I wrote here my thoughts what to say to a child when they ask about Hell. See here.
Confession. I told my children some 35-40 years ago to say “this is not my father” when a stranger tries to take them away. I don’t think I would do the same today to not freak them out. My kids were not traumatized. It is now a joke in the family what Dad told them to do to be safe. What would I tell them now?
Every child is different. AI has good insights “what to tell a child about strangers.” Decide the best response for each child. Some kids are more sensitive than others to scary conversations. Part of parenting is to figure out the best advice for each child. Tailor your strategy to a specific age group (for example, 4–6, 7–9, or preteen)?
How to Start
After thinking about what each child needs, be sure to tell them not all strangers are bad, but children should be careful until a trusted adult says it’s okay to go with someone they don’t know. Encourage your child to always ask you when they aren’t sure. Of course, parents can’t always be around, so I would suggest to tell them never go off with anyone they don’t know. Maybe if forcefully taken, they can start yelling “this is not my father.”
There is no perfect answer, depending on each child’s sensitivity. Just think about best conversation to have depending on their age.
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
There is a difference between Islam and Islamism. Islam is a religion. Islamists are influenced by Islam but Islamism is a political ideology that seeks to organize and control government. It matters if one’s beliefs are based on Islamist principles. Islamism in my opinion is not compatible with Christianity or can coexist. Individuals must be asked specifically their below beliefs. Please don’t accuse me of being Islamophobic
I have written about my concerns regarding Christian nationalism. See here. I have written American was founded on Christian principles, but leaders should be careful in their language. The Founders believed in freedom of religion and beliefs. There is a difference in saying we are founded on Christian principles and we are a Christian nation. This seems to exclude all non-Christians. It boils down to how beliefs are acted on.
What is the main difference?
Allah had no son. Christianity claims Jesus was the Son of God. Christianity declares Jesus is what God is like. Readers have to decide who to follow. Allah or God and Jesus.
How is blasphemy treated?
Blasphemy means speaking disrespectfully about God or insulting sacred things. Leviticus 24:16 says someone who blasphemes God should be put to death in ancient Israel. But the New Testament shifts the focus from civil punishment to spiritual consequences. In most modern Christian-majority countries, blasphemy is not punished by law.
Islamism generally treats blasphemy as both a religious sin and a crime against the state. Because Islamism advocates for governments ruled by Sharia law, blasphemy is often treated as a criminal offense, not just a moral one. Even death for severe cases, particularly if the offender is seen as abandoning or attacking the faith. I am not aware Christianity having any such laws.
How to treat infidels
In Christianity, people who do not believe in the Christian faith are usually called unbelievers rather than “infidels.” The way Christianity views them comes mainly from the teachings of Jesus Christ and the New Testament. They are seen as people that God loves. (Rom 5:8, John 3:16) I do not think any form of Christianity can be accused of deadly consequences based on beliefs or not granting freedom of belief on earth.
In Islamism non-Muslims may be allowed to live in society but with a different legal status in a state governed by Islamic law, though interpretations vary widely across movements. Shouts of “Death to Americans” don’t suggest coexistence is allowed according to Islamism.
Gays
Unfortunately, Christians are not united in claiming God does not condemn gays. Many refuse to admit the Bible can also be interpreted to not condemn monogamous same sex relationships. See here But, at least Christianity cannot be accused of supporting death for those who are in same-sex relationships. Islamism consider that sodomy is considered a capital offense in Iran, where execution methods include public hangings. Many Muslims interpret Islamic teachings differently, but many Muslim governments support criminal penalties that can include fines, imprisonment, or death penalties. That is a severe difference rather than condemnation
And women
Unfortunately, Christians can be accused of women bias as much as Muslims. Sorry, any religion that requires women dress up to protect men’s eyes is anti-religion in my opinion. Men – control your own eyes. But then some Christians claim the Bible requires women submit to men’s authority in certain roles that men are not required ot submit to men. I doubt the Bible teaches that; I am not sure why any fair-minded person would think women can’t fulfill the same roles as men unless believing a Book about God teaches otherwise.
