I'm sure Christians have gotten this question before, but I'm still going to ask it...?

You *sound* sincere (is that possible over the internet?)...so I will answer:

1) As far as "convenient" answers are concerned, it depends upon what you mean by "convenient". But I will make the following assertions:

*Some speak without knowledge in an attempt to "defend" themselves and their beliefs. It is possible that they are insecure, don't really have a true faith, just regurgitate what they have been taught (true and/or false teaching), or feel they must say something - even if it is wrong!

But outside of this, the Bible does provide a basic "world view" that expains the major questions people ask. All religions attempt to do this in part or in whole. Thus, if Christians are always "giving an answer", it could be they are just explaining what Christianity speaks of in the Bible. Here is an article on world views:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_view

Now then, just because the Bible and Christianity has a perspective on the world (i.e. a world view) does not mean that everyone who calls themselves a Christian is well-versed in speaking about it - and some may give wrong or unbiblical answers...

Finally, Christians CANNOT "fully" answer some questions, as the Bible itself speaks of "mysteries" that are left unaswered by God and the Bible. And while these are "mysteries", yet certain basic things can still be said in response for a "convenient" answer.

For instance, ALL things can be explained by this:

"It is for the glory of God"

...but the practical working out of this is often much harder for us humans to comprehend. But hell glorifies God's justice, wrath, and power....while heaven glorifies God's mercy, grace, and love.

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2) To answer your second question - why are "good" things attributed to God...and "bad" things solely to man...?

Answer:

A more proper and Biblical perspective is that all "bad" things are attributed to sin. Lucifer sinned and fell...and mankind sinned and fell. As a result, God cursed Satan, cursed mankind, and cursed the ground (i.e. the world).

Thus, all "bad" things...which came because of sin...can be attributed to God...in the sense that although He is NOT the author of sin, yet He "allowed" it...or even "decreed" it to be so...and cursed those who fell.

In other words, God is sovereign and in control.

FOR EXAMPLE...consider the biblical account of Job:

God pointed out Job's righteousness and love to Satan...and Satan basically said, "Yeah...well...of course he loves you...look at all the stuff you have given him." And God said, "Very well, then...you may take the stuff away and see" (paraphrases, of course). Next, Satan kills off most of Job's family...and takes most of his possessions.

But look what Job does and says in response to the actions of Satan, as allowed by God (Job 1:20-22):

"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.' In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

Now then, if you read these words...we see that Job attributes the "bad" stuff that happened to him TO GOD, but at the same time did not charge God with wrongdoing...

How so? Because Job recognized that God was sovereign over everything. He therefore knew that God Himself did not do the bad things ("did not charge God with wrongdoing"), but yet he knew that God was in control of the situation ("the LORD has taken away").

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So, ALL "bad" things have come BECAUSE of sin.

These "bad" things are directly caused by any one of the following or any combination of the following:

1) Fallen angels (Satan, demons, etc...)

2) Fallen man (sinful lusts and desires...)

3) Fallen world (natural disasters, genetic malformations, etc)

YET, God is STILL sovereign and in control.

(And He became man and died on the cross for sin to "reverse the curse" and destroy all "bad" things...which will be realized in full when He comes again).

Therefore, if misfortune happens to ME, a Christian, and I "lose" something...because of demonic influences, natural disasters, or sins of others...I can correctly state that it was God who "took" away from me.

Yet, at the same time...I could say it was a natural disaster...or a sinful man who did it - depending upon the circumstances.

Both would be true...from different (yet not contradictory) view points.

3) When it comes Christians, personally, there are two forces operating within us. There is the working of the Holy Spirit...and the working of indwelling sin. Therefore, I can correctly state that if any "good" comes from me...I cannot brag or boast. Instead, it was the Holy Spirit within me...for only God is good. So I say, it was God working in and through me...by the power of the Holy Spirit in doing those "good works". YET, if I do something "bad", it certainly was not the Holy Spirit - for God is good and cannot sin; nor is He the author of evil! So, therefore, if I do "bad"...it was me who did it - even indwelling sin within me!

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So this is a full and Biblical view and "convenient" answer to your question...

But don't know if you are seriously seeking answers...or not.

Either way, I hope any who read may be edified!

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God bless!

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I will try and answer your questions as logically as possible. First as to viruses and bacteria. I don't believe that satan or man created them. I believe that God did as He created everything. The Bible clearly states this. I think however He created them after man sinned by eating of the tree. I think this is supported by a verse in Romans found below. Viruses could easily have been created then when death entered the world. Bacteria could have been created then or earlier. Some bacteria are beneficial to us. We have bacteria that occur naturally inside us and are necessary.

