----- Original Message ----- From: "Carrol Cox" <cbcox at ilstu.edu> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 8:37 AM Subject: Re: Nietzsche and the Nazis
> Most obviously, yes, but universal salvation and eternal bliss raises
> its own question about divine 'goodness': If everyone is going to end up
> in paradise, what in the hell [sic] was the purpose of tortureing
> billions of people for millions of years,
Ah, yes, the problem of evil. Theists are left without a rejoinder.
> it IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHAT HAPPENS on earth.
The answer to the question of whether or not anything that transpires on Earth matters is independent of eternal bliss. I can't justify inflicting suffering on others _now_ by appealing to their future salvation, unless that suffering is an essential means to that end. In this way, the Christian doctrine mirrors visions of communism that require the strife of violent revolution.
-- Luke