective!

 

[daveb]

It seems to be human nature to search for something or someone to blame rather than doing something about it. In this way religion becomes a crutch, an opiate and a way to absolve ourselves of guilt, blame and responsibility.

This couldn't be more true. I always hated the line, "The best trick ever played by the devil was convincing the world he didn't exist." I think it should be changed to, "The best trick ever played by the devil was convincing the world he does exist."
In this manner, people end up blaming something else for the bad things that happen to them or the bad things they do ("I gave into Satan") rather than take responsibility for their own action.

 

[daveb]

Well, assuming some kind of god does not exist, then evil is merely an extension of survival instincts to situations where survival is not necessarily an issue (ie., Enron, torture, etc.). In this manner, I don't think anything can be said to be truly evil (though by Rade's definition, it is evil) but rather weakness on the part of some members of the human species, biochemical imbalances, etc. Not that this absolves said members of responsibility for their actions. Human definition of good and evil in this manner are (frequently) relatively defined unless you assume a priori that there is some absolute good and humans are too ignorant to understand it fully or just ignore it.
However, if there is some kind of god, then either 1) it is not at the same time all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good. Otherwise, it can at the same time see that some situation will cause evil (all knowing), have the moral authority to know how it should be fixed so that no evil (period) may arise from it (all-good), and the ability to fix it just that manner (all-powerful); or 2) It's definition of good is in partial opposition to human definition of good. In this manner, what we humans perceive as evil is not really evil but a means to an end (but by Rade's definition this would make this god evil.

 

[Royce]

Well if you assume some deity is "creator and master of the universe", then the way it is here and everywhere IS the responsibility of that being. And he either wills it to be this way or he doesn't will it and it is that way anyhow in spite of his will. This is not about fixing blame but just about the definition of "creator and master" As masters go he doesn't shape up really good or competent.

Without free will and without hard determinism, I cannot agree. While the Master must take responsibility and is ultimately responsible as is the master, captain, of a ship for instance, we being agents of freewill must also take individual responsibility for our own actions or inactions. Just as any Master delegates power and responsibility, I believe that if there is a God who is the Creator and Master of the universe, he has done just that for whatever reason he may have.

The blessed relief is not to make that assumption. No master, loving or otherwise, no creator, competent or otherwise. Just forces and practical mechanisms like evolution. And admitted ignorance about how it all started, but ignorance is better when it can't be avoided than unsupported fairy tales.

I agree; but, I don't know.

 

[Royce]

Thus, let us blame such humans for evil.

I contend that only humans can be evil. We have a choice and knowingly making the wrong choice at the expence of others is evil, to put it as simply as I can.

 

[Royce]

This couldn't be more true. I always hated the line, "The best trick ever played by the devil was convincing the world he didn't exist." I think it should be changed to, "The best trick ever played by the devil was convincing the world he does exist."
In this manner, people end up blaming something else for the bad things that happen to them or the bad things they do ("I gave into Satan") rather than take responsibility for their own action.

The devil is an invention of Man and incorporated to absolve guilt and responsibility but mainly to add a stick to the carrot. Playing on people's fears and guilt by incorporating old myths is one of the main ways that Christian churches and preachers fill their coffers and control their sheep.

 

[Rade]

If use of animals as things by other animals is the way of nature, not evil, and just to be accepted calmly, then your other thing, about humans doing the same being evil, loses a lot of its force. For we are animals too!

Yes, a very good point. So, for my concept to hold, I must then assume that the human animal is the only animal that by volition can decide to use another member of its own species as a means to its own end. For all other members of the animal kingdom, the action derives from genetics, not free will choice. Consider for example a situation where a human uses another human to help them conduct an experiment (e.g., they get injected with some drug, take some new pill, etc)--would this be an evil act ? To be consistent with my argument, I would have to say yes, this is an evil act, even if the person being injected agreed. The only way to find a good action in this example would be for the person to inject themself, that is, to use self as a means to an end for their own experiment. Another example, a leader of a country decides to use members of his country to fight wars to protect the country--is this an evil act ?--again the answer is yes if my concept of the "root of all evil" holds. The only way to find a good action in this example would be for each individual of the country to fight for themself, to use self protection as a means to an end to protect all. Clearly my concept is not well developed, and perhaps as full of holes as swiss cheese, and it sure seems to go against common wisdom of what is good and evil.

