if god is all powerful and all knowing why is there so much pain in the world?

Question

i've been losing my faith lately because it seems that only non believers are the rich and the christians are left poor and praying barely scrapeing money together every month with the exception of televangelists

Answer 1

Why does God permit suffering?

Who really is to blame for it?

Humans are to blame for much of the suffering. They fight wars, commit crimes, pollute the environment, often carry on business in a manner motivated by greed rather than concern for their fellowman, and sometimes indulge in habits that they know can be harmful to their health. When they do these things, they hurt others and themselves. Should it be expected that humans would be immune to the consequences of what they do? Is it reasonable to blame God for these things that humans themselves do?

Satan and his demons also share responsibility. The Bible discloses that much suffering is because of the influence of wicked spirits. The suffering for which so many people blame God does not come from him at all.

How did suffering get started? Examination of the causes focuses attention on our first human parents, Adam and Eve. Jehovah God created them perfect and put them in paradise surroundings. If they had obeyed God, they would never have got sick or died. They could have enjoyed perfect human life forever. Suffering was not part of Jehovah’s purpose for mankind. But Jehovah clearly told Adam that continued enjoyment of what He had given them depended on obedience.

Obviously, they had to breathe, eat, drink, and sleep in order to continue living. And they had to keep God’s moral requirements in order to enjoy life fully and to be favored with such life forever. But they chose to go their own way, to set their own standards of good and bad, and thus they turned away from God, the Life-Giver. (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-6) Sin led to death. It was as sinners that Adam and Eve produced children, and they could not pass on to their children what they no longer had. All were born in sin, with inclinations toward wrongdoing, weaknesses that could lead to illness, a sinful inheritance that would eventually result in death. Because everyone on earth today was born in sin, all of us experience suffering in various ways..

Ecclesiastes 9:11 says that “time and unforeseen occurrence” also have a bearing on what happens to us. We may get hurt, not because the Devil directly causes it or because any human does it, but because by chance we are in a place at the wrong moment.


Jesus performed many miracles to demonstrate that he was the Messiah. He even raised the dead. Those works attracted the crowds, but Jesus did not come to earth merely to do a social work. He came to bear witness to the truth. He knew that any material benefits he provided were temporary. Even the resurrected ones would die again. Only by bearing witness to the truth could he help some to gain everlasting life. (Luke 18:28-30) Today, some individuals try to imitate Jesus’ good works by opening hospitals or performing other services among the world’s poor. In some cases, they do this at great personal cost, and their sincerity is commendable; but any relief they supply is temporary at best. Only the Kingdom a Heavenly Government that Jesus talked about when He was on the Earth will bring permanent relief.

Answer 2

Because we grow from overcoming pain. If our lives sailed along without trials & tribulations, we would never change. If we had never suffered, we would never learn compassion. Remember the story of Marie Antionette? They say when peasants were starting a revolution outside her castle, she asked what was the matter. Upon being told they wanted bread, she allegedy said "Let them eat cake" - she had never known hunger in her oppulent life, and did not understand they were starving & calling out for basic needs. We could all be so out of touch if life was always good. Just as fire strengthens steel, hardships strengthen our character. If we are jobless and come close to losing our home, when we get back on our feet we are more likely to do things to help others - in ways little (give our old clothes to Goodwill) or large (give our time to Habitat For Humanity, or donate money to charitable causes) because we came to realize how vulnerable we all are. Yes, there are people out there that make us question why this happens, why some suffer so much & others seem to have it all fall in their laps. But you can never truely know another person - someone who seems to have it all may be suffering from mental anguish that they cannot end. Don't be so sure that money equals happiness. And don't assume being poor means pain & suffering. Peace comes from within - continue to believe & seek it .

Answer 3

EVERYONE suffers in some way. We live in a fallen world. It may *appear* that others have it better, but if you look at the whole picture, everyone has their pain. Is your pain because of financial problems? Being rich doesn't make you a happy person (some might argue with me on that but I say to that look at how many rich people are in therapy and on anti-depressants). Honestly, some of the happiest people I know are living a very modest lifestyle. I've decided that joy is more important than wealth. As long as the bills are paid and I have what I need (not necessarily everything I *want*) then I am content.

