More Theodicy

When starting this discussion, Rob wrote the following words I've extracted. I'd really like to see some involvement in talking about this issue, as I've wrestled with it for years.

To bounce back, I'd like to offer up a couple of counter questions/thoughts on Rob's original post.

Christians believe in a good, loving God who cares for his creation, yet we live in a world that is full of pain. War, theft, murder and rape dominate our cultural landscape. How can an all-powerful God allow such atrocities to occur?

Either God is all-loving, but is unable to stop the sin in the world, or he is capable of ending the evil that we see in the world, but refuses to do so, rendering him somewhat less than our idea of a loving God.

No offense to Rob here, but can we really say that these are our only two options? Is our landscape of understanding God really so limited? We have to choose between an all-loving God who is unable to stop the evil or who simply refuses to do so?

Why do we humans demand such sweeping independence and control over our own lives and those of others and then blame God when our choices really screw things up? Do you think there's a possibility that God's love doesn't equal stepping in to prevent our destructive independence?

If a man allowed his 4-year-old daughter to run out into the street to play, what would people say about him? Surely they would say, “He is a bad Father. That child could be hurt or even killed!” Anyone who loves their child would never let them be in such danger. Yet God not only allows us to wander into traffic, so-to-speak, but it appears that quite often, he himself throws us into the danger!

What does this say about our heavenly Father? How can he claim to be good and loving and still allow evil people to run rampant?

First off, can we say that God throws us into danger? I may be wrong here, but it seems to me that the Eden story teaches us the genesis of a basic human trait -- the demand for and reliance upon our own independence and control of the world around us; our attempt to take into our own hands the job of defining good and evil on our own terms, separate from the one who is the source of all Good.

Are we right to even phrase this discussion in terms of what God allows or restrains? What effect on God's relationship with humanity would restraining the evil that flows from the abuse of our free wills have? Would it turn us evermore toward God ... or further away toward more extreme independence?

Please, everyone, feel free to weigh in on the topic at hand. You don't even have to answer any of the questions posted thus far. The floor is open for all of you to share your thoughts and lead the discussion. I'll be checking back soon for your responses.