'Why does God allow suffering?'

'Why does God allow suffering?' Dec 28, 2019 19:47:38 GMT

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Post by FilmFlaneur on Dec 28, 2019 19:47:38 GMT

Dec 27, 2019 14:11:32 GMT OldSamVimes said:

I find the question 'Why would God let us suffer' to be a strange one.

First, when we ask that question we're assuming for the sake of argument that 'God' exists.

However, if 'God' exists then any suffering in this world gains a different perspective. There is no religious scenario where God exists but when you die 'that's it'.

So if we're presuming that 'God' exists to ask 'Why does He allow suffering', any amount of suffering we have here is nothing when measured against an eternal afterlife.

You might as well ask 'Why do we allow people to get scared on roller-coasters'?

Because if 'God' exists then any suffering here is as transient and temporary as a feeling of fear on an amusement park ride.

One way of approaching this question, and how you feel about any answer, is to ask oneself how one would feel about the deity if God did not allow suffering.

If you would be indifferent then arguably you don't care about suffering
If you would think less of God then presumably you'd prefer a deity who allows suffering
If you'd think more of the deity, then you'd rather God would not allow it and, logically, think less of him since he presently does.