I doubt Paul, a main writer of the New Testament, was a bias against women. See here. Most agree not allowing equal roles because of skin color is immoral. Choosing who should lead the company based on gender is obviously bigotry. The most qualified or gifted should surely lead the company. Why not in church? Men in authority over women whether in public or private life is conducive for domestic abuse and the other atrocities women face at the hands of men. Give me an inch and I am tempted to take a mile! So, both religions suck and have extremists.
What about Violence
Many, but not all, Christians and Muslims, can be accused of advocating violence and possibly genocide. Most religions allow war in certain circumstances when fighting evil. The problem is extremist groups like ISIS can misuse Islamic language to justify violence. Christians aren’t necessarily off the hook. Some suggest the Old Testament advocates violence or genocide in certain circumstances. (I Samuel 15:1-5) It certainly seems that way. As discussed below the problem is whether one’s holy Book is inspired by God. If writers are portraying God accurately because God is controlling their thoughts, as opposed to sharing their own opinions of God, then most followers feel an obligation to follow in their God’s inspired footsteps.
The problem with inspired Scriptures
There are extremists with any religion whether Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. The problem often is how supposed inspired texts by God are interpreted. It is rarely admitted that our interpretative views of God according to the Bible could be right or wrong. Some say God condemns gays according to the Bible, others interpret the same passages differently. Even if we could prove God inspired every word in the Bible (God controlling what writers thought and recorded), we should always question interpretations since biblical scholars interpret differently the same passages.
Supposed inspired interpretations by God or Allah can lead others away from God, because if a Supreme Being advocated a belief, most assume we are obligated to endorse and follow. I argued that if we did not assume literature is inspired, but rather the writers wrote what they believed was true of their God, we could avoid extremism. Use common moral sense to understand God, rather than assuming writers never misunderstood God. See Shouldn’t we assume the Bible isn’t inspired by God – all rants against the Bible
Final Thoughts
I believe those who claim Islam or Islamic as their beliefs would refer to themselves as Muslims. Those who claim Christianity as their religions would call themselves Christians. Not all Muslims or Christians hold the same above beliefs. Their beliefs should be questioned to discern what actions may follow. One may think I have been biased toward Christians reading the above. I do associate more with their beliefs than many Muslims. I believe Muslim beliefs are more extreme than Christian’s beliefs. Depends on their belief of their Holy Book and interpretation. Let’s have open discussion of personal beliefs.
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
I am not one to often recommend Bible stories. See Here my rants AGAINST the Bible. But, my wife found such a book that I felt comfortable recommending my kids read to my grandkids. She doesn’t have the same views of the Bible that I do. I really liked The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible
I wrote in the front of the Book a suggestion to explain to my grandchildren in ways they can understand before reading. I grew up in the institutional church for decades and this perspective was never shared with me.
Keep in mind Bible stories aren’t always literal stories but the writer used a short simple story to teach a moral lesson or truths about God. Or to illustrate ideas about life, behavior, or values. For example, the New Testament include parables – such as the Good Samaritan which teaches about kindness and helping others. It doesn’t matter if the story really happened.
(There really weren’t talking snakes in the Garden)
We don’t have to know if the story is literal. Explain to your children the differences in stories. Instead of the writer stating the lesson directly, the story lets you figure it out. That is the fun part of reading Bible stories to children. Ask questions of your children “what do you think God or the Bible is trying to teach us?”
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
Certain religious groups (some Christians and some Islamic movements see the war in Iran and Middle East conflicts connected to end-time prophecies. Some rhetoric around the Iran conflict has referenced Armageddon and biblical prophecy. It is often that different religious groups interpret the Bible’s prophecies in different ways. The honest answer to the question asked in the title of this Post is that no one can definitively say we are living in the Biblical “end times.” It depends on your interpretation. How we answer this question matters. War decisions are made based on beliefs which lead to many lives lost.
Why is it likely prophecy doesn’t predict the future?
There are two basic views of prophecy in the Bible. That prophecy foretells future events that will happen or that prophecies are conditional. Whether they come true depends on the actions of nations. Prophecies may only be warning about future possibilities. Prophecies that aren’t conditional, on how people respond to God, imply God doesn’t respect the freedom to change. To be free, creatures must choose among possible options, having a say-so in choices. Even the Bible speaks often as if God doesn’t know the future. God hopes Israel would accept God’s guidance, but Israel often turned against God (i.e., Jer. 3:19-20). We don’t have to play mental gymnastics by assuming God is only pretending to not know future decisions.