Answer 4

Listen .. there is no God okay. Religion is just a way to brainwash you into making you fear everything.
If there is a God he's/she's one sick F@ck. Why? Cuz God is suppose to be All Knowing and that ... so if he planned your life does that mean that he planned Hitler to kill over 6 million people and do nothing about it? And don't go telling me that the Devil has a hand in it cuz God created the so-called "Fallen Angel" that became the Devil.. so you're saying he couldn't forsee that? And why doesn't he just get rid of the Devil? Is he a weak God? Is the Devil stronger than him? You see .. it's all a big Religious Ping Pong game. One person says this and another says that but what is really all comes down to it is do you still believe in make believe friends? What about the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown? It's all BS .. Where is God when old women are getting beat up and raped in there apartments? Why does God let 5 year old babies drown in floods and disasters? Why? Easy .. cuz there is NO GOD. Period.

Answer 5

OK two things here

A it isn't only Christians that are poor
B you have money to scrape together every month .. some people don't even have that and as a christian shouldn't you be aware of this and the little you have may be enough to feed a starving family somewhere .. be grateful for the little you have

i am not a christian but i know that the little i have is much much more than many have in this world .. i am grateful

Answer 6

OK - God does not cause pain. People cause pain. don't you realize that the Devil has power too, and he wants you to feel this way - nothing makes him happier. His people - the non-believers may look like they have it all but they are missing something very important. That is the love of God.
You have to do your part too - God doesn't just throw out blessings for those to grab. You have to do for him as well. Pay your tithes - pray- talk to him really - listen when he talks to your heart - read the Bible go to church. Most important - you have to change your ways that are not of God. You can't just be a Sunday Christian and expect God to do wonderful things in your life. When you do these things God will bless you. You open the doors for blessings in your life. I promise - I have been where you are.
God does want you to prosper and he wants to bless you - you just need to be patient and remember that Gods time is not your time. It will happen, but you have to do your part.
If you want to talk - contact me. I have been where you are and it is hard - but keep the faith - don't give up. If you do - you are letting Satan win.

Answer 7

Because He gave us free will and people use that free will to impose their will on others. There will be an accounting for everything done under the sun someday, and when that happens, the saved will not even care anymore about the hardships they suffered on earth because of the glories God will share with them in heaven. And heaven is forever--earthly life is but a moment in comparison.
I'm sorry to read you have been losing your faith lately. Does it help to know that Jesus will never leave or forsake you? Ask Him to comfort and enlighten you.

Answer 8

Well, there are only two real answers to this question.

First, is that there is no god and it's all a joke.

Second is that god created people and gave them a certain amount of free will to do as they please. After all, if we are being judged, then we need to be free to choose good or bad. If god controlled all of our actions and forced us to be good, then we would never have a chance to prove ourselves.

The truth is that we have the power to end war, to stop hunger, to educate the masses. We're just doing a really crappy job of distributing wealth in this world right now.

I am not religous but I think that people who are would say that god gave us free will and he is up there in heaven crying about the way we use it. Of course people go to hell when they are part of the problem, and heaven when they are part of the solution, blah blah.

It's just hard to tell if you're part of the solution or not. Many people think they're good christians but they kill the earth with their SUVs, they buy clothes made in sweatshops, they don't bother to even write to their congress member when there is a massacre in Africa... etc.

Personally I think if there is a heaven then it's really hard to get into. That's because in today's world it's just easy to sit on your butt, suck down coca cola, play video games, and turn your back on what's happening around the world.

Answer 9

There is pain in the world only because there are evil men in the world. I call them Satan's children.

Speaking of Satan, if Satan are his children can cause you to lose faith, then they have done their job. But old Bother Paul would disagree with you, he would tell you nothing can cause you to lose your faith.

Besides all those people you think, have money and are rich. Well they are not rich at all, their money is completely fake and worthless. Most of them have no faith. Keep the faith

Answer 10

I so understand you question I wish I could help you I am in the same boat. I was raised Catholic and somewhere along the way I couldnt believe any more for the same reasons you mentioned. I have faith in nature and karma and that there are good people out there but I havent been able to find a reason to believe that there is a higher being that is looking out for us all. When there is so much misery out there with those that don't deserve it and all those that have so much to offer and they don't.
Goosh that really depressing.
If you do find an answer keep me informed I'll keep an ear/eyee out also.