Quote Originally Posted by the_real_MSU_is_us View Post
I call it humans fighting humans over moral convictions, I see no evidence God was involved at all. For example, terrorists waging war for Allah are quite full of moral convictions, but you wouldn't say the battles they fight are God's will/punishment.

Humans owned slaves. Other humans felt it was wrong. The 2 fought. It seems unnecessary and irrational to inject God and give Him credit for ending slavery in America. Plus, that opens up a whole can of worms about why he didn't end it sooner, or why he's done nothing to end it now in other parts of the world.

If God does act to bring "judgment" on the world, why does He allow such great evil to persist for so long?
God gave humans free will to choose between good and evil. He wants us to choose him over sin. Human nature is corrupt from the time of the fall of man. It's our sins and evil that causes the greater evils to blossom in the world. No matter the evil, murder, slavery, greed, etc. God is against it. Doesn't mean he will now take away our free will in a real world with real consequences. He is extending mercy, not allowing evil, but extending mercy for everyone who will to turn away from that sin to believe in him before the final judgement. What you question about God allowing evil to persists is not the question, it's how long will he give mankind mercy to repent before the ultimate judgement with condemnation for eternity. While men do perpetrate evil in this world, it's not from God and he is only delaying final judgement to give as many who will the chance to change what happens in eternity. What we face here on this world is nothing like what an eternity in condemnation will be like.