Why does God let animals suffer?

Question

Presumably when people suffer there is a reason. We are subject to moral laws, so our suffering is brought upon ourselves – going all the way back to original sin. Also, for those who have faith in God, finite suffering in this life becomes negligible in the context of immortal bliss in heaven. But how do animals fit into this picture? They are not subject to moral law, so they don’t deserve to suffer, and according to traditional Christian theology they are not on any spiritual path leading to communion with God, so suffering is not a necessary element in their spiritual path. So why do they suffer? Wouldn’t an all-powerful, loving God create creatures that simply go about their business without suffering? Whatever point there might be to human suffering seems to be lost on animals. Freewill prevents God from eliminating human suffering. What prevents God from eliminating animal suffering? (I’m going to reply to most answers, so I hope you will come back and continue the debate.)

Th!nK: I did not say that God MAKES anyone suffer; He ALLOWS animals to suffer, and since he is (according to religious beliefs) the creator of the universe, he is ultimately responsible for what happens in it – especially since he is suppose to be all-knowing, and all-powerful. Certainly God could have made a world in which animals did not suffer, so why didn’t he? I see several options: 1) God is not all powerful, and does not have the power to prevent suffering 2) God is not entirely good, and doesn’t care about suffering on earth 3) God is evil and like to see suffering 4) God does not exist.

Denise W, lonelyspirit, Todd B, TLB and cesare214: The idea that human sin is the cause of animal suffering seems just plain crazy to me. Certainly some animal suffering is caused by humans, but not all of it. Creatures suffer in the wild every moment of every day, and have been doing so for millions of years. Don’t you watch Wild Kingdom? Do you think the gazelle is indifferent to the pain of a lion shredding its flesh to pieces? If God truly allows the entire animal world suffer because Eve plucked some fruit off a tree, then God is a truly atrocious being and I don’t understand why he should deserve anyone’s worship.

John and rb_cubed: Nice try, but I don’t buy it. I agree with you that suffering is real, but I don’t think that God made suffering real just to keep us from being uncertain about the reality of suffering, or to let us show our humanity. How do we know that animals suffer? (In fact, how do we know that people do?) There are limits to what we can know about the experiences of other beings (philosophers call it “the problem of other minds.”) If God is all-powerful, then he could create animals that behave just like they are suffering, but in reality they are not. As I see it, however, believing this would be a form of psychopathology.

jeanenne h: This is the one of the most typical Christian responses that I hear to any question that makes the traditional conception of God seem unreasonable. God has everything all figured out, so we shouldn’t bother our pretty little heads about the apparent absurdities in our beliefs. If logic and empirical evidence contradict the doctrines of an old manuscript, then so much the worse for logic and empirical evidence! Why bother thinking too deeply about deep issues of our existence when all human reason ends up being laughable in the eyes of God? I’d say that a stubborn faith that justifies suffering by claiming that God has some reason that we can’t understand ranks on par with faith that thunderstorms are the result of an angry Zeus up on Mt. Olympus.

Sandy: I understand the two kinds of suffering, which is why I a focusing on animal rather than human suffering. I don’t actually believe that all human suffering is the result of human sin, but I will simply grant you the truth of that position for the sake of argument. I focus on animal suffering precisely because they are exempt from the sort of moral suffering we see in humans. I believe that physical pain can be extremely severe even in the absence of human conscious concerns. And I strongly suspect that many mammals can experience intense forms of fear as well, to compliment their physical pain, thus adding to their suffering.

Cronodragon: Although I don’t believe in the traditional conceptions of God (a supreme being who creates a world in accordance with some divine conscious plan), I would say that your answer is pointing in roughly the right direction. Without the possibility of true suffering, there would be nothing in life to truly care about, and I think that CARE is at the roots of sentient existence. I would say, however, that we don’t care because some creator thinks caring is a good idea and thus designed us to be caring creatures. Rather, I would say that God is evolving with and through the unfolding of physical existence. The term ‘God’ in this case refers to whatever conscious or proto-conscious aspect of existence serves as the source of Being as we experience it. Suffering exists because, at the moment, existence is at the mercy of its own evolving nature.

