What should we expect of our Creator? What is he like?
Throughout history, every tribe and culture has established rules of some sort that define what is acceptable behavior, while prescribing consequences for violators. Every land has its laws, though they vary wildly based on cultural norms.
This effort to establish some kind of reciprocity represents mankind’s inherent knowledge of something we call “the golden rule.” The idea is to treat others as we would like to be treated. Everyone gets it. Laws aren’t necessary to tell us we’ve been cheated; we know what that feels like. The law exists to restore justice.
That’s pretty interesting.
But the strange part is this: Every society agrees to certain behaviors based on their culture, and then codifies them into laws. And yet, no matter what those laws are, a portion of the population will always violate them. Why is this? Why can’t we even follow rules we define?
It’s odd. But the point is that all people strive to follow rules they define as good behavior—yet regularly fail. No matter our culture, no matter the religion, everyone fails.
Atheists don’t behave like monsters. Even those who don’t believe in a Creator also try to lead respectable, ethical lives. Everyone is aware of the way we should behave, and everyone generally tries to behave. Those that don’t try to hide their bad deeds. The likely reason for all this is that our Creator has left an imprint on us that leads to empathy and compassion for others, and a longing for justice. This makes a compelling case that our Creator is kind and loving—and wants us to be, too.
Since everyone aspires to be better than they are, and since the goal is to be kind, caring, and respectable in the sight of all, and since everyone wants justice when they are mistreated, it is logical to conclude that the Creator of mankind represents all these qualities. We know what’s best. We recognize good. But try as we might, we don’t always measure up. We don’t always behave nicely. We aren’t always kind. Or loving. Or forgiving. Or understanding.
But that’s what we want from others. We all recognize what is good.
Isn’t this what the god of almost every religion represents? Love, kindness, forgiveness, justice? The Creator is good and we all know it—no matter what else we believe.
But if God loves and cares about us, this introduces a puzzling concern: Why does He allow so much suffering?
