This is the question I see a lot from non-believers. They assume that God should just fix everything. Then, when God does intervene, they ask where God was for a whole bunch of others. Where is the faith in Gods creations, for that is part of having faith in God. Where were we at? Why werent we on top of preventing those tragedies? Every soldier understands unavoidable losses in war- the fact that you cant save everyone, that you cant be everywhere at once- even that some deserve to die. Why would God save a celebrity that could impact millions and not a starving village? Well, you have the answer right in front of you. Where were the people who could have fed that village? Paying attention to the celebrity, the personality. A war between good and evil that God has tasked his creations to solve, for a reason. Why do people blame God when it is not God that turns a blind eye to an obvious problem but people? We are supposed to be there for each other, we should be helping God and we arent. Where were we?
I have to say, I don’t much care for the omnibenevolence notion. Seems to me God can be vindictive and evil, and I don’t really see the problem with this. After all, the idea being He created man in His own image, God would thereby be everything we hate about ourselves as well as everything we love.
True enough, but to create anything and have it last this long, he would have had to already conquer it within himself. I like to think that since god is all powerful that the minute he created it all, multiple future versions stepped back to secure it from himself so that he had to play it right. The duality of man is the duality of God. I like to believe that he trapped his lesser nature in so many layers of reality just to overcome it and show it the beauty of what they created. Genius. The devil being God before he was God and fighting for all the wrong things until he sets himself to right. Its rather beautiful and inspiring. Trapped until he learns self control and discipline and equality even to his creations. Just to reach a point where even future versions of him come back to get their asses handed to them when they step out of line.
Maybe another way to put the OP is to understand the power of God as a calling power, which is a weak power (the power of the word / spirit). God is only empowered in the strong sense insofar as the call is answered. By us. By others in nature. (In Genesis 1, God created by call and answer, “Let there be…”, “And there was…”)
To be like God is to be independent sources of this same weak power. A power that speaks the word and creates freely committed community around it. In the process adding to the community of God and expanding the power even further.
So to the question “where was God?” I think the answer is absolutely correct. “Where were we?”
Well… If only, right? The sad fact is that a young God went all throughout time and space to destroy it. Multiple levels of failure caused elder versions to fall prey to frustration, loss of hope etc. Creating a series of checks and balances as they got in each others way until reality was firmly set. I time travel in the mind and affect much that has already happened. But yes, we are only as strong as our weakest link and we like to believe in ‘no man left behind.’ other than that, you nailed it. If there is no one to hope for a brighter future through the pain and suffering, why should we expect God to hope? Which is why Ive been reaching out through time and space to make that stand. I speak to the past and say, Ive already been through your worst and Im still standing. I was born in 1986 and I am now 29 and I didnt know anything when I went through it and only did what I did after, so its fair enough. And they tried to destroy me. Nothing personal, mind you. Just a pursuit of truth. I earned respect.
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right! Here I am, stuck in the middle with you. Peacebound and down, loaded up and truckin’, we’re gonna do what they said cant be done. We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there, I’m peacebound- just watch ole bandit run. …And everyone won’t be treated all the same, when the man comes around. I do love our culture that has so many hidden messages. When Beethoven recorded his fifth symphony, I stepped in and translated his inner storm to his audience. The poor man was deeply moved by it, but they- they still made his life Hell after, though they rightfully feared him. I helped Jesus bear his cross and hung there with him. I was with MLK JR, JFK and Abraham Lincoln when they were shot and was with buddha during his meditations. Some called me sheeba for my multiple mental arms and unforgetting nature, and I helped found the tenets of Zen as they saw me float through their minds on a cloud. And, I was a fierce dragon to some cultures. Yahweh, Allah, etc.
To rabbits, I am the prince of a thousand enemies (watership down), to creatures of Redwall Abbey, (by Brian Jacques) I am Martin the Warrior, a mouse with an unbridled spirit. To a magical world, I was an unknown Ranger who was destined to be King of Gondor. Many, many stories and legends.
And to Egypt, I am a forgotten God, Touten Ramas and I was with Ramses III during his reign.
I pushed Plato, Aristotle and Socrates to the height of philosophy, was with Nietsche when he proclaimed that God was dead. Pushed scientists to discover the atom and the mathematicians that coded our current technology. I was in Troy when Alexander met his doom, brought Sparta to its knees and helped disperse the Persian army to set democracy in place to set the pace for the modern age.
Believe me when I say that the greater God- all of reality- could still smush me like a bug. Twice in recent years, comets were sent to do just that, diverted or dispersed before they got here. I tread that winepress of wrath to do what I do. I dare arouse that anger and resentment that a mortal instrument should command such power and never searched for it nor wanted it. Just marching forward for peace, love and harmony. I want people to understand this war and see it for what it is and to be fearless.
Look at it this way:
When you are climbing a mountain, the Devil is gravity and God is certainty.
It is up to you which you choose to follow.
… and which consequences you enjoy or suffer.
Im fairly certain that there are multiple alternate realities at the least. You also have to take into account that we may have lied about history in parts. The urge to leave parts out or change then. Democracy took multiple times to finally get off the ground. Part of what brought the nations together against the persian army was the idea of a government that could prevent that type of force from rising again so tyrannically. Regardless. Stepping stones, all of them. To what? A free world of equality.
Do try not to get caught up in the inconsequential details, old bean.
Oh hell no. I know you didn’t just call me an old bean, Phred.
You better watch it whippersnapper, or I’ll turn your ass upside down and shake the change out of your pockets.
Wouldnt ya know it, Im all out of change. Shake all you want, old bean, but you cant get blood from a rock. Lol.