Since you believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible and that God acts in the world, explain why:

1. Approximately 5,000,000 children die of starvation or disease every year.

2. Deadly viruses, bacteria, and parasites exist and kill millions.

3. Poisonous plants and animals exist and kill tens of thousands.

4. Birth defects exist and affect millions.

5. Miscarriages exist – around 20 million a year.

6. Storms, famines, and natural disasters have killed millions.

7. Wars, including religious wars, have killed millions.

8. Addictive drugs exist and kill hundreds of thousands.

9. Crime is rampant throughout the world.

And your God does nothing.

Also, explain why you believe the Bible is the inerrant word of a purported creator of the universe, when:

1. The God of the Bible abets and commits genocides and wars on a monumental scale. Men, women, children, and babies are slaughtered. Pregnant women are eviscerated. This loving God creates a world-wide flood that destroys all animals and all humans except one family.

2. The Bible God is the biggest abortionist ever.

3. The Bible contains passages that are unsuitable for children to read.

4. The Bible contains many contradictions.

5. The Bible contains many implausible stories.

6. The Bible endorses slavery.

7. The Bible God demands love, but love and respect must be earned.

8. The Bible God of love sends unbelievers to a sadistically evil place for all eternity.

9. The Bible God has anger management issues.

Yes, you will say that when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world and free will was given to them to make choices, some good and some bad. But why should innocent animals have to suffer because of Adam and Eve’s bad conduct?

Or, you will say that Satan and his minions are acting throughout the world producing all the havoc. Why would God create Satan knowing all this would happen? How did Satan get all this power? Why would Satan do this when he knows he can’t defeat an all-powerful God? Obviously, Satan is just fictitious.

To quote Epicurus: “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

David M. Keranen

Bakersfield, California, resident with longtime Copper Country ties