Why, God, why?

Question

Why does God allow everything in the world today to occur: famine, disease, disasters, war, poverty, destruction? Is this the work of a just God? I suppose a follow-up to this would be: Do you belive in God? Why or why not? Spiritually, I find myself teetering on the edge of my faith. It seems more and more to me that all I'm praying to is my mind. Any value to the Bible is moral and literary, and as a being, he just isn't there. Is God cruel? Does God care? Is God real?

Answer 1

Good things comes from God...sometimes he does things to teach us cause he loves us..dont take God in the negative way...

Answer 2

Well, well, well. I've read a lot of crap here.

1) NOBODY knows whether there is a God or not. People should stop pretending they do.

2) You are a most miraculous thing: a human being with a mind and conscience. That's a fact.

3) Our planet is in chaos. Probably has been most of the time since the beginning. Suffering, injustice and pain are omnipresent.

These three elements create tension inside any reasonable human being. You are one of them. The most common way to relieve that tension is and was faith in any kind of religion.

Personnally I think it would be too easy if all the answers were written in a book (bible, torah, kuran). We have a mind and free will, so we are meant to use it.

If God exists, he is probably so mighty and unconceivably far beyond what we imagine, that it doesn't even make sense to try understand what's happening in his creation - our world. After all, what do we know? What happens to a dying child? Are we all the same? Or are some of us here for the first time while others are in their 100st life? All we see are the visible effects of an underlying logic we don't understand. We see the phenomenon, but we have no clue about what preceeded it and what will follow. So, that's not a good position to make statements.

If God doesn't exist, we're alone. In that case whe should not be whining and lamenting on our fate. We should stand up to the challenge, be proud of what we are, and of what some of our brightest fellow humans have achieved. We should always try to follow their example, and defend life against the many threats that are lurking outside. We should be thankful for the good moments in our lives, and try to accept the negative experiences as an inevitable part of our journey, through which we can learn and grow.

At the end of the day, what matters is that you listen to your soul, and what it tells you. Try to be just and helpful no matter what your belief is. Don't try to understand things which are not meant to be understood. Be humble, honest and straightforward. Let people feel that you like this planet with all its faults. Be yourself in NY, Zurich, Kalkutta or Beijing. But don't waste your time with negative thoughts. Time is the most precious thing we have on this blue ball that rushes through the darkness.

Answer 3

Not to rain on your parade - but do you really think there is a god like what is described in any religious text? Is so, then where have all the miracles gone. In each of these religious texts, large scale miracles were performed every other day it seemed. Where did those go??? I think the lady down below says it perfectly - where REASON ends, faith begins.

And here is another question - why is it so easy for us to deride those past civilizations that made up gods for things that they couldn't currently understand (like the ancient Roman's did for the sun and thunder), and not see the hippocracy in us still following texts written by people in the same eras?

It is also funny how our translation for those texts have been "adjusted" over time to allow for scientific discoveries that disproved past "biblical facts", and how we now currently think that WE have it right.

Here is another interesting thought - if God wanted heavenly people to populate his heaven, why go through the rigamarole of putting us on earth in the first place. He sees all and knows all - so he already knows how we are going to end up... So why not just cut to the chase, and put people where they are supposed to go??? I know the answer true believers would give - because he wanted us to have free will to decide for ourselves. Well, guess what... it is not truly free will, if he knows what we are going to do before we do it. I think the lady down below says it perfectly - where REASON ends, faith begins.

Nope, sorry. If there really is a God - he is just a kid on an ant hill with a big magnifying lense.

Answer 4

You will get plenty of theists who will happily tell you that humanity suffers because we deserve it on account of some mythical sin a couple of fictional characters did. That everything was "perfect" until we dared to use the free will and curiosity God supposedly gave us. And that the "just" punishment for this is perpetual suffering by people who weren't even around yet.

The fact is, these things happen and have always happened. There is no "divine message" in any of them. The best that we can do is to try to moderate the damage and help the victims as much as we can. That is our obligation as human beings.

It sickens me that there are Christians who are eagerly pointing to the terrible things you list and are drooling happily over the notion of these people suffering because "they are signs the Second Coming is at hand!" There have always been wars, rumors of wars, diseases, famines, natural disasters, and poverty. It is highly likely that these things will continue as long as we live and well beyond it. The universe will carry on, even if we extinguish ourselves.

Answer 5

As humans we may create technology and try to fix our errors but we still ruin all that we touch. Lets look in to scientific history.....the population on earth has started over plenty of times. From bacteria, to dinosaurs, to furry creatures, to monkey men....ect. In the bible, god has to wipe everything out and start from scratch a couple times(kane and able, noahs ark). We bring everything on ourselves. Hate, war. Poverty, disease. From the government to third world countries....No one is a saint. now, say, everyone lived by the prophecies of the bible. No one lied, no one cared for possessions(designer clothes and fast cars), we all worked honestly and hard...helped our neighbors....never broke a comandment. Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you! The world would be a better place! you choose what you have faith in? I would rather believe things could be better if every single person tried...its not the matter of god or the devil. Where there is a will there is a way. My point is god doesn't t cause hurricanes or terrorist. he can't stop famine or fix all that that has been done wrong. He is there so that everyone may have the option to lead a good, fufilling life in a world shrouded by our deadliest sins.