Thewolfskoll: You are very close to my own views. You say: “An animal suffering is the suffering of God…” and I agree. I would go further. ALL suffering is the suffering of God. Indeed, all experience is the experience of God. To have any experience at all is to be Existence Itself experiencing Itself from a perspective. I don’t see a need to call this “Existence Itself” by the name “God” but I don’t mind doing so. I think it is what lies at the root of all forms of spirituality. It is the “Breath of Life” that animates Being and thus serves as the root of Experiential Existence.

Will: I love animals, but not in THAT way. Sorry to disappoint you ;-)

Answer 1

I am not Christian but I love this question so I will answer it (in a Christian context no less) The Bible says God is the source of all of creation. When a part of creation ceases to live (God created life and so forth and so on) it returns to its source. Once again the breath of life (term used to describe God giving life in the Bible) will once again return to its origin, becoming one with God once again. An animal suffering is the suffering of God, this includes all living beings not just what we call animals. God gave of itself to create life, life when through here returns once again to its source. How then can we describe suffering other than the separation from the source (God). To live separate from the whole (God) is to experience suffering and once life returns to the source there is no suffering or pain. Just as with the human animal all living things suffer when they are separated from God but the suffering ends when we return to the place of origin.

Answer 2

For one i do not believe in original sin....its a cop out plain and simple and a ploy to trap and brainwash people.
Animals not part of the picture is also another joke.
They and Us are all part of the Earth, we need them and they need us...its called the Circle of Life.
Every living thing has a purpose a role to play in the grand scheme of things.
As humans we like the animals have a choice...just because we use tools, it does not make us higher or better, because man is still a member of the animal world. That world needs all of us together and yes we all feed off each too....
In the Summerlands us and the animals do share this afterlife in peace and together. for in the Summerlands there is no hunger, want, greed,,but peace and love, so if u loose a faithful pet here,,,,it will await u on the other side.. its the will of the Goddess.

Answer 3

You're talking about physical suffering of animals, right?

The answer to this question is that everything that is alive must die--and the vast majority of things that are alive must get sick at one time or another. There is nothing preventing the inevitable breakdown of a body inherently prone to ageing and dying. This is the way life is. Some people say, "No fair," but I don't think fairness is the issue. It is an indisputable term of being alive: we must get sick and die.

Animals do not suffer due to moral reasons. They don't feel inner conflict about what they do. They don't regret their choices. In this realm, they are entirely exempt from suffering.

The only suffering they are subject to is physical suffering.

Any "point" to human suffering is mostly of a spiritual nature. Sure, we can learn strength, faith, and fortitude through sickness and death, but these "trials" are not the same as the trials of the heart, mind, and spirit. It may be that perhaps the only "point" to physical suffering in humans is just to understand that bodies age and die.

Anyway, it seems that you are sort of confusing two areas of suffering. The areas of suffering distinct to humans are not available to animals. So in this way they are actually free from a lot of suffering that humans undergo.

Answer 4

You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned 'original sin' this is when sin entered the world. Since then, God has (as you said) allowed everything to happen. He could have just destroyed the entire world at this time. Then, there would be no suffering.

The animals were given to man to have dominion over. It is not God that causes the suffering but Satan. It is God that allows the suffering to a point, that point being death to the animal.

Answer 5

When man sinned he brought forth the knowledge of good and evil as well as death to the world, not to just man. How do animals suffer? Usually they suffer because of man for one reason or another. Animals and humans share some of the same physiological make-up, which makes each succeptable to diease, etc. The curse that man brought through original sin affected the earth as a whole, which includes animals, plants, etc.

Answer 6

I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING..WHY ?

THE WHOLE PLANET IS SUFFERING AS A WHOLE AS A RESULT OF OUR SEPERATION FROM GOD......

EVERY THING IS SUFFERING 'LOOK AT THE OCEANS , ALIVE WITH ALL SORTS OF CREATURES .YET IT SUFFERS DUE TO OVER FISHING , POLLUTION ETC...