Believing the world is coming to an end and somehow God is going to rescue you in the sky by a rapture can lead to passivity. We mustn’t wait on God to “fix” things by coming again. We must do all we can for the next generation!
A God who doesn’t knows the future is more relatable
It is natural to think an all-knowing, powerful God has special insights into future outcomes to avoid problems. But God can’t tell you if the person you want to marry won’t end up betraying you or the job you take won’t end up being phased out. A loving human or spiritual parent would warn their child if they knew ahead of time of heartbreaks. God isn’t hiding a “known” future for important decisions. God joins us in an open future.
When the Bible says God grieves with us in our suffering (Psalm 56:8), we can know God agonizes with us each step of the way and deters any suffering possible without violating freedoms or acting controlling. God joins us in our joys and sorrows in real time.
Biblical evidence of the end-times
Many make decisions believing they can usher in the end times. But there are two interpretations. There is some biblical evidence that the end times mentioned refer to what happened in the first century, thus having been fulfilled:
If the Bible teaches God is coming again to destroy the world in the future, why did Jesus tell his audience that supposed predictions about the world ending (maybe not a physical ending) would happen in their lifetime: “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Mt. 24:34)?” Jesus said to his audience when asked about the last days: “watch out that no one deceives you….you will hear of wars and rumors of war (Mt. 24:4-6). Why would Jesus use such language if the world was going to end 2000 years and counting?
Jesus also gave an important warning: “No one knows the day or the hour.” (Matthew 24:36)
Our future
Shouldn’t believers focus more and more on living faithfully than on trying to predict dates? We must not make war and the loss of lives based on an interpretation of ancient literature. No one can claim their interpretation is correct.
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
I think that as followers of Jesus, we should be able to accept and love everyone. No matter what we believe, what our faith or doctrine is, no matter our religion, nationality, sexual preference or color, we want to see each other as Jesus sees us. This is a type of love we cannot do on our own. It is only possible by the love of God within us. We want to love, accept and care for people.
It is only natural that we will not always agree, but we want to look past those areas of disagreement and love each other in godly love. This is the way that others will come to see the love of God, not through condemning and bashing one another. Not in trying to prove we are right and everyone else is wrong. Love does not mean seeing eye-to-eye, it does not mean we agree or even like some of the things people do, but it does mean we look past the differences and love each other as Christ loves us.
No matter if we are gay or straight, black or white, religious or atheist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Taoist or Jewish or whatever label people put on us, the underlying fact is we are all human beings. We all deserve to be treated with respect and be accepted. Each of us should be able to live our life and make our own choices without being judged and condemned by others. We should be able to discuss our differences respectfully, and none of us should try to force our views and choices on others.
If we could look past the labels and see each other as people who overall want the same things, to be happy, to be loved, be healthy, get our bills paid and enjoy life, I think things would be better even with our differences. This is not to say we are going to agree with everyone, happily associate with everyone and always get along with everyone, that is just not going to happen. There are too many different thoughts, ideas, beliefs, lifestyles and personalities for us to agree on everything and be totally comfortable with everyone, yet accepting each other and respecting each other in spite of our differences certainly is a possibility.
Let’s look past the labels and see each other as human beings who have feelings, who want love and friendship. Let’s be people who can get to know one another, learn from each other, share thoughts and ideas and accept each other as being created in the image of God. God loves the world and we should make it our goal to do the same.
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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://deconstructiontrail.substack.com/ and https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/
Many rightly wonder if what Christian leaders claim about God is true. Who can blame them when God supposedly created a place such as Hell, to torture forever those who don’t believe in God a short time here on earth. In this Posts I will propose a question, which can paint one’s view of God, and then will provide a link what I have written before about the topic. I try to keep a page length with bold subtitles. It concerns a question about God that I wish people would be willing to discuss about God, so they could draw their own conclusions than what many Christians claim to be true about God.
