1. God gives us suffering as punishment?
problems: Conflicts with the idea of an all loving God.
If you try to apply this to moral evil then you will loose free will.
2. God gives us suffering to test our faith?
problems: conflicts with our idea of an all loving God.
Apply to moral evil, loose free will.
3. God gives us suffering to help us learn, to teach us lessons?
problems: Challenges all loving God.
Moral evil-loose free will.
4. We are creatures with free will thus we will make choices that cause suffering for ourselves and others?
problems: applies only to suffering cause by moral choices.
Challenges the idea of an all loving God.
5. Nature operates according to the laws of nature?
problems: Applies to physical/mental/natural suffering and finitude. But it doesn't apply to moral choices. Does not have a God that applies to nature. God does not intervein.
Challenges the idea of an all powerful God because he does not intervien with nature.
2007-10-04 16:46:24 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
6. God suffers with us.
2007-10-04 17:24:09 · update #1
Biblical reasons for suffering in the world:
James 1:2-4 to develop patience
1 Corinthians 11:30 to expose wrong
James 5:13-15 to work salvation
Hebrews 5:8 to learn obedience to God
2 Corinthians 12:7 to learn humility among mankind
1 Peter 4:16 to glorify God
2007-10-04 17:00:16 · answer #1 · answered by Bob L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If God is an all loving, all powerful, all knowing God, then God cannot be the cause of suffering. You choose....is God all powerful or the cause/indifferent to suffering?
That doesn't mean that a 'devil' is the cause either, of course, b/c a loving, all powerful God would clearly have knowledge and power over any other being.
I don't believe that any God worth worshipping and loving could be capable/desire that we suffer or are tested at his will. That doesn't sound like any God I would want to follow. The following book was good and helpful. good luck!
2007-10-04 23:55:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suffering. Not exactly an answer to one of the 5 but anyways....
-Suffering may have a purpose. It is possible that whatever's negative in your life may bring about good
-We live in the fallen world of Adam. The hardships and pains we endure are a result of that fall.
-Suffering might make it possible for you to identify with others. If you've "been to hell and back" you can really relate to the person who's going though trials and tribulation themselves.
-Should God neutralize all the bad in the world? Should the people who wage war be "zapped" on the spot by the Almighty Himself? "the rain falls on the rightous and unrightous"
-finally there is something out there to help through these problems. I know you saw this coming, but God has provided a saviour. A saviour who told us that there's alot of bad things in this world, but don't be afraid because he has already been victorious on our behalf.
AND REMEMBER, GOD LOST HIS ONLY SON. HE CAN RELATE
2007-10-05 00:00:12 · answer #3 · answered by Eric G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4. Suffering is caused by human choices, not by God. IMHO, this is not limited to suffering caused by moral choices, as the Christian kerygma makes the case that the whole physical realm is "fallen" and therefore imperfect. Of course, God has the power to prevent sufferings. But for some reason, God chooses not to... yet. He could either be a HUGE jerk, or have some reason bigger than we can understand.
2007-10-04 23:50:27 · answer #4 · answered by Keep On Trucking 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6. We cause the suffering as a result of free will. We chose to believe a lie, that we could be like God, thus original sin. We chose not to help the needy, etc, etc... You could consider a type of punishment, but that is not the whole of the truth. And times of suffering certainly test and strengthens our faith.
2007-10-04 23:58:10 · answer #5 · answered by exodust20 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a little of 3 a little of 4
a little of things you havent touched upon
If we never had any suffering or any trials, would we ever truly understand joy or happiness? Would we grow as a person as much as if we had everything perfectly stable all our lives>
There is one thing to be content in life, another to be truly happy.
I think we put thru suffering because mostly of circumstances we either put ourselves in or due to the actions of others. Sometimes its just random. But after big trials, most people say they have become stronger people and learned valuable lessons from it.
Is it better to learn and grow as a person, fully understand joy and happiness to its greatest extent,
or
be stuck in a state of childlike boredom simply content in our place of being absolutely stuck where we are, never really growing or learning any lessons
When we are in the middle of a trial most of us would rather be stuck and just content, but after the trials are over many of us are grateful for the lessons we have learned.
2007-10-04 23:54:06 · answer #6 · answered by cadisneygirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, let's see. #1, my father whipped me to punish me for the wrong I did during my youth. He loved me and still does. Love does not mean the abscence of punishment, and anybody who's lived long enough knows that.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7 It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
Hebrews 12:11 All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous, but grievous: yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.
Sorry, that was a very easy one. Your arguments are all self-defeating.
2007-10-04 23:56:43 · answer #7 · answered by passmanjames 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry I could not answer any of these questions as they are unfounded and rhetoric.
Read " the god delusion " by Richard Hawkins.
He explains the religion phenomena very articulately and scientifically.
2007-10-04 23:52:01 · answer #8 · answered by spils 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Number five is no problem at all if you do not believe in God.
As a matter of fact, none of these present problems unless you insist on the existence of God.
^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^
2007-10-04 23:49:46 · answer #9 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Attachment causes suffering. Rid yourself of attachment and you shall be rid of suffering.
2007-10-04 23:59:23 · answer #10 · answered by Meatwad 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