Human suffering
This article as the title implies looks at the relationship between God and human suffering. As the author says suffering does not only impact on our relationship with God but is major factor in the denial of the existence of God and the apostasy of the faithful. Van Bavel asks the age-old question where and why is there suffering and attempts to answer it. He sees Theodicy as inadequate and unsatisfactory explanation of suffering. SS reveals God who, as the source of goodness cannot be at the same time the source of evil. Atheism too ha says ultimately compounds the problem of suffering because without God the blame falls squarely on humans. One needs here to distinguish between two types of evil: Moral evil and natural evil. The former is evil brought about by moral agents/human beings (E.g. pride, envy, lying, stealing etc.). Natural evil is pain and suffering brought about by such as earthquakes, diseases, famines, floods etc. Furthermore, moral evil highlights intentions whist natural evil focuses on suffering (consequences).We live in a world where there are tremendous times of happiness and joy but also of sadness and pain. There is much undeserved suffering, poverty, pain and acts of violence and most of us feel
However, now, deep down I believe that God is all good and not to be blamed for car accidents, earthquakes, hotel fires, cancer and the whole jagged range of human misery. God created the world (The world exists because God created it and is dependent upon God for its existence - it is contingent). I could not believe that they felt much like rejoicing at that moment. Jesus is, indeed, the best measure of God's true intentions toward us. Even as we grow in our faith in the Resurrection, we need to grow in this kind of sensitivity, too. So what is the problem? Simply stated, if God is omnipotent then evil must be preventable (God is able to bring about a state of affairs whereby evil does not exist) and if perfectly good must be willing to do so (God wants to prevent evil). If God is able and willing: Why is there evil?Where the notion of omnipotence allows for ambiguity (of abuse, indifference) love does not. sorrow and revulsion when we hear of such things. I remember like one of them was saying, "I just don't understand! Why God wanted to take them now. In the light of these events questions are justifiably asked such as, "Why do they happen", "'Why is our world so full of violence and suffering?" and "Is there a reason for it?". Jesus embodies God's wishes toward humanity.
Common topics in this essay:
Van Bavel,
Isn't God,
Justice Responsibility,
David Hume,
Jesus Jesus,
Hence Leibniz,
,
Omnipotent God,
Jesus God,
Christ Gospels,
god able,
natural evil,
human suffering,
god able willing,
omnipotent god,
lost parents,
moral evil,
god created,
able willing,
god human,
god omnipotent,
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Acceptance Essays