 

[Dmstifik8ion]

The subjugation of the self to ‘God’ or the ‘good of society’ to a large extent define the realm of evil. When the individual is not free to pursue their own rational self-interest the potential of that individual to achieve their highest potential suffers and their ultimate value as individuals to others through cooperative and mutually beneficial relationships suffers. This in effect contributes to suffering, starvation, disease, murder and all other forms of evil attributable to creatures of reason and choice. This is not to suggest that these can be eliminated entirely; only that people who benefit by doing their best are our greatest resource for the reduction of these things.

 

[DM]

Well, assuming some kind of god does not exist, then evil is merely an extension of survival instincts to situations where survival is not necessarily an issue (ie., Enron, torture, etc.). In this manner, I don't think anything can be said to be truly evil (though by Rade's definition, it is evil) but rather weakness on the part of some members of the human species, biochemical imbalances, etc.

Where these survival instincts are imprinted in our DNA. It has been proven that humans contain a gene which allows us to be conscious of a greater being (note that it doesn't imply a deity exists, but simply confirms that we possesses a surrounding awareness). Without a God, all the evil, suffering and other related properties is ultimately reduced to DNA, more specifically the "God gene" which is responsible for the culprits we very often place in God and Satan. Given that we deem human testing as an "evil" act, humanity will never be empowered to completely absolve God or Satan from our good or evil actions. Removing this gene would ostensibly cause us to commit more suicides and indeed further wars. I perceive the existence of this gene, assuming God doesn't exist, to be a simple mechanism of our body to relieve tension, depression and senses of being guilty.

 

[selfAdjoint]

It has been proven that humans contain a gene which allows us to be conscious of a greater being (note that it doesn't imply a deity exists, but simply confirms that we possesses a surrounding awareness)

What is your source for this?

 

[DM]

What is your source for this?

This is an easy question to a very difficult answer since I saw it on a TV report. However I have managed to gather some evidence:

TIME
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101041025/

Telegraph
After comparing more than 2,000 DNA samples, an American molecular geneticist has concluded that a person's capacity to believe in God is linked to brain chemicals.
Source Reference

Although the "God gene" is pretty much anecdotal by a small number of scientists, other leading scientists are becoming more and more unanimous on this phenomena.

In the TV report I saw, it was also discussed how an ancient scientist predicted the human soul to measure 12 grams by recording the mass of various people prior and after their death. It's ironic how several centuries ago, performing such experiments were not conceived to be "evil".

 

[daveb]

First, I question the causal conclusion of a study that says those with the gene are more likely to be spiritual than others. There may be correlation, but not necessarily causation. Nowhere does it take into account if a person starts out non-spiritual, then becomes spiritual (nor vice-versa). If the reason a person might do either is because of the expression of the gene through biochemical processes, I would be a bit less skeptical if he then went on to do clinical trials by injecting participants who aren't spiritual with synthesized biochemicals and seeing how many became spiritual, etc. Additionally, I would like to see his data of those who don't have the gene but are nonetheless spiritual. Second, I see no evidence of peer review (in peer review journals) of his data and work, so saying that this is "proven" is a gross misstatement. Finally, if

...It has been proven that humans contain a gene which allows us to be conscious of a greater being...

then there should not be anyone who does not have the gene but is aware, as you say.

 

[Les Sleeth]

First, I question the causal conclusion of a study that says those with the gene are more likely to be spiritual than others. There may be correlation, but not necessarily causation.

Right. The "god gene" is a typical leap to a conclusion by a physicalist researcher who is already convinced consciousness is "caused" by the brain. All interpretation of data goes the way of the researcher's a priori belief. The truth is, correlation (rather than cause) between brain states and consciousness is a perfectly viable interpretation.