The Bible/Jesus/God’s message isn’t dropping to your knees to avoid Hell to go to Heaven after death, but start loving now – a path toward great relationships. God’s main desire is for you to avoid a life full of regrets. See below link:
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
I write a lot about this topic as I named my blog over 15 years ago What God May Really Be Like So I often revisit what God may really be like. I used the word “May” because I was countering dogmatism growing up in church. Who knows what God is really like unless God talks to you directly? I am claiming that if you are told something about God that goes against universal moral intuitions, question it – such as is a literal Hell real? There are many interpretations of the English word “Hell” in the Bible. Would a loving God really create a torturous afterlife place for unbelievers? Intuitively, the only God worth believing in must be perfectly loving and moral. We can only assume what love is by comparing to perfect human love.
God must be good intuitively!
Many of us left organized religion, not God, because claims about God’s character was contrary to our deepest moral intuitions. It doesn’t make sense why a Creator wouldn’t love the same way we humans believe we were seemingly created by a Creator to love (aka goodness vs. evil). Even those who try to defend God’s violent ways in the Old Testament agree, or they wouldn’t attempt to rationalize why a supposed inspired/infallible Book by God reports bad actions contributed to God. We can’t always understand what perfect love is – to help a drug addict or let them hit bottom – but even the Bible assume we can understand God’s perfect love/goodness through human lens – “be perfect, as your heavenly God is perfect.” (Mt 5:48).
God can only be understood through “goodness” lens anyway
If God is bad or evil at times, we can only understand such actions by comparing/exploring what is good. If God was supposedly unloving, we can only pursue such knowledge by discussing what true love it. It seems we can only rely on human reasoning to decide what interpretation of the Bible is more likely, what are loving human actions toward others, or understanding what God’s love is like.
How do we know what “good” is?
Parents create/have children to be loved and teach how to love others. An existing Creator surely creates desiring to love and be loved. God surely love how we know parents should love their children. We all seem to know the question we ought to ask ourselves – am I loving others perfectly? That is how God loves. We know how we should love and how God loves – are you loving others like you want to be loved? We may not always be certain the most loving action, unless my son or son-in laws mistreat women! There is a reason anyone who justifies selfishness is often friendless.
Our inborn sense of good and evil, not an ancient Book, tells us sexual abuse or murder is immoral. Self-evident morals aren’t hidden in any Holy Book If one thinks their Creator loves contrary to universal moral intuitions (should infidels be destroyed in this life?), it is because of their interpretation of a supposed inspired Book by their God. When there is debate about laws we must have discussions.
Surely, perfect human love is the same as Godly love
The only God worth believing in must be perfectly loving as opposed to in any way hateful. God’s love surely is the same as supreme parents – other-directed not self-consumed. Love gets excited when we do well and make a difference in the lives of others. Love anticipates, hopes for my success, believes in me, pulls for me even when failing, because I do the same for my children. We doubt God but God still loves. Parents bring children into the world hoping their children freely reciprocate their love for authentic relationships. Why would God be any different.
Why wouldn’t God be most like what our moral intuitions suggest?
God’s goodness isn’t just according to the Bible!
Ancient literature is subject to interpretation. Even if the writers understood their God perfectly, which we can’t prove, we can’t claim our interpretations are perfect. The truth is biblical scholars who have a deep respect for the Bible don’t agree what God thinks about gays, women, hell, and other moral issues. See here. See here.See here. Gays are supposedly condemned, women’s leadership roles are limited, despite their gifts and a fiery torturous afterlife awaits infidels – all in God’s name
A Book cannot be the sole determinate of what God is like since the same passages are subject to different interpretations. Also, the majority of people born in this world did not have a copy of the Bible. We are left to wonder how a Perfect God, the only God worth believing in, truly loves. It is only intuitive that a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. We all seem to know the question we ought to ask ourselves – am I loving others like I want to be loved. It isn’t presumptuous to imagine what a loving God is like through our moral consciences. See here.
What was Jesus’ thoughts on God’s goodness or love?
Many, including me, are convinced to understand Jesus is to understand God. It seems Jesus came to suggest salvation is a current life of love, not a future destination to avoid Hell. Jesus told the woman who had committed adultery: “go now, and leave your life of sin” (John 8). Where was Jesus’ evangelical spiel? Jesus was asked by a religious expert how to have eternal life. He simply said to love God and your neighbor (Lk.10:25-37), since loving God leads to loving others. Jesus confronted the religious who kept laws but didn’t follow Jesus with their heart. Godly love surely seeks to empower us to be the unselfish people we deep down desire to be for a better world. See here.
