Would You Serve a God Who You Believed was Evil?

[Achilles6129]

How evil and in what way? The reason I ask is: if this malevolent bugger is likely to toss me in the lake of fire on a whim anyway, what is the point of serving him? A God who rewarded his followers’ loyalty to him, or held to his side of a bargain, wouldn’t be as evil as he could be…

Evil by your standards, like the God of the Bible is evil by humanity’s standards (see Rev. 11), but not something objectively evil, like, say, rape (sexual). Let’s say something that most likely would be defined as evil from a natural person’s point of view (like executing your child for cursing you), but which may have an explanation from a much different point of view.

 

[Achilles6129]

To answer the OP…NO.

So, then, in order for you to serve God he would have to be good by your standards? How exactly do you know that your definitions of good/evil are the correct ones, or that you even understand the true nature of good/evil, for that matter?

 

[Neoplatonist]

Evil by your standards, like the God of the Bible is evil by humanity’s standards (see Rev. 11), but not something objectively evil, like, say, rape (sexual). Let’s say something that most likely would be defined as evil from a natural person’s point of view (like executing your child for cursing you), but which may have an explanation from a much different point of view.

The question is: WHY serve this God instead of following my own moral compass?

 

[Achilles6129]

The question is: WHY serve this God instead of following my own moral compass?

Because God understands the true nature of good and evil and everyone outside of him does not.

 

[Bahman]

The question is simple: Suppose God exists but that he’s reprehensibly evil by your standards. Would you serve him?

You first need to define good and evil which are different from right and wrong. Evil in my dictionary is not equal to wrong and to understand what does mean we have to understand what good is.

Good is the quality of convergence of a set of beings with the aim to unify the beings.
Evil is the quality of divergence of a set of beings with the aim to disunify the beings.
Right is the quality of being correct base on a set of facts.
Wrong is the quality of being incorrect based on a set of facts.

If we accept these definitions then we see that God cannot be good or evil but right and not wrong.

 

[VICTOR_BROWN]

it’s contradictory to say that ‘God is evil’. thus, it’s irrational to say that ‘God’ is evil’ metaphysically. if you will agree with me, by most definitions of God, it is evident that ‘God’ is that being, where ever he exists, above whom nothing can ever be thought of nor uttered. Therefore, any God(s) who is within the all encompassing comprehension of an individual, not ineffable, and whom man is able to assign his mortal and perishing standard as evil, fails to be a God, and those who acknowledge him as God are in resplendent darkness.

 

[CrossofChrist]

No. He wouldn’t be a God, anyway. An evil God is no God at all.

 

[Achilles6129]

Why would an evil God be no God at all? Satan is evil (according to Scripture; possibly not according to human standards - see Rev. 13), and he is in fact a god (though not God).

 

[CrossofChrist]

Why would an evil God be no God at all? Satan is evil (according to Scripture; possibly not according to human standards - see Rev. 13), and he is in fact a god (though not God).

That’s my point. He’s not God. I would only worship the one that is ipsum esse–existence itself. What’s the point otherwise?

It’s the reason why, even if Jupiter or Thor or some other god actually existed, I still wouldn’t worship them.

 

[oldcelt]

So, then, in order for you to serve God he would have to be good by your standards? How exactly do you know that your definitions of good/evil are the correct ones, or that you even understand the true nature of good/evil, for that matter?

The same question could be asked of you. You believe in some ancient writings that have very little provenance…I believe in observation.

 

[The_DNA_Rose]

The question is simple: Suppose God exists but that he’s reprehensibly evil by your standards. Would you serve him?

The question can only be simple, after you explain what God is…

Which you can not do, which forbids simplicity.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Satanists worship an evil being as a “god”. You’re asking essentially if I could worship Satan. Not on my life.

Under the most common form of Satanism, the satanist do not believe that Satan actually exists. IT seems to mostly be theatrics.

 

[Achilles6129]

That’s my point. He’s not God. I would only worship the one that is ipsum esse–existence itself. What’s the point otherwise?

It’s the reason why, even if Jupiter or Thor or some other god actually existed, I still wouldn’t worship them.

OK - fine. The point is that this God who is “ipsum esse - existence itself” would be in fact evil (perhaps monstrously so) by your standards. Would you still serve him?

