The question is does God cause cancer, pain and other sickness?

An intelligent Atheist (Most Atheists are intelligent) asked me this on youtube.

I will state what I believe.

Of course God doesnt cause cancer! Its like saying God causes things to come back to the ground, thats called gravity.

People like to blame someone for what happens to them...they win the lotto they thank God (it may or not of been God I dont know)

They loose a loved one they blame God.


Drinking causes health problems like liver cancer. Is it God's fault for someone getting liver cancer? or is it their fault because they are drinking alcohol?

Does God or the Devil spread aids around? or is it sexual promiscuity?

What about if you get hit by lightning, is it God's fault? No! lightning in a thunder storm is inevitable, this is called living a world which has death...50% skill...50% luck.

My arguement is not that God or the devil causes cancer or other related things, but it is just consequences of living in a sinful and degenerated planet.

This post has been edited by Solja247: Nov 4 2009, 11:22 PM

If God wanted to, He could.

Does He? I'm not too sure. Has He? Well, I don't know specifically about cancer or particular situations, but there was the ten plagues at least.

Gravity is a lame argument. God controls gravity and is the one who caused it.

God causes everything. He created human beings with the possibility of catching diseases, and does nothing to remove it, despite having the power. Ergo, it was not an accident and God intended people to catch diseases. I would view this as a type of cause.

As to Satan, I don't believe God would allow him to cause death to humanity.

By the way, did God create viruses along with the world's animals?

God certainly created everything; this includes thigs we view as negative to our lives but theyre necessary to existence.

Yes. God has bad things happen to us so we can grow closer to him.

And you know that how? Did He tell you? Eh? Please, tell me...

God did not create cancer, but was a side-effect of the fall.
Cancer is a mutation of DNA (or RNA, I don't know everything about cancer) creating a large ammount of abnormal cells.
That mutation occurs because of cosmic radiation, all the stuff coming from the sun, farther stars, pulsars, etc.
Before the flood, there was a large moisture blanket around the earth. This cause an even climate worldwide (no ice caps), and it blocked out all the radiation the magnetic field didn't. (also, the magnetic field has been degrading since).
THAT is what causes cancer. God didn't want to do it, and he can certainly prevent it, it is man's own wickedness cause God to to that...
I SUPPOSE it came from God, but not in his love.

Thats a good point



If you throw a ball in the air, what brings it down?


Really? He causes genocides to happen?
,
Wrong! When Adam and Eve were created, they were perfect! They didnt have any fault, thousands of years of humanity has led to the degeneration of the human body.


You say God causes Aids and cancer?



I am not too sure about the viruses, I will ask God when I meet Him.
But animals? Of course He did!



That makes no sense. No bad things happen to us and our relationship is strengthened BUT God doesnt cause bad things to happen e.g. getting cancer.

Gravity. But what makes gravity work? What sustains the entire universe. John 1 is quite clear on this, that Christ sustains everything. He upholds everything by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3).




God is the first Cause. Any other statement would be completely illogical and unbiblical. God is the first cause. Does He cause genocide to happen? Well, if you read the Old Testament He kills hundreds of thousands of men. He destroyed the earth with a great flood. He rained plagues down on Egypt. He gave Israel over to imprisonment when they failed to obey. The Old Testament is very clear in this one fact: God is sovereign. That He controls nations. Romans 13 makes it clear that those in leadership are appointed by God. So, while He may not always be the direct cause of genocide, and while He is not the author of sin, yet He uses these things to make known the riches of the glory of His grace upon vessels of mercy (Romans 9).


If Adam and Eve were perfect then they would never have fallen.



These things exist because man fails to follow His Creator. When man fell God cursed man and told him that he would die. Jesus said not to fear those who can only kill the body but fear Him who after He has killed the body can throw the soul in hell.






Romans 5:3-5
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

What are viruses necessary for?

They're after your brains, dude! They wants to eat them...

Gravity causes a ball to come back



No!

This was due to sin! The world wide flood, plagues on Egypt etc. The Genocide in Rwanda wasnt due to sin.



I was meaning their bodies were perfect.



Actaully is says, 'Do not fear those who can destroy the body, but those who can destroy the body and soul'

This is where you are wrong. God doesnt cause cancer it is either two things: Hereditary and lifestyle. eg. You may be prone to get cancer, another may drink alcohol and get liver cancer.



I agree, but God doesnt pour tribulations on us, tribulations can make us stronger in Christ.

It seems, that at least unconsciously, we've taken to understanding God moreso in a sense more akin to process theology. God is here not understood of as the autonamous agent willing God's control over the world; God is not the omnipotent figure in any coercive sense, rather God exists as an influential agent, (if "agent" is even the right word to use in this context). For many theologians God is understood of more as an "event" in which we enter into when we participate in agapaic love and hospitable communal orientation; a persuasive force that seeks to bring about no fixed teleology but a persuasive force, contingent upon the very socio-economic and cultural issues pertaining to human love, mercy and justice. This theory, at the very least, makes sense as a sociological theory of the Christian religion.

