Why do bad things happen to good people?

Question

It doesn't make sense. If the law of 'Karma' is true, unless, of course, karma takes more than one entire lifetime to come full circle, then how does it explain bad things happening to good people?

And what about the "axiom" of 'What comes around goes around?' Another way to say that is the law of sowing and reaping, coined by Jesus Christ. If it is true that we reap what we sow, then why, again, I ask you, do bad things happen to good people?

Answer 1

Why shouldn't tragic things happen to "good" people (whatever your definition of good is)? Why should good people be exempt from bad things? God has marked us as sinners from the moment of our conception. Adam and Eve committed only one sin and were condemned to mortality and pain. How "good" can the rest of us be compared to that?

You are judging God based upon the rules He meant for us, not himself. It doesn't work that way.

Answer 2

To some extent, it depends on your definition of "bad" and "good". Is it bad for someone not to win the lottery? Sometimes people who win are worse off fiscally (they are in debt), emotionally, and spiritually five to ten years later than they were before they won. So, not getting what you want is not always "bad". Sometimes getting a flat tire (a "bad" thing) keeps you from getting in an automotive accident down the road (a "good" thing).

Having said that, it is obvious that sometimes bad people seem to get better than what they deserve, and good people sometimes seem to get worse than what they deserve.

In the book of Job in the Bible, Job asks God the same question, and God seems to side-step the question by telling Job that the answer is something that is too complicated for Job to understand. God also seems to get a little upset at being questioned by a mortal who has lived for only a few short years, while God has been around for eternity (Were you there when I laid the foundations of the Earth? Did you set the course of the Sun? Does the hawk fly by your wisdom? Can you tell me if you know when the wild goats mate? etc.). Everything seems to work out for Job in the end, however, so the moral seems to be that while evil may prosper in the short run, good triumphs in the long run. One has to trust that God knows what he is doing, and that he will even it all out in the end.

Answer 3

Well, Karma is about the next lifetime, not this one.

We learn from bad things. We get stronger (or we learn where the edge is that we can fall over), we become more evolved as human beings when we are confronted with tragedy, difficulties, things that frighten us, etc.

As far as the "what goes around comes around" thing, you have to remember that you may not be there to witness the "coming around." I firmly believe it happens. I always say, "they'll get theirs...I may not be around to see it, but I know they will."

For example, someone seems to have "it all." Money, success, power, etc. They treat people badly but the just get more money, success, power, etc. What you may not be aware of is their personal life. Are they miserable in their relationship? Do their children loathe them? Can they not have a satisfying relationship?

Being a bad person will alway bite you in the behind in some way. Being a good person who bad things happen to will work in your favor (maybe you have to wait a couple lifetimes for it, but being a good person is always to your advantage).

Answer 4

Life is just plain not fair.
Have you ever noticed how well some people adapt to misfortune? It is our gratitude or attitude in life that determines whether something is good or bad, and not the events themselves.

Most of us believe being rich would naturally lead to a good life. You would be surprised how miserable many of these people are on the inside. And How many people do you meet that seem to have a good life, yet have a negative attitude about everything?

For myself, I am grateful for the problems I have. They have shaped me into the person I am. Being used to my current problems makes life a lot easier than taking on a new set I have never dealt with before.

Answer 5

Bad things usually happen as a result of the decisions that we make. For instance if I am in college and I spend all of my time helping other people do their homework, I am essentially being a good person but failing my classes will be something bad that happens.

Answer 6

Bad things happen to good people because we are created imperfect with imperfect bodies in a world that is imperfect. We may do all of the "right" things, but we cannot control the person who drives drunk and hits our car or our child. We cannot control our child who drives drunk. Our imperfect bodies become ill and the earth's imperfection with cracks and crevices moves about. Therefore, until such time as the earth becomes perfect and all its inhabitants become perfect bad things will happen to good people.

Answer 7

Life isn't fair and you can't expect that just because you're a "good" person nothing bad will ever happen. Nobody is out to get you, it's just the events of a world none of us has any control of. What matters, is how you deal with the cards your dealt. You're put here to learn things, and to express outwardly with love.

Answer 8

it's supposed to make you stronger and more insightful. Sometimes I reap what I sow (even if it happens after a while), but sometimes I don'e and then I question like you.

But I can't help trying to be good. I wouldn't be happy with myself.

Answer 9

Shucks, tiger, maybe these laws aren't true!

Answer 10

to test us and see if we can remain good people.