Goodness or Godly love is exactly the same!
The Bible doesn’t always describe God in perfect human moral terms, so may God-believers resort to suggesting God’s actions are sometimes a mystery. Believers assume God must be perfectly good so rationalizations are made, since they assume the entire Bible is approved/inspired by God, They must explain why the Bible reports God acting violently or destructively. See 9 Reasons To Not Trust The Bible’s Claims About God! But a Book can’t be the definitive word about God since subject to different interpretations, and we can’t prove God always controlled what the writers understood and wrote about God.
How you imagine God’s love can determine how you relate to God
The truth is we can’t know definitely what an invisible God’s love is like. But the only God worth believing in loves perfectly. What is perfect love?
I propose we can know what God’s perfect love is like but imagining what a perfect parent’s is like. We can’t always know what perfect love is – whether to let an addict hit bottom or force them into rehabilitation – but only the guilty don’t know sexual abuse or domestic violence is evil.
If we think God is hard to please and pissed off about sin rather than what sin is doing to us, we may judge others just as harshly rather than showing patience and mercy
If God is really a warlike God according to the OT, we will use such behaviors to possibly justify going to war when we should
If God condemns gays, we will condemn gays out of devotion to God
If God thinks men have authority over women in some positions, that will filter down to your wives, daughters, and friends and stifle their gifts.
I’m convinced belief in a benevolent God, according to common moral intuitions, makes you kinder. We often treat others the way we think God treats us. How has God’s threats of punishment helped you break away from bad habits or behaviors you long to change? I guess fear God if helps to avoid consequences of destructive actions. But if struggling and need encouragement and mercy, a loving God awaits with open arms. Grace or authoritativeness doesn’t guarantee change, but I believe we best change because of a friend’s or God’s love and acceptance. See It Matters If Your God Is Nurturing Or Authoritative!
Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. Mike also writes on his own site that can be found at What God May Really Be Like He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com
When we talk about the Word of God, we usually think of the Bible.
If we say the Bible is just a book, people get all offended and ready to voice their opinion about the Bible being the Word of God.
Actually, I disagree with that thought. Based on John 1:1, the Word of God is Jesus. He is the true, living and inerrant Word of God. The Bible never says it is the Word of God or that it is inerrant.
So often, we Christians focus so much on the Bible that we forget we have the living Word of God inside of us. The Holy Spirit, who is God in spirit form, just as Jesus was God in human form, lives within us.
There is certainly nothing wrong with reading the Bible. Men were inspired to write what they thought about God, what they experienced in their search for God and what they saw as they followed Jesus. Through it we can learn from the past, we see the story of redemption throughout, we come to know the love God has for us and how God provided our salvation through Christ. We learn what pleases God and we come to know that it is only by grace that we are restored to fellowship with God.
The Bible teaches us the law and how we humans are completely unable to live a life pleasing to God through the law. The law was our tutor to bring us to realize that we need God’s grace through Christ.
The Bible teaches us of the freedom we now have in Christ and by that grace we can live a life pleasing to God. We learn that God is a Spirit of love and that God loves the world and wants to fellowship with us.
The part we need to get over is how we like to fight and argue over which version is the correct writings of the Bible. We need to remember that all versions of the Bible are only translations and man-made interpretations of what men thought about God and what they knew about God, yet all was given through inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
We need to focus on Jesus. Only Jesus is the true and living Word of God. When we focus on Jesus and listen for the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit within us, we will then hear and come to understand that the true and living Word of God is Jesus.
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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://deconstructiontrail.substack.com/ and https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/
This is the first time I am responding to the below post written 6/22/25 when a tumor was found in my brain. See update after initial Post below. I still have brain cancer. The tumor was removed but I still get brain scans that the tumor is not back growing. I am done with radiation and chemo treatment for the next 6 months but who knows after that. For some reason the initial diagnosis of the MRI that you have a tumor in your head didn’t freak me out. I just went in death-mode preparation. I don’t have scan freak-outs that I get every 2-3 months (maybe because I take a zanax), but I am too aware that brain cancer could come back and decisions will have to be made. I don’t know if I want to go through chemo again or whatever.
