Comments on: “The Best of All Possible Worlds” http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:50:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Scroop Moth http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375661 Scroop Moth Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:54:19 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375661 And the Seven Years War, too! And the Seven Years War, too!

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]]> By: Amphipolis http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375592 Amphipolis Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:16:02 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375592 Candide's sarcasm is just a bit too thick for me. Although my historical mind loved the Lisbon earthquake reference. Kyle - good point. Candide’s sarcasm is just a bit too thick for me. Although my historical mind loved the Lisbon earthquake reference.

Kyle – good point.

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]]> By: Kyle A http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375581 Kyle A Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:05:06 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375581 This is not the best of all possible worlds. It is the fallen, ruined world that is largely in rebellion against God. Our first parents rejected the best of all possible worlds. As MIM implies, there would be no discussion of why there is evil in the world without a God-created and God-driven desire for goodness and justice. In the world of the atheist, the terms "good" and "evil" have no objective meaning. What is, is. The "problem of evil" is mostly a poor excuse used by lazy people already determined to reject God. This is not the best of all possible worlds.

It is the fallen, ruined world that is largely in rebellion against God. Our first parents rejected the best of all possible worlds.

As MIM implies, there would be no discussion of why there is evil in the world without a God-created and God-driven desire for goodness and justice. In the world of the atheist, the terms “good” and “evil” have no objective meaning. What is, is.

The “problem of evil” is mostly a poor excuse used by lazy people already determined to reject God.

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]]> By: Scroop Moth http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375572 Scroop Moth Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:24:37 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375572 The cross-as-remedy is not too far removed from Candide's ameliorative gardening. There is shared imagery in the seed that "dies", is buried, and produces life. Voltaire didn't dream that spilled drops of blood make Good Friday's lovely flowers, but he thought the gardener's drops of sweat make a practical contribution to the world. What a wonderful book -- one of the best there is, I think. The cross-as-remedy is not too far removed from Candide’s ameliorative gardening. There is shared imagery in the seed that “dies”, is buried, and produces life. Voltaire didn’t dream that spilled drops of blood make Good Friday’s lovely flowers, but he thought the gardener’s drops of sweat make a practical contribution to the world.

What a wonderful book — one of the best there is, I think.

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]]> By: Amphipolis http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375561 Amphipolis Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:06:04 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375561 <i>Best of All Possible Worlds</i> Candide ruined that term for me. Now all I can think of is that story. I prefer to think of it as the world God has chosen for his own reasons. That gets the issue of sovereignty out in front where it belongs. But the same world that is filled with seemingly meaningless human suffering (a la Candide) also contains the cross. They go together. Best of All Possible Worlds

Candide ruined that term for me. Now all I can think of is that story.

I prefer to think of it as the world God has chosen for his own reasons. That gets the issue of sovereignty out in front where it belongs.

But the same world that is filled with seemingly meaningless human suffering (a la Candide) also contains the cross. They go together.

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]]> By: hrw http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375553 hrw Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:14:39 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375553 In the Spinoza vs Leibniz dispute, I'll take Spinoza read the Courtier and the Heretic In the Spinoza vs Leibniz dispute, I’ll take Spinoza

read the Courtier and the Heretic

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]]> By: Kwerna http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375532 Kwerna Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:54:25 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375532 What? Whoever said it is a Christian belief that this is the best of all possible worlds? Which catechism is that in? Citations? Sources prior to Leibniz in 1710? Pangloss ran around saying so in Voltaire's Candide, but that was a satire.... What? Whoever said it is a Christian belief that this is the best of all possible worlds? Which catechism is that in? Citations? Sources prior to Leibniz in 1710?

Pangloss ran around saying so in Voltaire’s Candide, but that was a satire….

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]]> By: Make it Man http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/02/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-375466 Make it Man Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:09:42 +0000 http://online.worldmag.com/?p=18214#comment-375466 Why does man crave justice? Why does man crave justice?

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