As a side note many diseases are also the result of genetic abnormalities and mutations. I believe that when God created man in the garden he had a perfect genome. I think it has been getting less perfect since. Which causes many diseases such as cancer. It is easily seen that the human genome is not perfect. Much of the genome is in fact made up of useless junk DNA.

As to attributing good things to God and bad things to man. This is not really true or a good way to do it. God gave man intelligence and creativity. Whether man chooses to use that intelligence to create a great work of art or a weapon with which to kill his fellow man is up to him.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

God is good and perfect. The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from above. It is God's will that we are all saved, however we, by our own selfish wants, may not choose to live and walk with God. God wants us to live in peace and happiness. That verse alone tells us that he did not create misery and disease, etc because those things are not good or perfect. The things of the world are evil, hate, killing, etc. God is not of the world, satan is.

Interesting choice of screen names, by the way. Are you aware of Humbert's attraction for under age girls?

There seems to be a sort of anger among non-Christians that God saw fit to not place us in a world of total comfort and safety, where it might take effort and thought to understand some things. Does the greater good come from being handed perfection, or from experiencing the struggle and pain and effort that comes from having to strive to overcome evil and misfortune? A hero can't exist where there is no peril. A heart of gratitude can't exist where a person has everything handed to them. The "goodness" of peace and brotherly love can't be known without the struggle by good men to overcome evil men. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father, and that includes the struggle against evil,pain,death, disease, etc...

Well, ok here's your answer convenient or not.. before sin came into the world in the garden of Eden, which you will read in the first book of the Bible, says that God saw what he created as very good. OK so you have a perfect world in this garden without sin. Then Satan who was cast out of heaven for his evil ways comes to the people there and tempts them, and of course they sin. God kicks them out of the garden adn tells then that life will be much harder for them now. So yes, what they have been telling you is correct we brought it upon ourselves all of this. If no one had sinned we could still be in that perfect garden.

It's hard to say. Some say God has a plan for everything.

Science says the Genome tells when your hair turns grey and when you become suseptible to cancer. Is that's God's plan?

God created man in a controlled envornment (Eden) and then threw him out with out access to eternal life (the Tree of Life).

Is that man's doing. Is that PROOF of Darwinism.

If so, DARWIN is responsible for man's demise.

Afterall DARWIN detailed it.

The CREATOR of the CONCEPT is repsonsible.

DARWIN, then, might be responsible for man's ills.

Darwin says evolution is inevitable, hence DARWIN is the one who condems you.

God is the creator of all. but yet, God did give man free will. because man fell from grace (Adam) we are all cursed. God didn't create sin. man did by choice. if i tell you not to touch the stove because it's hot and you do...you decided to go against my word and you got burned. it's your fault for not listening to me. man has the choice to do what ever he wants, but there are consequences to that choice. because everything is out of wack we have disease, war and death.

Christian's are not scared. most of them simply don't have to time to keep explaining to people who are not willing to open their hearts and minds to God. we get these same questions everyday and we explain them every time. and yet it's still not enough for you. so if you want your answers do some research and read the bible and look for yourself.

As a non-christian, I will answer - They simply do not know.

They do not use straight logic, they use, what I call, convenient logic. It's logical to them but cannot extend to other scenario's except when they want it to.

For example, it's illogical for a person to derive from another's "rib" but it's logical if God does it.

It's illogical for evolution to occur but logical for a birth from a Rib.

It's illogical for evolution to occur but logical that all things change, except humans, as that implies evolution, but all things change, except humans, but all things change, except humans, etc.

They don't know, they simply have a set of "go to" answers. Ask the next person that comes to your door similar questions, especially about Noah.

It's logical for Noah to find 2 of every animal but, given today's standards, even with 6 billion people, we are still finding new species but it was logical for 1 guy to find 2 of them ALL.

Oh, and "Logic" is a universal TRUTH. Except when "God" did it, then it can be shattered and broken which means "Logic" is NOT a universal truth.

Christians do have answers, if they read the Bible, for in that book is all the answers, and those who have an answer to many of life's questions have had their eyes centered on that book for a long while.

The simple assumptions that:

God is perfect,

Everything good comes from god,

Everything bad comes from man or satan,

God works in mysterious ways,

Can explain anything and everything without limit. Don't give yourself wrinkles trying to worry about it.