# Just curious how drowning a bunch of kids can be considered God's will **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 15, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860 "2025-07-15T01:00:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/341 "2025-08-29T20:03:28Z")
Interesting. My Presbyterian minister friend doesn’t believe it. I just figured he’d be in line with the church on that. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/342 "2025-08-29T20:06:43Z")
If time is eternal, and heaven is so perfect, then what is so bad about being called there 60 years earlier than average? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/343 "2025-08-29T20:07:36Z")
That’s surprising from a minister. Does your friend believe that there’s stuff God is too weak to accomplish, or does he believe God’s just a dick sometimes for no particular reason? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/344 "2025-08-29T20:13:10Z")
I don’t know but this thread made me think of asking him. He’s a very intelligent man with a philosophical bent - he probably knows more about the Epicurean paradox than I do. I’d be curious what he says. Hmm. Will report back. He’s used to me asking him random questions about the specifics of his beliefs. I find religion fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/345 "2025-08-29T20:14:00Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > If time is eternal, and heaven is so perfect, then what is so bad about being called there 60 years earlier than average? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ycHuEGqM0Fs/maxresdefault.jpg "Happy Birthday") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycHuEGqM0Fs) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/346 "2025-08-31T15:35:13Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Yes, God does exist If that is your opinion, fine and dandy. If you are stating that as a fact, well, would you mind showing us the evidence for the existence of the god you happen to believe in? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/347 "2025-08-31T17:37:44Z")
I believe in God, too, but I try not to let my belief affect my life. By which I mean, if I found out tomorrow that God doesn’t exist, I’d like to think that - inevitable existential crisis aside - I’d still be the same person with the same goals, principles, morals and ethics. My belief in God is for my own benefit; it shouldn’t have to impact anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/348 "2025-09-01T15:26:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If you are stating that as a fact, well, would you mind showing us the evidence for the existence of the god you happen to believe in? It is a fair question. I am going to attempt to give you an answer that I am very uncomfortable with. My operating system is God. It was installed in me at a very young age in an orderly and timely fashion. I identify as Christian, but Christians say I am an atheist. I have no reason to look past that. If I destroy or deny my operating system, I am quite sure it will malfunction. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/349 "2025-09-01T15:30:34Z")
So your proof and/or evidence is that you succumbed to indoctrination. This has happened to millions upon millions of others, so what makes your god real, and their gods not? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/350 "2025-09-01T15:30:59Z")
Why are you uncomfortable with this? It’s the kind of gibberish that’s totally on brand for you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/351 "2025-09-01T15:42:45Z")
Why would Christians call you an “atheist” if you believe in your god? They are not in the habit of calling people of other faiths “atheists”. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/352 "2025-09-01T15:50:54Z")
It’s not a proper god. A proper god is something close enough to what is described in Christian scripture. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/353 "2025-09-01T15:55:49Z")
That doesn’t make you an “atheist” in most Christian’s eyes. At worst, it just makes you a follower of a false god. WTF is HoneyBadgerDC referring to when they say Christians consider them to be “atheists”? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/354 "2025-09-01T15:59:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > of a false god. WTF is HoneyBadgerDC referring to when they say Christians consider them to be “atheists”? I only have a sample of 2 Christians, so I don’t know what the others would say. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/355 "2025-09-01T16:04:09Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I identify as Christian, but Christians say I am an atheist. These are your exact words, but now you claim it is a totally insignificant number of Christians-_two._ Don’t you think it is a little early to win the “Bullshit Answer Of The Day” award? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/356 "2025-09-01T16:06:06Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Why are you uncomfortable with this? It’s the kind of gibberish that’s totally on brand for you To you it is gibberish because you are shallow. If I hear something from the bible, I don’t just write it off as bullshit. I assume it has a good reason and try to figure out what the reason is. Original sin I think simply means no operating system installed. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/357 "2025-09-01T16:07:46Z")
You pick and choose from the Bible…just like all the other Christians. BTW, why do those _two_ other Christians think you are an “atheist”? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/358 "2025-09-01T16:10:25Z")
If you believe in Hindu gods, Chinese Traditional Religion gods, Allah, Yahweh, Ra, Odin, etc, you’re not an atheist. If you believe in some amorphous depersonalized force, that’s not close enough to a god that SOME Christians would recognize to make you a theist. Remember who we are talking to. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/359 "2025-09-01T16:11:59Z")
A self-serving liar? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860/360 "2025-09-01T16:13:43Z")
I don’t pick and choose anything, just the opposite. Whatever comes up I try to examine it. I look for reasons that would make sense in society. I believe it is all invented by man, but that somewhere far back it is because of God. I have no concept of what God might be. Whatever it is I am pretty certain I could not comprehend God. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-curious-how-drowning-a-bunch-of-kids-can-be-considered-gods-will/1020860.md?page=19)