 

[selfAdjoint]

First, I question the causal conclusion of a study that says those with the gene are more likely to be spiritual than others. There may be correlation, but not necessarily causation.

On the correlation vs. causation issue, given a high correlation between gene and spirituality, then either the gene causes the spirtuality, or the spirituality causes the gene, or both the gene and the spirituality are caused by something else. Given the difficulty of changing your genome, the latter two possibilities are very unlikely, leaving the first one.

Nowhere does it take into account if a person starts out non-spiritual, then becomes spiritual (nor vice-versa).

Does this happen? A person might change the religion he practices or go from religious to non-religious, but being spiritual or not is something different. In fact such a history of religion change would perhaps argue a strong persistent spirituality which is not satisfied by the churches available.

added: Thinking it over, I think the spirituality they measured is actually the sociologists' "religiosity", which, derived from answers to a questionnaire, is based on propensity to pray and take part in religious services, in fact just the opposite of the spirituality I defined. Religiosity was long ago found by the Minnesota twin study to be highly heritable. And in this case the answer to the question about changing practices would be that in a sample as large as 2000 individuals, the number of those who had been religious and stopped would roughly balance the number of those who had not been religious and started, and in any case, situations like this would reduce the correlation, so if it was high, they would apparently be rare.

If the reason a person might do either is because of the expression of the gene through biochemical processes, I would be a bit less skeptical if he then went on to do clinical trials by injecting participants who aren't spiritual with synthesized biochemicals and seeing how many became spiritual, etc.

This is an argument of perfection. "I won't believe the evidence until you do such-and-such that I specify (and if you should do it I will surely think of something further you should do before I believe it)"

Additionally, I would like to see his data of those who don't have the gene but are nonetheless spiritual.

Or of those who have the gene and aren't spiritual. The correlation won't have been perfect of course.

Second, I see no evidence of peer review (in peer review journals) of his data and work, so saying that this is "proven" is a gross misstatement.

I am sure that the scientist will submit his research to a peer-reviewed journal. Those are what a scientist lives by however much publicity he may garner by the way.

added: I looked up Dean Hamer and he is a very respected scientist with a long history of publications in genetics. The articles were based on a book he published.

Finally, ifthen there should not be anyone who does not have the gene but is aware, as you say.[/QUOTE]

I can't parse this last statemwent at all. Could you clarify?

 

[DM]

then there should not be anyone who does not have the gene but is aware, as you say.

Not entirely true. It's been concluded that this gene is dominant in certain people and recessive in others. In other words, despite all the people possessing this gene, some are more affected by it than others.

 

[Amp1]

Revisited

Curiously SA, I would say, IMO, that spirituality is different than religiosity. Religiosity is the subscription to certain doctrines, dogmas and traditions and spirituality is the conscious awareness of some otherness, a sense, perception, intuition, cognizance or discernment of another consciousness/volition not ordinary in nature.

Dmstifik8ion  … When the individual is not free to pursue their own rational self-interest the potential of that individual to achieve their highest potential suffers and their ultimate value as individuals to others through cooperative and mutually beneficial relationships suffers.

I believe I agree with you. As we seek to reach our potential, having the desire to provide service to our planetary brothers and sisters is among the highest value of morality. Sharing what we know and are able to do will with everyone mutually making the effort will be beneficial to all of us.

Royce … The devil is an invention of Man and incorporated to absolve guilt and responsibility but mainly to add a stick to the carrot.

The word Devil … yes but if there is a ‘God’ then there would likely be being(s) of an order of existence who having rebelled would probably cause any mayhem in the they would be able to get away with in the universe. My reply (#89) your first post on this topic has such a contention though not the assertion.

