Approaches To Theology

Theologians have a number of theories as to what God is, and for what He should be accredited.  The God of the old testament dates back at least 2100 years, possibly 2600.  The book of Genesis tells us about the nature of God and His activities, which are told through various stories of the Creation, the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the Tower of Babel.

At many points later in the Bible, it becomes explicit that God has a plan for us all.  From Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

That’s all well and good, but there are some beliefs that seem, at least to me, extreme.  In particular, the quote at the left asserts that everything in this universe is created by God in real time.

It seems to deny the concept of free will that we all believe we possess.  That’s especially problematic given that free will plays a big role in explaining how a beneficent and omnipotent God could allow such levels of evil and misery in the world.

If God is making whatever happens in my day according to His will, why shouldn’t I wake up to a stiff Bloody Mary and let things degenerate further from there?  What’s the justification for punishing criminals, who are powerless to behave honestly and decently?

Again, seems extreme from any vantage point.