[papillon]

>On a more philosophical note: Is God evil?
>

This is exactly what I'm trying to understand. Read the post by Atlias on whether God is an atheist. I found it enlightening(sp)

>God has allowed us free will, so that we can make choices and
>out of this we sometimes choose to do evil. The person who
>rapes a child falls into this category...

Ok those who believe and those who don't at least have alot of things in common as to what is evil and what is not. Therefore I agree on your free will case up to an extent..... Now in the case of the raped child or adult for that matter, what free will is granted to him/her by God to prevent the rape!!!

>Natural disasters like the Tsunami are in my opinion NOT
>evil.

I concur

>But if God knows everything He certainly knew the Tsunami was
>coming, that people would die and suffer and did not prevent
>it. So therefore can one argue that God did not love those
>people?
>

Kuna kitu! if he really loves them, why then should he allow them to go through the Tsunami. When I look at all the calamities (hunger, war, diseases etc) ravaging(sp) the African continent, I do have a BIIIIG question for our GOD. Did he create some of us to suffer????. Are some of us pawns in his chess game. Remember xtianity plus other religions argue that he has power over everything if that is the case why allow evil and bad things to happen to innocent people!!!!!