SA, Royce and whoever else, I consider it a responsibility that the ‘Master’ would have – referring to

… then the way it is here and everywhere IS the responsibility of that being. However,

And (1) he either wills it to be this way or (2) he doesn't will it and it is that way anyhow in spite of his will…

isn’t as cut and dry as the statement appears to be, IMO. I would say its that way (#2) despite the will of ‘God’ Because (1) see above statement to Royce and (2) as I mentioned and imply (#89) in the original topic, it would be cruel to not allow all created beings the opportunity to exist – at least once – and inefficient not to clean up or fix the problems by letting the same thing happen again, ie, bringing back personalities that chose disobedience. In this world in the past and in the present much the same thing happens in a war, soldiers are sacrificed or allowed to die to accomplish a goal leading to victory, the difference being there is no provision made or possible for mortals to bring back to life those valiant soldiers. If ‘God’ is truly what I believe and understand it to be then everyone who has died has that opportunity and promise to live again.

 

[Dmstifik8ion]

Soldiers die in battle when people have failed, through reason, to agree upon what constitutes a justifiable and worthwhile existence and how this is to be or can be peacefully achieved. Seeking guidance from nonexistant or undefined sources can only frustrate attempts to apply reason to this problem. When we accept that this life is the only known existence we have than employing reason to solve this problem exhibits great advantage to 'fighting over the solution'.

 

[kcballer21]

Right. The "god gene" is a typical leap to a conclusion by a physicalist researcher who is already convinced consciousness is "caused" by the brain. All interpretation of data goes the way of the researcher's a priori belief. The truth is, correlation (rather than cause) between brain states and consciousness is a perfectly viable interpretation.

I agree that such a thing as the 'god gene' is a leap, and unrealistic, but have you yourself ever proved (even to your own self) there is something beyond the physical? I'm tired of all this talk of the 'other'... the other is us, we are the other.. time to own up. If there is an existence of a belief, any belief, it is a result of the complexity and development of evolution. the belief doesn't have to perfectly adaptable, or adaptable at all to survive, there are too many variables that could otherwise allow a belief to survive. Just as an atheist somehow has the mechanism and inference system to convince himself that the universe is godless, a deist/theist has that other thing. It just so happens that reality favors but one of these mechanisms. and there is a "best" method so far to be applied by those that are conscious to determine the nature of this reality.. notice i don't say perfect, but best so far.

 

[Royce]

..., but have you yourself ever proved (even to your own self) there is something beyond the physical?

Both Les and I have proven to ourselves, or better, had proved to us, that there is something beyond the physical. Our "proof" of experience and observation has been validated, duplicated and supported by the experiences and observations of countless others for thousands of years. I'm talking about meditation or union.

It is a personal experience and cannot be empirically proven to someone else, but only experienced by one's self. Les' and my interpretation of our personal experiences differ but we both agree that there is a lot more to reality than just the physical.

Materialism/physicalism is based on the belief that the physical system is a closed system in that only a physical event, cause, can produce a physical change or effect. Yet the physical scientists and everyday observation have shown that there are uncaused events happening all the time in the physical world indicating that the physical system cannot be a closed system, and that, therefore, pure physicalism is untenable.

 

[selfAdjoint]

Royce I was with you until you said this:

Yet the physical scientists and everyday observation have shown that there are uncaused events happening all the time in the physical world indicating that the physical system cannot be a closed system, and that, therefore, pure physicalism is untenable.

Physicists agonize endlessly about preserving causality. What "uncaused events" are you referring to?

 

[Rader]

It seems what you are questioning is the nature of good.

What seems never to be considered in these types of discussions is, does the second law of thermodynamics allow for Gods? If it does then it would seem that It is an integral part of a closed system of mutable parts. Claiming that It is outside of the system is even more implausible since we know of nothing outside of this universe that exist or that has any influence on it.

Is it an illusion that it appears that good increases in the world? If it is why do we strive to do stupid things like help hurricane victims or feed the hungry or try to irradiate diseases? We never used to do this you know, it use to be survival of the fittest.

For some strange reason we have evolved thumbs cognitive brains and religions.

 

[Royce]

Physicists agonize endlessly about preserving causality. What "uncaused events" are you referring to?

