Religion

Paine, Darwin, and Cruel and Capricious Gods

A disdain for the character and conduct of the deity as promoted by religious believers has always inspired an element of religious unbelief. For some, it is not just that the foundations of religious belief are poorly conceived or inadequately constructed; the deity held up for worship seems to possess a despicable temperament made manifest in deplorable acts. Is a deity that apparently instigates injustice and incites genocide worthy of homage? Most monotheists claim that their God is good and loving, generous and compassionate, deserving of adoration and entitled to praise. But what are unbelievers and sceptics to make of…

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