Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:....Now, how about you try one on for size? Did your god create Evil, and conspire with Satan to murder Job's children?
V/R
Dr. Cam
Hello Mr. Dr. Cam,
1. Please, refrain from grouping me with Nipper, as a courtesy.
2. The "logical hoops" and "philosophy" put forth by Epicurus have long ago been dismantled by logic, reason, and common sense. Hedonism has long since fallen as well. Should you need guidance with the many fallacies found in that meme, please feel free to ask.
Now, with regards to your question about Job:
We can disregard the logical fallacy in your question for the sake of understanding the issue at hand.
I have to disagree with your choice of the word "conspire" - i consider that term to be one that characterizes this issue inadequately and serves only to throw the baby out with the bath water. When one reads Job 1:6-12 clearly there is no conspiracy, but rather something larger - anyone who knows this story knows that Job is tried and tested and ultimately is justly and generously rewarded.
Your post is not an uncommon one among people who have a cursory knowledge of Job.
This is really classic Old Testament teaching.
So, let us take a look at this "murder" closer: reference also 2 Cor 5:20
Job consider his first 10 kids to be "troubled", as evidenced by his prayers and sacrifices for them...and we also see them be critical and doubtful of God (see Job 8:3-4 and 9:2).
Job's first 10 kids mocked God by mixing His teachings with the bad habits from their mother, Dinah.
Dinah was a resentful and irritable - and loved neither God nor Job.
Job’s oldest son, Agnor was sexually obscene, coarse and egotistical.
Thumtl with his belligerent, overbearing, warlike and obnoxious spirit made himself hateful and annoying to his siblings.
Goters was a cheat, conniver, sneaky, and deceitful.
Hamal was a sarcastic, cynical, sneering, mocking, rude and scornful.
Qugma was gloomy and melancholy.
Ophlf was condescending and arrogant.
Dysta was ill-tempered and surly.
Lugal was cantankerous and sexually active with her brothers.
Ninsun was indifferent and also sexually active with her brothers.
Sidura was sexually promiscuous and a complainer.
(See also Habakkuk 2:15)
We also read that his children were eating and drinking when they met their demise, much like those who were eating and drinking in Noah's story, so likely a scene of debauchery - an illumination about always being ready (see also Matthew 24:44)
Yes, tragic that he would lose his children, but this tragedy is the point to the lesson...a lesson that is likely lost any other way.
Given the Law, it would seem that murder is an incorrect term, more correctly would be the term "justifiable homicide"

As to the question for God "creating evil"...likely too deep of a subject to handle here, especially in the context of Job.
But what of this "conspiracy" with Satan?
In Hebrew, the term Satan is simply a term given to anything or anyone that is in "opposition"....it is a titular term like Elohim, King, or President...not really belonging to a particular "person". We can discern this when reading Job and discovering that Satan is used to depict the angel that is doing God's directives and the jealous men.
So, in fact there is no conspiracy per se...because one must concede that everything was according to God's will.
As is often the case with Job's story, the discussion blossoms and expands beyond simplified characterizations about its meaning...there are several layers to his tale. Hopefully, you can realize that cursory summaries of what the story of Job depicts are quite inadequate and serve not as revealing but rather as deception.
Not everything can be "boiled down", but alas Decoction seems to be be an intellectual exercise that many "scientifically minded" people can not avoid.