[mama2riley]

Interesting argument

Did God create everything that exists? Does evil exist? Did God create evil?

A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?"
A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"
"God created everything?" The professor asked.
"Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything; then God created evil. And, since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."

The student became quiet and did not respond to the professor's hypothetical definition.. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that t he Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"
"Of course", replied the professor.
The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"
"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The other students snickered at the young man's question. The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created th is word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton 's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to ma n. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The young man's name -- Albert Einstein

A true story

[JeanLynn81]

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing that bit.

[hennypenny]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't disagree more. I don't have 'god' in my life, and I don't go around committing evil crimes, I still do good in this world. It's like saying, if you don't believe in god, you must be evil. I take offence to that.

[QueenAngie]

Albert Einstein was a genius, a scientist held in high esteem, and ahead of his time.

Not everyone has to agree with him, Hennypenny.

But I do.

[hennypenny]

I agree he was a genius, but I still strongly disagree with him. The implication that because I don't have god in my life, makes me a violent criminal. I am NOT a violent criminal. I believe the things he said were overly generalised and simplistic

[hennypenny]

http://www.snopes.com/religion/einstein.asp

The link above proves it's false anyway, I now can go back to respecting Einstein once again

[chrissyf320]

Whether it was Einstein or not it still is a good story! Very good points!

[twinzplus3]

This indeed is an interesting way to describe evil but Albert Einstein was not a Christian in any way shape or form.

As far as evil, I think it's necessary to understand that most evangelical Christians would believe in original sin. . .the idea that we are evil at our very core being and it is only God that would cause us to be good. So it's not a matter of one being a violent criminal or fitting a broader definition of 'evil'. It's more answering questions like these: have you lied? have you ever cheated, stolen anything? Have you ever had impure motivations? Have you ever been manipulative? These too, according to the Bible are also actions absent of God.

Taking it a step further. . .having sunshine or rain or even breath to take every morning communicates to me God's existence. These are good things which I think only come because of God.

As far as the story, while I don't think Einstein could've possibly said it. . .this is an excellent scientific explanation of 'why' there is evil. The laws of the universe tend to follow the same patterns, many of them are described in the Bible, and from a 'scientific' point of view. . .evil being defined as the absence of God follows the pattern.

[mama2riley]

#1 The story never said Einstein was a Christian

#2 "Daily examples of man's inhumanity to man," as Valorie pointed out, does not only merely refer to extreme acts of violence, but even the "little" things like lying, harsh words, cheating on your tax return, disrespecting someone, being selfish, etc becasue these are all contrary to God's character.

#3 I find it very interesting that someone would take a random webpage someone posted and take that for 100% truth in a heartbeat over a book that has been around for centuries and is believed by masses of people to be God's Word to humanity. Wow.

#4 This was not a personal attack on anyone or their beliefs. I received this from a friend and posted this to share in the Christian forum because most people who browse here do at least believe that God is real despite other doctrinal differences. I'm sorry if you were personally offended, hennypenny, but this story makes a great point and might offer up an explanation of Christian's beliefs in a clearer way for those who are searching for an answer in this life in a very evil time.

[twinzplus3]

Melissa--I'm sorry. I wasn't at all attacking your story. I think it was a good one to share. And you're right. . .it never said Einstein was a Christian.

I still wonder if he said it. . .but regardless it is a good story!