 

[Achilles6129]

The same question could be asked of you. You believe in some ancient writings that have very little provenance…I believe in observation.

My answer to the question would be that because God is omniscient and therefore the most intelligent Being that there is he would be the one (possibly the only one) who would know the true nature of good/evil. So it would be reasonable to follow God’s standard of good/evil because he’s the most intelligent Being. Simple as that.

 

[Achilles6129]

The question can only be simple, after you explain what God is…

Which you can not do, which forbids simplicity.

I’m sorry…I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Given a person or set of people that are not god-like if those people were actively threatening and torturing a person and his/her family and would only provide moments of relief in exchange for service I get the feeling that there exists a number of people that would comply for the sake of themselves and/or loved ones. If instead of that group of people we had someone with god-like powers I also get the feeling the answer would not be very different.

Now if it were an evil god that kept his/her attention focused to a certain area and the person being asked this question didn’t live in that area and had no emotional ties to anyone that did then I think the likelihood of not serving that god increases.

 

[Achilles6129]

Given a person or set of people that are not god-like if those people were actively threatening and torturing a person and his/her family and would only provide moments of relief in exchange for service I get the feeling that there exists a number of people that would comply for the sake of themselves and/or loved ones. If instead of that group of people we had someone with god-like powers I also get the feeling the answer would not be very different.

Now if it were an evil god that kept his/her attention focused to a certain area and the person being asked this question didn’t live in that area and had no emotional ties to anyone that did then I think the likelihood of not serving that god increases.

Ah. So you’re saying that you (or people in general) would only serve a God who was evil by your standards under torture?

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Ah. So you’re saying that you (or people in general) would only serve a God who was evil by your standards under torture?

Only? No. but I think this is a scenario under which people that would otherwise say “no” might decide to serve an evil god.

 

[CrossofChrist]

OK - fine. The point is that this God who is “ipsum esse - existence itself” would be in fact evil (perhaps monstrously so) by your standards. Would you still serve him?

So if my terribly incorrect vision of reality–incorrect if I failed to take being/existence as good, even more wrong if I took it as evil–caused me to conclude God was evil, would I serve him?

If I really came to conclude that, I’d commit suicide. So no, I wouldn’t.

Glad reality isn’t that way! Thank the Lord!

 

[lightbeamrider]

We all know atheists many atheists consider God evil, but then again they consider each other evil.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Watson

Elevator incident

At the June 2011 “World Atheist Convention”, on a panel that also included Richard Dawkins, Watson spoke about her experiences with sexism within the atheist movement. Among the topics in a vlog posted following her return from the trip, she described how after the talk and extended discussion with a group of attendees, a man from the group followed her into an elevator and said “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I find you very interesting, and I would like to talk more. Would you like to come to my hotel room for coffee?” Watson cited various contextual reasons why this felt inappropriate, and advised, “…guys, don’t do that.”[24][25] The ensuing discussion and criticism across several websites, including reddit and the Pharyngula blog, became highly polarized and heated to the point of vulgar name-calling and some personal threats, including rape and death.[26][27]

The controversy increased when Richard Dawkins joined the discussion later in 2011, describing her response as an overreaction since she had not been harmed, and then contrasting the “elevator incident” with the plight of women in Islamic countries.[28][29][30] In response to Dawkins’ comments, Watson stated that she would no longer buy or endorse his books and lectures.[31] The result of this exchange led to an extended internet flame war. In the wake of this and an incident at a Center For Inquiry-sponsored event, where female atheists reported gender bias and inappropriate behavior, organizations including the Richard Dawkins Foundation have reviewed their policies regarding sexual harassment and non-discrimination.[26] In 2014, Richard Dawkins stated, “There should be no rivalry in victimhood, and I’m sorry I once said something similar to American women complaining of harassment, inviting them to contemplate the suffering of Muslim women by comparison,” in response to which Watson tweeted, “Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling ‘sorry’ to me. Eh I’ll take it.” [32][33]

Can check out youtube on Rebecca Watson. I won’ reference them here because of obscene language.
conservapedia.com/Atheism_and_rape

In July of 2012, Watson declared: “I get regular rape threats. I get regular rape and murder threats”.[4] Furthermore, in August of 2013, Rebecca Watson said that post Elevatorgate she received a flood of rape threats and she continues to receive rape threats.[5]