Answer 6

It is not God causing all the bad things in this world. The world told God to take a hike, thus God does allow these things to go on. Though he is not the source of it. Humans have a sinful nature which brings with bad things. The Devil runs wild, encouraging this course. No, the bad things going on in the world are not the work of God.

Yes I believe in God, and that he loved us all so much he gave his only son to die for our sin. No he is not cruel, yes he cares for you, he is very real. All of us at one time or another have had doubts, sitting around wondering if God is there and listening to our prayers. Times might seem bleak, but never give into the lies of the enemy, stay strong. Seek God, and you will find him.

Answer 7

He gave us free will, and we abused it. Famine, war, poverty, destruction, are things people caused by abused free will. imagine what the world would be like if everyone care about the welfare of everyone around us. And with all the some we would save on not going to war, we could use towards finds cures for disease, even natural disasters would be that bad if everyone would just pull together.

Answer 8

God gave us free will to do what we please, for better or for worse. I realize that this isn't an answer that makes these things any easier to swallow but it's the truth. I once heard that it is the worst of times that brings out a persons true self. If this world was perfect, we would all learn nothing from our experiences and not have any personal growth. I think part of our being here is to better who we are and value the good things all the more.

I believe in God, mostly because of the simple things. On a hot day when you feel a cool breeze. When I come home and my dogs (actual canines) spaz out and are so happy to see me. God is all around us if we look for Him.

It may seem like praying is simply talking to yourself in your head, but it's not. Can I prove it to you? no. But I can promise you that you are not the only one who has ever had doubts. If you come through this period in your life where you have your doubts, your faith will likely be all the stronger for having resolved those feelings.

God cares, God is real, God is not cruel. Being cruel is a way of life that belongs to man. This might sound simple but pray to God about your doubts. Talk to Him about your feelings and fears. Pray for your friends and relatives and remember to take the time to look for the simple miracles around you.

On a scientific angle, what is the probability that you, a thinking creature that can have such internal questions regarding such issues would somehow evolve out of a primordial ooze without a nudge by God? I myself don't see how I could exist had God not had a hand in doing so.

Good luck to you friend and I hope you find your answers.

Answer 9

all that you said is the fault of man, not God! did God tell you to drive a huge suv that uses 5 times as much gas than a subcompact when you aren'tgoing more than 10 miles from home? did god tell you to be greedy, and look the other way when you saw someone sleeping under a cardboard box? Did God tell you to turn the channel when it showed pictures of hungry, sick children, and shake your head at the gall of the tv networks? Did God tell those people to build their houses on the side of a volcano, or on a beach where there have been tsunamis in the past, or on land that was below sea level? No, I don't think so! God gave us all free will! What are you doing with yours? Wail over how mean and unjust you think God is, or help someone less fortunate than you?

Answer 10

You know, man could have had a perfect world, where no one ever suffered and God never "allowed" anything bad to happen. But man didn't want a perfect world, he wanted his own way, and God isn't required to supply a perfect world to people who are telling Him to go to hell.
People have EXACTLY the world they want. Do you think God whispers into the ears of humans to murder someone? Do you think He's telling people to ignore the suffering of others? Do you think He's advising them to cure the diseases of some and let others die because they don't have money or social standing? NO!!! He is not. God groans in pain because of the horror and suffering on the earth--but He's not going to do anything to stop it as long as people chose to ignore Him and go their own way.
God is God and we are not. He has the right to make decisions about the universe that He created and holds together with His hand.
God is patience, love, and compassion, but He is also justice, Holiness, and righteousness. He is being kind and loving by not destroying the rebellious humans that He created. He allows them to exist and live their lives no matter how they curse Him. He loves them no matter the level of evil they sink to. Of course He cares! If He didn't He would have exterminated us eons ago.
If you want to have faith in God then you have to learn to trust Him to do the right thing even if you don't understand it. Justice and a perfect world will exist again, but in His time, not ours.

Answer 11

WAIT! PUT A FULL STOP. Done!

Now I'll explain. In this world things always get confusing at times and people might question God, and his creations. Let me tell you one thing, this world is a test (it's like a game). We all have the same goal and that is heaven forever but no matter how we play this game, no matter what role we have the most important thing is you intention! Always stay simple, try to think simple, try to make things simple because simple is the best and very easy to handle but it's not an easy thing to achieve.

God wants to see how we do in this world, basicly all this is a test. If God helps one of us (like give us super strenght to same people or super mind) then it really wouldn't be fair to others. Everyone has problems in this life and everyone questions God but the one who understands the power of God is the one entitled of entering the heavens. God does help us but to some of us it seems as if it was just coincidence but how can all the good things happen by chance. We are in control, we make the decisions but God guides us all the time, if we do something bad we will be treated badly by God but if we do good things then we will be treated like kings in this world and in the hereafter. Never question God but thank Him for He has given you life. God loves us all 70 times more than a mothers heart, we should always be thankfull!