In this respect theodicy is understood more progressively, the universe itself has the possibility of both "good" and "evil", it is in the process of being restored to what exists as an ideological utopia; an ideological "beginning" or "golden age" which is mythically held at the forefront of political, religious and cultural theorizing. The "eschaton" which we understand as the realization of the "presence" of a "before-hand" that has actually never existed. The point of the "eschaton" is an effort of humankind towards a final aim that re-orientates itself at every turn and is never fully realized; much like Jacques Derrida's "concept" (sous rature) of différance. Although, this is just my own personal theorizing.

Josh

"what are viruses necessary for?"

evolution. They help out ou immune systems by bein exposed to harmful pathogens and viuses so as to help out bodies create better antbodies. I suppose. What is a giraffe nEcessary to?


"God did not create cancer, but was a side-effect of the fall.
Cancer is a mutation of DNA (or RNA, I don't know everything about cancer) creating a large ammount of abnormal cells.
That mutation occurs because of cosmic radiation, all the stuff coming from the sun, farther stars, pulsars, etc.
Before the flood, there was a large moisture blanket around the earth. This cause an even climate worldwide (no ice caps), and it blocked out all the radiation the magnetic field didn't. (also, the magnetic field has been degrading since).
THAT is what causes cancer. God didn't want to do it, and he can certainly prevent it, it is man's own wickedness cause God to to that...
I SUPPOSE it came from God, but not in his loVe"

really you need to stay in school.


woah dude. You couldn't be more wrong. Cancer is not only caused by radiaton. There was no moisture blanket, and the magnetosphere haw absoutely nothing to do with he sins of man.

If "many" is a very small minority, I suppose.

We still don't need them. The only thing they make us protect against is themselves--assuming we can.

I'm not the one who said they were necessary. I don't think giraffes are either; but at least they're not hijacking people's DNA.

By the way, we don't produce antibodies to deal with viruses. Viruses are not biological.

Unless we're just going to kill the hijacked cells, that is.

God does not give us pain or diseases actually Jesus came and took all our pain, physical, emotional, mental on the cross.

Matthew 8:16-17 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

satan gives, cancer, Arthritis, Aids, etc. Which when sickness of any kind comes to us we can actually reject it, but since most Christians don't know this, they usually think it's a suffering for the Gospel kinda thing. Which is wrong!

Sin = cancer
Sin = Aids( laying in a bed with a same sex was the cause of aids)
And when we sin and it is not repented of it gives satan legal right to do whatever he wants.
Basically any pain that comes our way all we have to do is repent of any sin in our lives, reject the pain from your life, rebuke it in Jesus name by and believe by faith, and take the healing because Jesus took up all our infirmities on the cross and carried all our diseases. Sickness is not our portion period and Jesus does not make us sick.

Uh... no he didn't. But it makes sense that people who have been through hard times have gotten closer to God because he helped them through said events.

You can get AIDS from monogamous sex with your spouse. And how does one get cancer by sinning? (I only ask because you provided a direct sin to associate AIDS with.)

True men and women who have sex together can have aids, but that's because one or both have had multiple sex partners. You take a virgin and a virgin and you wouldn't have aids. I only stated the homesexual thing cause it's true, aids have risen not only from that but unprotected sex with multiple partners.
I believe anyone that has sex outside of marriage and outside of the bibical way opens themselves up to such illnesess.

Sin without repentence opens doors for demons to have access into our lives. And when demons have access they can do whatever. Most of the time it's generational curses on family lines that have not been broken off that pass cancer and such to each generation unless it is broken off.
I have seen this where each generation in a family get's cancer because they have not broken off the generational curse and repented on there generations behalf.
Like, when we sin it doesn't just effect us but our generations to come. It may not even be our sin that gives us such illnesess but the sins of the past generations that have passed on and have not been broken off.

Sorry if it's deep but it's true.

It's not a matter of being "deep"; it's simply wrong.

Yes, your chances of getting an STI go up when you have multiple partners; but it's hardly the only way to get it. Infected blood transfusion; improper use of medical needles (not just in drugs, mind you); any swapping of bodily fluids; being born to an infect parent.

Are you really going to argue that all of the people who have a disease because of these reasons are being punished for their sin?

The cancer thing doesn't make much sense, either. I mean, we'd be able to see more definite examples of "this terrible family has this disease," but instead we see "the little old lady who served the lord her whole life died of breast cancer" or something.

If you're looking for "depth," go look into the free radicals that are involved in the mutation of cells.

Diseases, pain, and suffering occur for one of two reasons:

1. The result of disobedience.
Ex. Nebekinezah

Deuteronomy 11:26 - Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 2 - A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 - And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

2. For the sake of God's glory.
Ex. Job

Psalm 119:71- It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Acts 9:16 - For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Romans 5:3 - And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 - And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 - And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2 Thessalonians 1:4 - So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

You can find more on this in 5 Reasons GOD Permits Problems

But in reality, the only reason God allows problems to happen to ANYONE is so that they can cling to Him and humble themselves, along with realizing who He truly is.
So, in response to the poll, I believe God ALLOWS disease, I do not believe He CAUSES it. I believe disease, like sin, is the result of being without God.

John 9:1-3


This post has been edited by Yves: Nov 8 2009, 12:55 AM

Viruses, bacteria, disease etc are all necessary to life. If they weren't necessary, then why do they exist?

Everything in existence has a valid reason or their existence, even cancer.