If God is a sentient being, then why is there so much pain in the world?

Question

Many people feel man was made in god's image. If that is so then god too can think and feel. Why would someone who is supposed to be full of love and compassion not interveine? Think of all the war, famine, and disease in the world. Why would a sentient god abandon his people? Especially those that pray for a better life everyday and never get it.

Answer 1

None of us is immune to the consequences of actions-ours or others'. The person who develops a disease that is not traceable to his specific personal behavior and the infant born with a congenital birth defect both suffer, though not necessarily because of anything they did.

Those who are injured or killed in accidents or natural disasters are often innocent victims, too. Not all suffering is the result of personal disobedience or irresponsible behavior by the one who suffers. Even in the Ten Commandments God reminds us that the consequences of wrong actions can affect one's descendants for several generations (Exodus 20:5).

Often the specific cause of instances of suffering simply cannot be precisely explained-at least not in this lifetime. Sometimes the best we can do is to accept it as explainable only by what the Bible calls "time and chance" (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Although God does not cause accidents, neither does He micromanage the lives of every human being to prevent them. Paul tells us that in this life we see through "a glass darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV). We will never fully understand some things during this life, but we will in the world to come.

We should realize that even suffering that is a result of time and chance is not causeless. If it cannot be connected to a specific behavior, it is often nevertheless a consequence of one or more behavioral patterns followed by the human race since creation.

Adam chose, by sinning, to turn away from God. The rest of mankind has taken the same path. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, ... death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).

One of the consequences of humanity's decision to live contrary to God's instruction is a world subject to the capriciousness and vagaries of "time and chance" and the actions of others. This pattern will prevail until Christ returns to establish God's Kingdom on earth. The entire world will then be filled with the knowledge of God and His righteous laws (Isaiah 11:9). All of humanity finally will thrive in a world that is just and fair.

Answer 2

Pain is part of life, life is a struggle, it take great spiritual character to do great things in this world. We are responsible for the immorality on this planet, and to use our technology and talent to make this world better, it is up to us to make a difference. God is here to inspire and guide us, not to do the work we are suppose to do for us, Traditional religion does not represent God well. We need to get an updated version of God. God is not easy to understand, but God is moral, and treats people who try hard to be good, with the just results they deserve.

Answer 3

Sentient does not mean empathetic.


But they do tend to claim that God has infinite love, so he should have some empathy for us.

On God's example when I see my kids bickering and fighting I should stop doing what I normally do - intervene and try to mediate - I should just hide around the corner and watch them fight and hurt each other.


But then, if we were made in God's images then we must, to some extend act like god acts. So, that would infer that god acts somewhat like we act. Given how most of us act towards each other (and you will go to hell if you don't act like they want you to) then God really is a cruel and vindictive character. This is backed up by most of his appearances in the OT.

Answer 4

Y'know, if man in his free will mentality did not desire to conquer the weaker, use common sense to cultivate the land properly using crop rotation and re-plantation, stop in-discretionary sexuality that causes diseases (i.e. AIDS), this world may not be such a bad place. God said He wouldn't interfere with man's choice, tough love. He's not to blame. As for praying for a good life, the person has to go get it with the help of God. Laziness gets you nowhere.

Answer 5

dear bro, we're under a curse. REad Genesis.
God is not the author of all this.

The Bible says all creation groans and is in pains
until the day of the revelation of the sons of God.

it means there will come a day, when the true believers of the Lord Jesus will be revealed before the whole world. We call it the day of the Lord. Thats the day the curse will end.

Answer 6

He did intervene, by becoming one of us and being tortured and killed for us, then raised. Life to the full (joy, peace, security, etc.) is available to everyone; if submitted to God it's available, regardless of life circumstances. Someone could be in jail or homeless and still have peace, and later God will deliver them to a better situation. Evil is still in the world because of people refusing to submit to God, and hating and harming others.

You should do a Biblical and historical study of what happens when people who are in trouble or oppressed cry out to God. The significance of the "OUTCRY" is fascinating.

Answer 7

Because in spite of what the religious fruitcakes out there are parroting, GOD was invented in the image of MAN and not the other way around.

Like the avatar by the way

Answer 8

i'm an atheist yet i became into raised christian, so i think of i will conjure an answer that ought to artwork with your ideals... in fact that soreness and suffering make happiness extra valuable. devoid of sadness you does no longer have the skill to delight in the coolest circumstances. Its an equilibrium state that enables the international artwork as an entire. Its additionally humorous to think of of God as wanting human beings to no longer have soreness and suffering. in case you study even 0.5 of the bible you will understand that he's somewhat vengeful and extremely wrathful. If he did no longer desire human beings to go through, then does no longer you think of he wouldnt have smote maximum of individuals interior the bible? purely my $.02 EDIT: i think of that it is variety of stupid that everybody who solutions this post regurgitates the comparable superb ingredient approximately guy choosing soreness and suffering. All arguments element out that the international became into created completely and then adam and eve decide for to reason soreness and suffering by making use of sinning. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT good judgment? they chosen to sin, yet that doesnt advise that they chosen soreness and suffering. The forbidden fruit brought about unquestionably no direct soreness or suffering to Adam or Eve, yet somewhat is became into God's punishment for ingesting the fruit that brought about soreness and suffering for adam and eve. So confident, God instigated the 1st little bit of soreness and suffering by making use of inflicting soreness and suffering to somebody who purely did no longer obey him. If God wasn't so adament approximately smiting Adam and Eve, and purely permit it slide, would all people have suffered in any respect? I advise, heavily. there's a distinction between sinning and inflicting soreness. Technically ingesting beef is a sin, yet once I even have an outstanding great beef sandwich, no longer a single person suffers. Its significant to attain that frequently sinning in basic terms reasons suffering because of the fact God chooses to punish you, no longer because of the fact your strikes brought about somebody else to go through.

Answer 9

Because Satan is the ruler of this world right now. But if we keep praying for endurance and strength, then God will help.

Answer 10

a hindu view is that pain and suffering arent real, we are just under the illusion that they are because we are not perfect like God;;hence if pain is not real God, even if he is a sentient being, would not feel pain