Any and all purely random events such as radioactive decay, quantum uncertainty, virtual particle generation and decay, chance etc.

By uncaused I mean not physically caused or predictable. Also voluntary and purposeful movements of my body initiated by my mind and will. We have discussed all this before and I realize that some of these examples are controversial or not completely accepted; however I hold them to be ontologically physically uncaused and/or unpredictable.

Thus, the physical system cannot be a completely closed system.

Ergo, there must be and is "something else" in addition to the purely physical system.

(This is the same argument that I put forth to support my argument that determinism is not tenable. This makes sense since both are based on a closed system of physical cause and effect.)

 

[Royce]

It seems what you are questioning is the nature of good.

What seems never to be considered in these types of discussions is, does the second law of thermodynamics allow for Gods? If it does then it would seem that It is an integral part of a closed system of mutable parts. Claiming that It is outside of the system is even more implausible since we know of nothing outside of this universe that exist or that has any influence on it.

Or, does God(s) allow for all of the laws thermodynamics?

Yes, it follows that if we define the universe as all that exist, then it is a closed system and "Nothing" can exist outside of the universe.

If God exists He/She/It is part of the universe and therefore part of the closed system.

If this is the case and such things as consciousness, will, thought and ideas exist then they too are part of the closed system.

If this is the case then the observable physical universe must be a part of, a subset of, the entire universe.

Is it an illusion that it appears that good increases in the world? If it is why do we strive to do stupid things like help hurricane victims or feed the hungry or try to irradiate diseases? We never used to do this you know, it use to be survival of the fittest.

For some strange reason we have evolved thumbs cognitive brains and religions.

If this is true then there must be a cause the increases the good in the universe?

 

[newp175]

It seems what you are questioning is the nature of good.

What seems never to be considered in these types of discussions is, does the second law of thermodynamics allow for Gods? If it does then it would seem that It is an integral part of a closed system of mutable parts. Claiming that It is outside of the system is even more implausible since we know of nothing outside of this universe that exist or that has any influence on it.

Or, does God(s) allow for all of the laws thermodynamics?

Yes, it follows that if we define the universe as all that exist, then it is a closed system and "Nothing" can exist outside of the universe.

If God exists He/She/It is part of the universe and therefore part of the closed system.

If this is the case and such things as consciousness, will, thought and ideas exist then they too are part of the closed system.

If this is the case then the observable physical universe must be a part of, a subset of, the entire universe.




If this is true then there must be a cause the increases the good in the universe?

I think that many do not understand the notion of infinity. God is infinitely powerful by definition so everything must be infinitely insignificant and small compared to him. So, thinking that any physical law allows the existence of God is wrong, it is the other way around. As far as suffering and evil is concerned, it is not Gods doing but we on our own choose to create it, perpetuate it and not regret it when we see the results due to our selfishness and pride.

Concerning the God gene, I am very sceptical on all sorts of studies aiming to prove race IQ, the existence of god or other, since funding in science dictates they all have an agenda. Besides I haven't seen the study yet and I don't think it examined why people ended up believing in God or the function of that gene (existence of a gene with such an effect in psychology should win a Nobel prize).

 

[Royce]

As far as suffering and evil is concerned, it is not Gods doing but we on our own choose to create it, perpetuate it and not regret it when we see the results due to our selfishness and pride.

This is exactly my point! Thank you, newp175.

Concerning the God gene, I am very skeptical on all sorts of studies aiming to prove race IQ, the existence of god or other, since funding in science dictates they all have an agenda. Besides I haven't seen the study yet and I don't think it examined why people ended up believing in God or the function of that gene (existence of a gene with such an effect in psychology should win a Nobel prize).

Science, including medical science is always trying to show some physical cause for non-physical phenomena. I don't think that they will be happy until they have reduced life and humanity to nothing more than chemicals.
Of course I'm biased toward the non-physical phenomena. At my age that's about all I got left. In my teens and twenties I was all for the more physical aspects of life and humanity. You may take that any way that you please.