by Shawn Kew

Created on: March 01, 2009

If God is benevolent why does he require that I believe? Is it not enough that I do what is good? If on the other hand God does require that I believe in him, then why should I hold him to a lower standard than he holds me. God may believe in me, but it is not required that I believe in Him to live a 'good' life. So really, why should I believe in God?

Benevolence precludes all requirements of the recipients of that benevolence. The Websters dictionary gives four definitions for benevolence.

1: disposition to do good

2 a: an act of kindness b: a generous gift

3: a compulsory levy by certain English kings with no other authority than the claim of prerogative. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Benevolen ce)

If I accept the property of benevolence commonly attributed to god as being the first definition, then his "disposition to do good" must preclude it having any kind of bias in order for it to be a perfect benevolence. 2a and 2b are not attributes, which leaves us with definiton number 3. This definition actually fits the benevolence that seems to be associated with God, after all if he will cast men down for no more than not accepting his authority, is he not making the calim based on perogative. Indeed, "better to reign in Hell than serve in Heav'n."(John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book I, line 263)

Now if we keep the first definition of God's benevolence, then why must I believe? Why is our own good action less than sufficient, or to put it another way, why is belief given precedence over action? This could only come from the idea that all good intentions are born of God. If that were true then my mind is always being influenced by God when I am acting from good intentions. If I follow good intentions then I must believe in them. Good deeds are the performance of good intentions. Therefore good deeds are the result of believing in God, whether I believe he exists or not.

Like many atheists part of my dispute with the Omnipotent benevolent creator is the problem of evil. Why is it that an all powerful all knowing and merciful being allows even one attrocity? If living a dificult life cultivates a better soul and is there fore better than an easy life, why not make all lives equally dificult? The fact is that some people will live an easier life from day one than others, some are born to abusive parents, some are born into a loving family with wealth. The fact is an entity cannot be all knowing, all powerful and merciful yet allow that difference to occur. Would

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