This question was asked to Stephen Fry and I love his answer. So I ask you what would you say?
To answer my own question I suppose I would be more logical and tell God it was his fault I did not believe in him because if he created me then he knows I would not blindly follow anything that reads like a fairytale or where there was no proof of existence.
Well I'll be damned.
This one made me laugh.
I would ask him why he allows so much needless suffering to be focused on people that don't deserve it and allows so many horrible people to experience success and have influence.
I was listening to some youngsters at a "Meeting" once. They were going on and on about the same topic. And how that's why they don't believe. came my turn to "share". You gotta know I will share some shit! I said; "Imagine for a moment you are GOD. You would be supremely intelligent and have ALL information for your decisions. It would follow that you would always know the right thing to do, and be too smart not to do that. Perhaps He(She, It, whatever) so loves us that he gave us the one thing that even He doesn't have; Free Will.
Further, consider eternity. You have a child, you love them more than anything. They mash their finger in the chain on a swingset. You know how terrible the pain is, and you hate that your beloved child is going through that. However, it's a passing thing and not that big of a deal. Imagine one who was born into the worst painful and degrading life ever. And they lived it for A HUNDRED YEARS! Given the postulate of life eternal, you'd have to think GOD hates all of the strife and injustice, but it's really not that big of a deal in the long run". As I watched their faces dealing with new concepts, (My favorite hobby, by the way), I said, "And I don't even buy that supernatural shit!". But your logic is flawed. If you don't believe in "Magic" do it for sound reasons, don't just "Whistle in the dark" hoping you are right because you think you have fucked up and are hoping for a loophole.
Can't beat Stephen Fry's response. Some good additions here already, though.
Me? I'd ask him why, when a man rapes his 12 year old daughter, he sometimes pushes that big old 'make a baby' button of his. If he has the power over conception, and every new life is his will and blessing, why does he burden any 12 year old with that? Especially one that's been a victim of their own parent.
Indeed, why does he press that button for people who can't afford to raise their children or won't care for them, and staunchly refuse to press it for well off couples who would dote on their child?
Anyone would think that he just stabbed at that button at random. Or that he and the button didn't exist in the first place.
In my defense, I was skeptical and really high and severely unloved. Also, what's up with my being transgender? Did you like, make a mistake or something? It's ok, I forgive you I guess.
I would ask "Why did you allow SO much suffering, especially to innocent children who were abused or starved to death?"
I would ask, why is everyone I know more moral than you.
Everyone I know would stop murder, rape, assault, famine, why won't you?
If I had only one question?
Why must there be suffering? How does it serve anyone or anything? Why do you allow it to continue.
And if he gives me the freewill dodge I would punch him in the face.
I would say"Oops...my bad... you've done a pretty horrific job at this... would you like some help? And some wine?
Him???? I plan to be dead when I have died. None o this magical thinking . I reserve my magical thinking for elves, fairies and dragons. This gives me a chance to post my favorite quote:
βDo not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.β
Gang rape? Why'd ya think that was a good idea? The bystander effect? Children with cancer? Anybody with cancer for that matter? The elections of 2000 and 2016. Dead 6 million Jews. Why? People spending their entire lives in prison for crimes they did not do. Shame on you.
Depends which god I suppose.
i don't think it depends in which god, just think of it all of them promise a paradise the wonder place, is this a game?
Pick one and give it a shot. Let's say, for shits and giggles, you meet the late J.C. -- or his dad. What do you say?
Id tell him he should be on his knees apologizing to everyone he killed with a natural disaster or by terminal illnesses or something like starvation.