Alex,

>>Don't misread me here.. I, too, would like to see the perp go to prison. They take good care of sexual predators there...
>
>>People make choices Alex. Don't blame God for the choices people make.
>
>That's BS. Did the little girl made a choice that day too?

Of course she didn't. The individual that made the choice to harm this little girl is the responsible party. Are you blaming God for the choice the child didn't make or the one the man did make, or God for not making the one you think should have been made?? So, what you're really saying if you chose the third option is, "If I were God I'd have done this in a different way." Well, glad to know you don't have a self image problem. <g> But, neither you nor I are God so that's kind of a foolish alternative. Therefore, it's choice #1 or #2 and I choose #2. I blame the man who made the decision, not the child nor God.

Let me ask you a question: who makes up your mind for you in any given situation?

I'll bet that your response is that you do. If so, then who is at fault if you make what turns out to be a bad decision Alex? Do you blame your parents, society, someone else or do you take responsibility for making a bad decision?

I'm really quite interested in your answer.

If you blame the results of your bad decision on someone else, well, then you might as well go get on welfare because you've just labelled yourself as a victim. Don't be surprised that people do not show up for your pity parties though... <g>

If you are a mature adult (I think you are BTW) then you will stand up and take the responsibility for your bad decision.

Ok.. So how in the world do you want to blame God (whom you claim doesn't exist BTW!) for the results of a (very) bad decision some fellow made?

Where's the logic in that? What is so wrong about placing the responsibility where it belongs??? On the person who made the decision....

Answer: There isn't any logic in it. You're being emotional and IMO irrational because you're upset that God doesn't follow your plan for life? The man who made the bad decision is responsible for that bad decision, just as you or I would be.

We all want to not make bad decisions but I dare say that not a one of us makes it through life perfectly in this issue.

Now.. Add conscious thought to that decision and, of course, it's elevated to a much higher level.

Our decisions (choices) impact those around us, no matter how hard we try and deceive ourselves that this is not the case. That's not suggesting either good or bad, just that they impact those around us.

That poor little girl had another's decision forced upon her. She was violated first and foremost in this area. God will never force anyone to make a decision they do not want to. That's called respect, just as it would be if that nasty person had shown respect for the wishes of the little girl (and her parents). He didn't, which is hugely sad.

But don't think that because God is longsuffering that He is unjust, unable or unwilling to settle this matter.


>
>Did your God allow this to happen because...
>
>a) He's not omnipotent and couldn't stop it? Or was too busy that day?
>b) He's not omnicient and couldn't forsee it?
>c) He knew but allowed it to happen anyway because the guy's freedom of choice was more important than the little girl's well-being
>d) He knew but didn't care.
>e) He knew and wanted it that way. Maybe because the little girl was a bigger sinner and needed punishment? Or maybe because God is just perverse and enjoyed the experience?
>f) Or maybe there is no god and that was just a random act of violence by somebody that shouldn't be on the streets, as it unfortunately happens everywhere, every day.
>
>Take your pick.

g) He gave mankind the ability to choose and has chosen to respect His own choice. No one forced that perp to damage the child, including God. The man, by himself, made that choice. Not a good one, and surely with consequences far beyond his personal concerns, but he made it, not God, so he is responsible, not God. Man is not a robot for if he were stripped of his free will he'd be one. You don't believe mankind should be stripped of its ability to make choices, do you? If not, then you must accept that some will make bad choices.

There really are folks who are innocents and who have very bad things done to them by other human beings who deliberately do those bad things to them. But, it's the human beings that are choosing to do these things. IMO they are grossly misusing their ability to choose but there it is. The classic example is that jesus was sinless but he was killed. Not because He did something to deserve it but because man is evil. Don't blame mankind's evil on God; that was man's choice. Personally God didn't need to pay the penalty for all of man's bad choices but He did - on that cross - so you and I wouldn't have to receive the justice of God but could receive the mercy and grace of God.

There are very few people who have the courage to stand up and take responsibility for themselves and I really admire those who do. I know personally just how hard that can be. <s>

Like I said, don't blame God for the choices of mankind. You and I will live and die (here and for eternity) as a direct result of the choices we make. Everyone in heaven will have wanted to go there and everyone who ends up in hell will have chosen that path of their own free will - in spite of a free pardon.

Could God have stopped the man? You bet. Why didn't He? I don't have any idea. That doesn't mean God is evil as you suggest. That just means that we are not all-knowing and that we do not have all the facts. and that we are limited and not God. Neither you nor I have that kind of capacity and to presume to have enough to blame God is, well, IMO extremly foolhardy and candidly silly on the face of it. Surely you're not suggesting that you know everything? I sure don't and I don't think you do either. If you don't how can you presume to know enough here to get so mad at God?? You know something He doesnt? <g>

The physical world is such a small part of existence. What is it, 70-80 years? Compared to eternity is's a small flash of light compared to the heart of the sun.

People get really mad all the time and blame God for something that's the result oftentimes of their own decisions! Talk about irrational..