Foundations in Theology: George Carlin's Position in Christianity

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Foundations in Theology
Carlin’s Position
The controversial question as to whether God really is as old as time. Over the years, this is a question that as always generated so much debate and is as heated as they come. There have been three sides to this argument. There is a side that strongly believes in God’s existence and another one that strongly disputes such a possibility; these are popularly known as skeptics. The third side consists of a confused lot who are not decided on whether God exists or not. They maintain a middle ground stance.
George Carlin belonged to the side of skeptics and this was made manifest in many of his discourses. In one of his discourses with the title “Religion is Bullshit”, Carlin outlines several key points that have him convinced that God does not exist (Carlin). First, he contends that there is no God because he has never seen him. He seems to argue that if God really did exist, he ought to have encountered Him at least once in his lifetime. He argues that the visibility of something or someone offers credibility. He is of the opinion that any credible god must be seen.
Second, Carlin does believe in the existence of a God who cannot, for one reason or the other, have things fixed promptly. He says that he prays to fellow actor because he can get things done without any unnecessary delays. He claims to have asked God to do something about a neighbor’s noisy dog for years yet the actor solved that problem the first time he was asked to. Without saying it, Carlin seems to be convinced that an existing God should respond immediately to the prayers channeled his way by believers.
Third, Carlin has a problem with the existence of a God who lets terrible things happen to his worshippers. He fails to come to terms with why a God who is omnipotent would allow his people to wallow in abject poverty. He cannot comprehend why an existing and all-powerful God would let wars, famines, and catastrophes kill innocent people including children.
Last but not least, Carlin has a problem with a God who is supposed to be the embodiment of love yet threatens to burn dissenters in everlasting fire. Why would an all-loving God subject people to untold anguish and torture simply for disobeying? He feels that this is not the resume of a loving God.
In reality, Carlin is of the view that given the existence of an all-powerful God, life should be free of all the cares that mark people’s daily lives. He seems to argue that people ought to lead lives without diseases, hunger, poverty, and such things. Carlin also seems to believe in the old saying that to see is to believe and therefore believes that a true god must be seen. Carlin is also convinced that people should not struggle to acquire that which they desire. He feels that people should be given free will to do as they please without being threatened with a punishment whose severity is unbelievable. He seems to contend that religions tend to stifle people’s lives, especially through a rigid set of rules that must be followed without fail. He tacitly claims that religion and especially Christianity is extorting money from the adherents. As such, he ...