Instigator / Pro
1
1485
rating
1
debates
0.0%
won
Topic
#3836

God is cruel, (Christian God)

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
9
Better sources
0
6
Better legibility
0
3
Better conduct
1
3

After 3 votes and with 20 points ahead, the winner is...

Public-Choice
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
2
Time for argument
Two hours
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
One week
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
21
1589
rating
18
debates
69.44%
won
Description

No information

Round 1
Pro
#1
Forfeited
Con
#2
PRO forfeited. Therefore CON is FORCED to supply definitions:

Since the Bible is considered by many early church fathers as the de facto proof text for all of Christian doctrine, my definitions shall come from Scripture. [4] 

God is defined succinctly in 1 John 4:7 as follows:

"God is love." [1]

Therefore, the de facto definition of God is love. And, as such, it is impossible for love to be cruel. 

This is because the definition of love, as laid out in Scripture is as follows:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." [5]

So by the Bible's own definition of both God and love, it is impossible for God to be cruel.

* * *

EXAMPLES:

Examples of God's love in Scripture:

1. Jesus taking on the punishment for all of humanity's sins so that all of humanity has the opportunity to spend eternity in paradise instead of eternal torture [2]

2. God placed Adam and Eve in a paradise without pain, suffering, or death, free of charge and gave them endless food and water, and also gave kinship with all living things. [3]

3. When Adam and Eve sinned, God not only deferred their punishment by 900 years (the punishment was they would die), but He also clothed them and helped them and blessed them with a fruitful offspring. [6]

4. Even though Israel repeatedly left God, repeatedly sought after doing evil things, God still loved them and forgave them and accepted their repentant hearts [7] 

These actions prove that the Biblical God of Christianity is loving and kind and merciful, even to the point where He would sacrifice Himself in a brutal death that included being whipped, beaten, spat on, berated, and belittled, for the sins of all of humanity, including the very people beating Him and spitting on Him.

* * *

CONCLUSION:

The definition for God is "Love."

And the definition for love is being patient, kind, bearing others' burdens, and hoping for the best for others.

God has displayed multiple actions that prove the definition is correct.

SOURCES:
[1] 
Round 2
Pro
#3
Forfeited
Con
#4
Forfeited