Omnipotent-benevolent simply means that God is all-powerful and well-meaning.'' I understand the concept. It's just . there seems to be a contradiction.'' Yes. The contradiction is pain. Man's starvation, war, sickness .''Exactly! ' Chartrand knew the camerlengo would understand. 'Terrible things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well-meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn't He?'The camerlengo frowned. 'Would He?'Chartrand felt uneasy. Had he overstepped his bounds? Was this one of those religious questions you just didn't ask? 'Well . if God loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help.'' Do you have children, Lieutenant?'Chartrand flushed. 'No, signore.'' Imagine you had an eight-year-old son . . would you love him?'' Of course.'' Would you let him skateboard?' Chartrand did a double take. The camerlengo always seemed oddly "in touch" for a clergyman. 'Yeah, I guess, ' Chartrand said. 'Sure, I'd let him skateboard, but I'd tell him to be careful.'' So as this child's father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?'' I wouldn't run behind him and mollycoddle him if that's what you mean.'' But what if he fell and skinned his knee?'' He would learn to be more careful.' The camerlengo smiled. 'So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons?'' Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It's how we learn.' The camerlengo nodded. 'Exactly. .Dan Brown
About This Quote
The saying "the truth shall set you free" was actually derived from the Gospel of Thomas. This passage is one of the most important sayings in the Bible. It's used in many contexts by many different people, but technically it means that when we know the truth about something, we stop fearing it. The truth sets us free.
This is because by having knowledge, we no longer fear that thing; we don't even need to fear that thing any more because we know that it's not there anymore.'The truth shall set you free' is a common phrase in Christianity and Judaism. It comes from the Gospel of Thomas (c. 80 AD), which is believed by some scholars to be an early Christian text.
The earliest surviving manuscript dates back to about 200 AD, and the text was written in Greek, probably in Alexandria where Christianity was flourishing. The Gospel of Thomas has been dated to about 70 AD and has been called a "heretical" work and "apocryphal".
Source: Angels & Demons
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