'Why does God allow suffering?'

'Why does God allow suffering?' Dec 30, 2019 18:46:55 GMT OldSamVimes likes this

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Post by rizdek on Dec 30, 2019 18:46:55 GMT

Dec 30, 2019 11:44:32 GMT OldSamVimes said:

Dec 29, 2019 0:52:02 GMT rizdek said:

It actually doesn't assume God exists...because the question is "Why WOULD God let us suffer?" So the question is conditional of there being a god. But the question does assume a kind of God who might give a rats ass if people suffer. Perhaps God doesn't care at all about people who, to him/it, are no more than ticks on a horse's ass or the fungus that grows under a log in the swamp. So it might be indifferent or it might even kind of enjoy making things suffer...just to watch the response since god itself can't suffer.

I don't think the "any amt of suffering is nothing compared to eternal life" works because THAT assumes an afterlife...an afterlife of supposed bliss. Just because a god exists is no indication of any afterlife...much less one of bliss.

But the question then would be why would a God that gives a shit about humans bother with the "3 score and 10" of suffering if it is dwarfed by an eternity of bliss? It seems a big waste of suffering that a god with any benevolence at all would avoid if for no other reason than to keep from looking like a dick. What would be the point? But as above, perhaps God wants to look like a dick.

But as for suffering here...I'm perfectly happy and have suffered almost none at all. So, I'd have no bone to pick with a god. But I am aware of many who seem to have suffered extensively...horribly...an in many cases not at all due to any fault of their own. I guess I can be relieved and not worry about them because...you know...any amt of suffering those dweebs endure is nothing compared to an eternal afterlife. Presumably said god is gonna make up for all those children suffering chronic malnutrition and abuse just so I can have my slice of fucking free will.

I agree that the question assumes (for the sake of argument at least), that some from of God exists.

If we're going to discuss the question 'Why WOULD God let us suffer'? We need to acknowledge that suffering has a different context if physical death is not the end.

Any belief in God (external, internal or pervasive) comes along with the idea 'When we die that's not it'.

"Just because a god exists is no indication of any afterlife...much less one of bliss."

I can't think of any historical religion or people who had a belief in God(s), but no belief in any afterlife at all. Can you give me any examples of any religion of belief system believing God exists but 'There's no afterlife'?

Perhaps deists don't necessarily believe in an afterlife. This site discusses it.

I don't put too much stock in the established religions of which I am aware. They seem pretty much manmade and designed for crowd control and perhaps psychological support. I was speaking more abstractly and from a perspective of arguments and lines of reasoning that seem to lead people to believe in God or gods. There are some pretty good arguments that might lead one to believe there is some sort of "other" power that caused and influences the natural world. But I'm not aware of any good arguments that support the afterlife. Here I'm speaking of an eternal or essentially eternal afterlife that doesn't include NDEs or OBEs which, as far as I can tell, can all seem to happen to people near death but who are not actually dead as in all brain activity has ceased and their physical body has started to deteriorate or they've been prepped for burial.