Okay Hokulele, but it's hard to remember everything in a book when it's an audio and I really did not want to sit down and take notes on it while I listened to it...
But that was exactly what the whole thing was about. I would take notes on a reading of your choice (which I did), and you would do the same. We would then discuss what was read, on both sides of an issue, and see what each could learn from the other.
...because most of what he shared I just couldn't wrap my head around as his view is opposing to mine.
Again, that was the whole point. You can't think that I share many opinions with Charlie Campbell. And yet, I still read, pondered, and commented on what he wrote. The whole point of skepticism and critical thinking is to examine viewpoints that may run counter to your own.
In my opinion the author was totally deceived on the subject of pain and why God not only allows it in our lives, but why he uses it for a greater purpose. He cares more about our character than anything and if life had no painful lessons we probably would never acknowledge our need to grow and change through the whole thing. I know it's not easy to accept sometimes when people sometimes suffer horrible things. but God's in control even when we don't understand what he allows and why.
Meaning, you didn't even bother to get listen to the introduction, much less the body of the book. As was pointed out to you more than once, this type of objection was not only examined and countered, but the author took it a step further and offered solutions to the problem of suffering, rather than the sanctimonious, yet cowardly, solution of simply accepting it, and even approving of it. That is why people have such a poor reaction to many of your posts, you appear to approve of other's suffering, and even encourage it.
Ick.
I just thought it was strange someone like you who apparently has never really suffered would even pick such a subject. I can relate to pain more than lots of people beause I have gone through some really tough stuff, but people like you who have not had to suffer according to your own admitance I don't understand why you would even investigate it? I mean most of us usally have a motive when we are wanting to learn about a topic but what was your motive in wanting to understand if there is a God then why is there suffering? I really and puzzled by your interest in it I guess. I even think you purposely used this book to try to derail me from my life of faith. It didn't work if that was your motive. I can say like Job even though the Lord slay me, yet will I praise him.
Poor you. And here you are, with your husband out of work and all, about to vacation on Maui starting next week.
But to answer your question, my interest in that book was due to a thread called "Scriptural Literacy", on this very sub-forum, where other works by Ehrman were discussed. It had nothing to do with derailing your life of faith, but everything to do with trying to get you to understand why others do not share your opinions. You see, I could not possibly care less how you conduct your personal life, but I care quite a bit how you try to scare others into sharing a life of fear and submission. I care quite a bit how you demean people I know and love, such as Ducky and Roadtoad. I care quite a bit that you demand things of people you have never met that you yourself would never attempt. I care that you act as if you have so little respect for your fellow human beings that you refuse to even consider understanding another point of view.
And as a final note, if suffering is required for faith to flourish, thanks, but no thanks.
