Offshoot discussion of "what religion are you" thread

[GrayMouser]

As far as AIDS is concerned, you say

I believe that diseases like AIDS are still being used by God for good purposes. What they are, I don't know. But from what we can see of his character, I think I can put my trust in him

But what we can see of His character comes from what we see of His actions.

Either unleashing, or allowing to be unleashed, a terrible disease that kills innocent victims and infects fetuses in their mothers's wombs leading to short lives full of agony seems to be a not-so-good character reference.

To say, "well, gee, must have some kind of a good purpose": sorry, that's not good enough for me."

Job was a good reference. He could not understand why God had brought those terrible disasters upon him in this life. It was not God either, technically, but was actually the devil. God had power over what the devil did, and used Job's suffering for good purposes. In the end, even in this life, he was blessed hugely after his great trial.

What good purpose? And a bit rough on the wife and kiddies, wasn't it?