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Long story short 6/22/25
On April 15, 2025 my tennis partner, who is a Doctor, sensed I was off. (More than usual). I typically walk home after the match, but he insisted in driving me home and that I see my regular Doctor. I am so thankful for his urging. I saw my Doctor a day or two later and an MRI was scheduled. Within hours I got a call that I had a tumor in my brain. I had very few symptoms before except minor headaches that I thought nothing of. I was ready to play a third set of tennis that day but my buddies said no. Guess I was acting off/weird. Within days of the MRI, I was scheduled for brain surgery to remove the tumor (April 21). I spent those few days preparing my family, not knowing if I would make it out of the surgery alive or have motor skills severely damaged. Things went very well in terms of the tumor being removed (cancer still remains), The tumor was a severe cancer type. So, I begin chemo/radiation treatment shortly after for 6 weeks. I’m in my last week of 6 weeks of treatment.
No, God didn’t CAUSE my tumor!
I hope no one thinks God caused this tumor to teach me a lesson for my sins. I ain’t no saint but I’m kinder than most folks. I have friends who will verify. I know some selfish/evil people that are cancer free. I refuse to believe a loving God using tragedies to punish or teach one a lesson and we remain clueless reasons for such actions. Besides, that assumes God is simply pulling strings to control events in the world. Did God cause this for a greater good. I doubt it. God can’t control how I will react to a tragedy in my life. I could be pissed at God and no good comes of it. Some claim all evil eventually leads to good as if some grand plan by God. Not my God! Ask sexual abuse victims or family members of murdered loved ones if good always comes out of evil.
Or it is claimed we sinners have no right to question a Holy God. I have a God I can doubt, question, get angry with, whatever. That is what a loving parent/God is like. How do I know this? I have been a child of a parent and a parent of children. Why would a Creator create us to have intuitions of what true love is (allowing a child to question) but not be loving themself?
See Does God Really Punish Or We Just Reap What We Sow? Assuming God is in control of punishment makes a mockery of freedom. It is an oxymoron to claim God is in complete control and we humans have freedom. If God does actively punish and carry out wrath, God is letting a whole lot of evil in the world slide. God doesn’t love more those spared than those supposedly punished.
Does God Really Allow Cancer?
It is claimed a mystery how God can allow evil but not be evil. Humans don’t get a free pass if they can stop evil but don’t. Ask sexual abuse victims when their parent knew and did nothing. One might ask why God allows such harm if supposedly all-powerful. Thinking God is all-powerful (thus all-controlling) assumes God can pull strings to make certain things happen (allow). So much for genuine freedom? See God Can’t Stop Your Suffering And Evil!
Thankfully, I don’t entertain such a view of God which has helped having a positive view during all this, though I have many miles to travel in my journey. My silent friend (God), along with family and friends have been a life-saver. You have a lot of internal conversations when waiting for brain surgery or going through cancer. When one believes “God allows” your mind can wander. Why me and not others (is God’s love arbitrary – if God can supposedly control everything), what lesson is God trying to teach me. I never had to go there. I am convinced God isn’t all-powerful.
If we maintain that God limits their Power, this suggests God can do something but doesn’t. We must come up with a better explanation that God simply allows – thus controls – evils but isn’t responsible for such evils. A God who can prevent evil but doesn’t is counter-intuitive to love. No loving parent or God sits idly by when they could prevent tragedies such as rape or murder. Are we to believe God doesn’t care, God is punishing us, or God has abandoned us and left us clueless about the grand plan? God doesn’t just allow your suffering!
God may not be all powerful
It is only natural to believe a Supreme Being, if they exist, is all powerful. Most Christians believe this because of their understanding of the Bible taught in churches they attend but questions arise if God is all-powerful. If God can control everything, why doesn’t God intervene more in medical emergencies, rape, physical abuse, etc. A miracle supposedly saved Trump but not the gentlemen in the front row. I doubt it. God doesn’t pick and choose when to cause or allow suffering.