ANIMALS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO MORAL LAW ...CORRECT ..BUT AS A RESULT OF MANS FOOLISHNESS EVERY THING THAT WE MESS UP SUFFERS. ANIMALS DON'T DE
SERVE TO SUFFER........

REMEMBER ANIMALS WERE CREATED IN THE BEGINNING FOR OUR ENJOYMENT ...
WE DIDN'T NEED THEM FOR FOOD .WE HAD FOOD FROM THE GARDEN .ADAM AND EVE SINNED RESULTING IN THE CHANGE OF THE WORLD .WE AS HUMANITY HAVE BECOME MORE DESTRUCTIVE AND HAVE NO REGARD FOR LIFE AT TIMES.ITS A SHAME AND A STATEMENT AS TO THE CORRUPTION THAT WE CONTINUALLY SEE AND WILL CONTINUE HAPPEN .......
ANIMALS ARE HURT BECAUSE OF THE CORRUPTION OF MAN ....... NOT BECAUSE OF GOD'S CHOICE..WE ARE THE VILLINS HERE .THEY SUFFER BY OUR HAND AND STUPIDITY.....WE MAKE THE CHOICE HERE..
DON'T WORRY , GOD IS IN CONTROL , THERE WILL BE AN JUDGEMENT AND PUNISHMENT FOR MANS CONTINUED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND MANKIND........
WE ARE ALL SUFFERING .WHEN I SAY ALL I INCLUDE ANIMALS, THEY ARE PRECIOUS COMPANIONS, FRIENDS, AND CLOWNS AT TIMES ........
I FEEL BAD TOO , AND I CAN SAY THAT I AM SAD WHEN I SEE OR I HEAR ABOUT THESE CRUELTIES....ALL LIFE HAS WORTH .

WE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE WE , THE HUMAN RACE HAVE USED UP THE RESOURCES THAT WE ARE GIVEN .CHECK OUT THE RAINFORESTS.WE ARE KILLING ANIMALS AND PLANT LIFE THAT SUSTAIN LIFE ON EARTH BECAUSE OF GREED ..YES, WE NEED TREES FOR HARVESTING.BUT WHY CAN'T WE BE CONSERVATIVE." LEAVE SOME TREES FOR THE ANIMALS AND RE GROWTH ?
BIG INDUSTRY , CORPORATE GREED AND THE LOT ARE GUILTY HERE ........

WE ARE A WASTEFUL LOT AND ARE SUFFERRING FOR IT ......

Answer 7

All the "why God let" questions are very simple to answer. For example, what would happen if you didn't feel pain when you hurt your skin? Then you would go around hiting yourself with every obstacle, and cuting with every edge or branch, then you would be reduced to pieces of meat in no time, just because you don't care about it. What if we didn't die?? We wouldn't care about our lifes, it would be exactly like a videogame. Life won't have a meaning, because you don't have to care about it... exactly like terrorists, they are not interested in their lifes, or anyone else life, because life in Earth for them is false, has no meaning. And as a final word, God gave us free will, if it wanted us to do always right, then we won't have free will, we would be forced to make the right desitions always. God gave us a planet where things really matter, because we will have them only once, and are difficult to keep... so take care of what you have ;)

Answer 8

From my perspective, God isn't a gross personification that rules over humankind and animalkind with infinite power. We suffer (however one defines suffering) - all living things suffer - it's an essential element of life. There is mystery to life. Why the opposite? Why do all living things choose happiness? Why not choose suffering? And yet we do, I do, choose to be happy. Despite my choice, I'm not always happy. And yet, I would rather choose than not.

Answer 9

He lets a lot of people suffer - even have extreme pain - he lets us freaks live and suffer - my body has been the same size since i was 2 year old - talk about suffer - would you like to be in daipers at 18 -
so why can he not let little animals suffer to - i don't like to see them suffer

Answer 10

Your exposition of your question is a bit long and involved, and of course opens more lines for discussion. But let me try to follow the KISS formula and attempt to explain one of my views.

Mayhaps, perbee, God lets animals suffer because it gives us as chance to view our own mortality. Or it could give us the opportunity to show our own humanity in alleviating the suffering of those animals which we have chosen to take into our homes and hearts to care for.