If god is omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent then why did he create a world where suffering exists?
Now, before everyone starts throwing "free-wills" at me, consider this:
If god is omnipotent why didn't he just create a world without suffering where we also possess free-will? This should be entirely within the grasp of a supposedly all-powerful creature. Furthermore, what does the suffering caused by natural disasters have to do with free-will?
2007-12-30 07:17:26 · 25 answers · asked by mam2121 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
People seem to be missing the point.
God should be able to create a world without the possibility of suffering that doesn't violate our free-will. He didn't. Plain and simple. Now, either god is not benevolent or he is not omnipotent. Which one is it?
2007-12-30 07:29:42 · update #1
I see that you understand something about "free will" so I wonder at the question. God did create a world without suffering and gave authority to humanity (Adam and Eve). Free will then, as you may know, is the power to choose but how can we express that power if there is no choice to make? Suffering began when the wrong choice was made against the direct instruction of God. How then would you blame God for suffering? Because he gave the choice? God made Mankind for communion. If we then had no choice but God then what kind of relationship would that be? That would be nothing special. If my wife married me because I was the last man on Earth then how would I know if she actually loves me? Would she choose someone else if there was someone else? So then, God likewise wants us to love Him of our own choice so that He can express His love likewise to us.
It's like blaming God for our own stupidity. It is time to accept responsibility for our own actions.
2008-01-03 02:15:21 · answer #1 · answered by TheNewCreationist 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There can not be a god that is all powerful AND all good/loving .
Another example : Some animals eat other animals alive . Sometimes in the sight of their grieving parents . If God wanted to punish ALL the Humans to follow (isn't this proof enough that he has an anger control issue ?) for Adam's and Eve's mistake why did he make animals also suffer ? And he made them suffer in the world flood ! , and hurricanes , and disease and volcanos , etc.
Four possibilities exist :
1. God is powerful but doesn't care about our suffering . Maybe we are a virtual reality game , or an experiment to him .
2. He is ALL powerful and evil or at least uncaring .
3. God is caring but not very powerful . Maybe he is not even aware of us as we are to small , like bacteria . Maybe he ran into a load of kryptonite or something .
4. There is NO "god"(s)
2007-12-30 07:43:35 · answer #2 · answered by allure45connie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God did create a world where suffering didn't exist. He made everything perfect. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord, the world was no longer perfect. Because of sin, there will be suffering. Yes, I do believe God is still omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent.
2007-12-30 07:24:19 · answer #3 · answered by Jackie 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Assuming we're discussing the biblical God...
If he exists, he may very well be all-powerful...but all-loving? Nope. Sorry. There is nothing "loving" about sending people to suffer eternal torment because, regardless of how much they may have tried to do so, they didn't please him, didn't worship him the right way, or didn't believe in him because they were led astray by the many mixed messages they get from the countless false prophets in this world. That god is loving in the same way that an abusive spouse is loving. If he exists, he's an all-powerful, all-volatile tantrum-throwing toddler who dishes out punishment that doesn't remotely fit the crime.
2007-12-30 07:26:00 · answer #4 · answered by War Games AM 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Even if he did some person would make a bad choice sometime or another and start the flaws from there. Right? And How could we learn if it is already perfect? I doubt he made it this way we did. I know I have made a mess of my life and I can't blame anyone but myself. I just have to continue to make better choices in my life and do what is right for me and my kids
2007-12-30 07:21:59 · answer #5 · answered by Kj 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not Gods fault, its Adam and Eve's fault.
But the suffering, while some in free will, is so that we dont get a "everything will be all right" feeling and "nothing bad will ever happen to me" feeling. Because tis not true.
Also i believe the suffering is God's way of a toll booth to heaven, we pay with suffering, we earn the right to go to Heaven and enjoy the rest of eternity.
2007-12-30 07:21:54 · answer #6 · answered by strayeagle5501 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your last paragraph is exactly as it was done. Perfect world with free will. However free will MEANS that you have the ability to disobey. And that disobedience results in human suffering. That is why God wants us to obey. Because it is what is best for us. Every other planet in the universe with intelligent life did not fall. Only we did. So don't blame God. Thank God that He gave us a way out.
2007-12-30 07:22:23 · answer #7 · answered by The GMC 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Yes God is great ! Mankind was decieved by a fallen angel,A.K.A. Lucifer. Natural disasters are allowed to give the chance for people to step up and do the right thing and also to pray for mercy from the all knowing and all loving God !
2007-12-30 07:30:07 · answer #8 · answered by lonewolf 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
HE did NOT create a malevolent world. The Devil is the cause of all evil in the world.
We do possess free-will. We are free to choose to do good or evil.
More can be said.
GOD bless
2007-12-30 07:22:07 · answer #9 · answered by Exodus 20:1-17 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He certainly is all powerful, but with regard to "all-loving" I'd say that he loves all people but he cannot tolerate sin, so there will be some people who find that they end up not getting in to God's party because they will not accept God's gift.
2007-12-30 07:21:22 · answer #10 · answered by William D 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