God can’t be all-powerful if all-loving. Perfect love isn’t controlling. Ask any adult child with a controlling parent. Thomas Oord in his new book defends ably that the Bible doesn’t necessarily claim God is all-powerful and can do anything. See here. God can’t tempt others (Jas. 1:13). It makes no sense to say God can exert all power and creatures can exert some power. I have never understood why God doesn’t stop evil if God can do anything. If “everything happens for a reason” because of God, this would make God responsible for all goodness and all evil. It is claimed a mystery how God can cause or allow evil but not be evil. This isn’t true for humans. Some claim all evil eventually leads to good as if some grand plan by God. Hardly!
What about prayer and miracles?
Many prayers asking for healing are obviously not answered. Are miracles arbitrary – God picking and choosing to bless some and not others? Conditions in our body may not always be right. Various biological and environmental factors are involved such as cells, organs, etc. If God wouldn’t take away your human freedom, it may not be a stretch to say God has to account for natural freedom as well. Miracles can happen when God’s uncontrolling love aligns with countless factors known and not known. God surely intervenes when circumstances will allow. Pray if you like, but God is already working to do all God can to prevent suffering. That’s what perfect Love does! See Why God Doesn’t Answer My Prayers?
I am convinced God is always seeking to intervene when possible. Pray for miracles, but don’t assume God can answer our prayers but doesn’t for some unknown reason. God suffers with us, but the unfortunate truth in a free world is suffering happens, though God is dying to help. We can pray but be more understanding when God can’t answer our prayers. Pray to God for emotional support and encouragement in difficult times. My silent Friend has gotten me through some difficult times when my brain begins to wander.
Did God really choose the Holocaust by not responding, including senseless suffering to children in the world?
Do you read the Bible Edwards?
I believe we should assume the Bible isn’t inspired by God. We can’t prove the Bible is or isn’t inspired by God. Besides, the Bible is literature that requires interpretation and we don’t all agree on the correct interpretation even concerning moral issues such as if God condemns gays or not. Many assume inspiration means God approved or controlled all recorded by the writers, especially characterizations of God. Many don’t think of inspiration as meaning that God encouraged or motivated writers/editors to record their understanding of God, thus possible being right or wrong.
See here all my rants on the Bible and why we need to rethink our understanding of the Bible.
So, what good is God?
The only God worth believing in or having a relationship with must be a perfect Lover. God can’t be all-powerful or controlling and be true to God’s nature. Thomas Jay Oord in his books says that so many positive elements can come from affirming a universal, divine Lover. Such a Spirit empowers, inspires, and accompanies us in our relationships with others. God knows and empathizes with us in our suffering. This is what I have experienced. God obviously grieves due to all the evil in the world. God suffered when Jesus was crucified. God suggested through Jesus’ example and words what kind of life lived here on earth can make for a much grander world. My relationship with God, though a silent friend, has carried me so far.
My future
I thought initially that surgery and removing the tumor out of my brain was my greatest danger, when discovered I had a tumor. Thus, why I tried to prepare the family and get financial house in order, as I thought I might not be back. Turns out most don’t die on the surgery table. Motor and physical skills can be damaged, which I didn’t realize as much, but I had a great surgeon. I was only in hospital two days after brain surgery, had brain fog for a week (you had to have 5 PHDs to understand my texts), but I felt pretty good after a week. It does help to be retired. I began radiation and chemo therapy for 6 weeks. So far, no nausea, I can handle the tiredness because I was very active before tumor. I get tired – I get moving. Sitting makes me more tired. My stamina affected but I can change some of my habits to hopefully see my grandchildren become teenagers. I am a cool POPS. I didn’t have a relationship with my grandparents, so I want to get it right as I did as a parent when I had children.
I am walking on the average 2-3 miles a day. Playing tennis two days a week. But, 5 weeks of great fortune with treatment doesn’t guarantee the next week of treatment and thereafter. And it takes some weeks after treatment to recover from tiredness, etc. So the journey ain’t over! I will have an MRI August 6th, a month after treatment to see how much treatment was successful with the cancer. Even if very successful I may be prone to seizers and other medical matters down the road. I could live a year but some with my type of cancer live 10 years or more. We will see. Thank God for God, family, and my friends. Peace!
