DGuru wrote:
To play devil's advocate
How do we know that if a "god" exists it would have to be a good god? Isn't it just as possible that if god exists he might be evil and created us solely for his sadistic pleasure?
Or what if there is an afterlife without any god?
I'm what you could call a Jewish agnostic. I believe in the cultural and historical aspects of Judaism, but seriously doubt the existence of god. Countless good people suffer in misery, while scum of the earth have happy-go-lucky lives. What kind of god would allow it, may I ask? And what for purpose? If it's to test people's faith, then I failed his stupid tests, because I lost my faith.
Those who say that it's the devil who makes people suffer, let me give a preemptive comeback: the devil does it, but god authorizes it. What's worse is for the individual to decide.
As for the afterlife, I'm not sure. Judaism doesn't have a clear view on it. But whatever it is, it can't possibly be any worse than life on earth.