February 25, 2026 – Update of my brain cancer journey
I have mainly written this journey to hopefully help some suffering and disappointed with God. What we have been told about God may not always be true. This is the first time I am responding to the above post written 6/22/25 when a tumor was found in my brain. I still have brain cancer. The tumor was removed but I still get brain scans every 2-3 months that the tumor is not back growing. I am done with radiation and chemo treatment for the next 6 months but who knows after that. For some reason the initial diagnosis of the MRI that you have a tumor in your head didn’t freak me out. I don’t have scan freak-outs (maybe because I take a zanax), but I am too aware that brain cancer could come back and what decisions have to be made. I don’t know if I want to go through chemo again or whatever.
Spiritually speaking, I know God didn’t cause or allow this. See above. God and I are good thanks goodness. God has been my biggest comfort through this journey as well as my amazing partner Janet. And I have amazing kids, I can talk and share with God with all my thoughts without feeling that God doesn’t care by allowing/cause my cancer. I happen to believe God is the perfect lover. I am free to speculate what that means. Basically – how I should love others like I want to be loved. How I wish to be loved and know how I should love others is how God loves!
Future fears – honestly, this second leg of my journey has been more challenging. I have had a few setbacks but not like having head split open and possibly coming back brain damaged. I got a skin disorder (bullous pemphigold) and a mild case of shingles from treatment. Going through infusion treatment. I got a low blood count making me susceptible to infections but good to go. I gained weight and knees hurt, but still walking for recovering. Tennis by choice has taken a back seat.
If you sit down and talk to me and ask questions, I may be even more open. I am not sure I will handle this second journey better than the first. I am told I have been a good patient with the initial news -fake it till you make it! I’ve been told it helped being so active and healthy. What may not be so visible is my understanding of God and my amazing wife and children.
But we will see what the future holds. I know God, Janet, and kids will be there for me.
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
We often hear that there should be unity among fellow Christians, yet how often does that seem to really happen? Do you get tired of seeing such disagreement among fellow Christians? Unfortunately, we do not see a lot of unity and agreement today.
Jesus said his followers were to be known for their love for one another. Yet today it is hard to find brothers and sisters in Christ being loving and kind. Fortunately, this is not the case in every situation, but it seems a lot more common than it should be.
I am not just talking about being accepting and kind toward those who are outside the Christian faith, but it is hard to find true love and acceptance among brethren of different denominations within the faith.
If we go to the same church building and accept the same doctrines, we usually find love and acceptance. I remember when I was in the church system the first thing I would ask someone was where they went to church. If they went to an organization I liked and agreed with, I would pretty much instantly like the person. If they went to a place that was different in their way of worship or interpretation of the Bible, then I would immediately be on guard and almost dismiss them as someone to get to know. This seems to be a pretty common occurrence.
It is sad that we put such walls up with people who think differently. It is sad that we have made such importance out of buildings, doctrines, interpretations and Bible versions that we forget God loves each of us no matter what we believe. We are to love God and love others just as God does no matter what they believe, especially among those who are also followers of Jesus.
Loving and accepting people does not mean we are always in agreement and that we always get along. Of course, there will be disagreements and differences of opinions, probably even arguments and hurt feelings at times, but that is life. We can disagree and even argue at times and still respect and accept the other person.
By the power of the Spirit within us, we can accept, respect and be loving toward others. Not only our brothers and sisters in Christ, but those who are not of the Christian faith and belief. I think we can disagree and have different opinions and still act in a respectful and accepting way toward our fellow human beings.
Jesus said that they will know we are his disciples by the love we have for one another. Love draws people, but condemnation, judgment and unloving behavior drives them away. It seems that when I say we are to love and accept others, I am often told that I am wrong because as Christians we are to point out the sins and mistakes of others. They say it is our responsibility to make sure others know what they are doing wrong with the purpose of making them change their behavior.
I personally do not think we are to be the sin police. We are not told to do such things. We are told to love God and love others. As far as I am concerned the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin where conviction is needed. That is between the Spirit and each individual as to what they do and how they respond. We are only to love others. Love draws people, not judgment and condemnation. God is love. Rather than judge, condemn, separate and argue, get out there among humanity and let the love of God flow out of you by the power of the Spirit. There is a whole world of hurting people, both Christian and non-Christian who can use the encouragement of an accepting person who cares and shows the love of God.
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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://deconstructiontrail.substack.com/ and https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/
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