The Problem of Suffering

 Mia Freeman-- Section #9

    The Problem of Suffering, the theological debate that has lasted centuries, yet is nowhere close to being answered. The debate of suffering is not only one that is debated between scholars and philosophers but also personally between someone's heart and mind. Why do people suffer? Can there be a god that allows humanity to suffer? If there is a god, why is he or she allowing people to suffer? Can a god that sees humanity suffering uncontrollably be considered a good god? Although the debate has been lasting centuries, the debate seems rather to be one sided looking at this question from humanity's standpoint-- but not from God's viewpoint. 

    Epicurus, a Greek philosopher, knowing for his founding of Epicureanism the school of Philosophy, made this statement regarding this pressing questions. 

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. If is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. If he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”  - Epicurus

Epicurus believed that the majority of anguish that people around him suffered from was the belief of a higher spiritual entity. According to Epicurus, "everything which exists is composed of atoms, and this includes the soul. Therefore, when a person dies, their soul "is scattered abroad and no longer has its usual functions" (Epicurus and Strobach 104)."  Although Epicurus seems to me making a sturdy argument, when broken down there are in fact counter arguments and answers to his questions. 

    "If he is both willing and able?" This question seems to cover a wide description of God. In many people's minds, "God" is mainly understood as an omnipotent, all powerful, all knowing, "good" creator. But then the question arises, what is the definition of a "good God." Some people consider a good God, a higher entity that protects and loves like a parent protects and loves a child, or a creator that eliminates all pain and evil, or a creator who allows humanity to do whatever they like without any consequences. Through my reading, I find that C.S Lewis, a philosopher and author, penned these words that sum up much of what humanity wants in a God in his book, "The Problem of Pain." He wrote, "“We (humanity) want, in fact, not so much a Father in Heaven as a grandfather in heaven---a senile benevolence who, as they say, “liked to see young people enjoying themselves” and who plan for the universe was simply that it might be truly said at the end of each day, “a good time was had by all.”’ Yet this does not answer the question, is God both willing and able to get rid of evil. Assuming that God is all powerful and knowing, then yes, his is able, but is he willing?

  When answer this question, it also ties into the idea of free will. Going back to the beginning of the Old Testaments in Genesis, Christians believe that when God created Adam and Eve, he created them in his image thus giving them free will. Now, the idea is that if God is a good God, he wouldn’t allow bad things to happen, such as murder, abuse, assault, etc. God does condemn the shed of innocent blood which has been repeated countless times within the Bible, but to miraculously intervene every time something hurtful was said or done would take away our free will as human being.

Although I do agree with much of what C.S. Lewis explains, I believe that a simple factor was left out of the equation when discussion the problem of suffering, and it can be explained in a question. As an all-knowing, all-powerful God, what obligates him to control the weather and chaos, and make like easier for humanity? Going back to the foundation of Christianity, there is the belief, that we are all made in God’s image, and a part of him is having free will. To give free-will, doesn’t someone first have to have free will?

  Claiming that everything is true, that means that God does have the power to control the wind and sea, and causes nations and kingdoms to rise and fall, then why would he follow the requests of those who do not believe or choose to worship another god? An example used could be of the Israelites, in Jeremiah in the Old Testament, who chose to worship pagan gods, one specifically mentioned was called “Baal or Moloch” where parents would sacrifice and burn their children to worship him. This and the worship of any other gods were condemned several time throughout the Laws of Moses. Because of idolatry and the refusal to turn away from their other gods, God refused to hear their requests when difficulty and war struck.

The next question that should be looked at is , “Then whence cometh evil?” In Romans 5:12 it is written, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—.” According to some philosophers, humanity is naturally good. However, it seems that the opposite seems to be true. When a child is born, as they grow, they are not taught to lie, or steal, or make a mess. Instead, parents must teach their children to tell the truth and share and respect one another.

                 It can be easier to explain the demise of humanity, yet another aspect of the problem arises. What about natural disasters or natural evil according to David Hume.  If God is an all-powerful God, then why is there environmental devastation such as tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods that destroy lives of millions, why doesn’t he prevent it? Again, scripture can answer this, but it still leads back to the fall of humanity and free-will of humans choosing to care about their own convenience and not taking care of the earth by polluting and overworking the ground.

 So, to answer “whence cometh evil”, for nature, it comes from the fall of man resulting in the decaying of the earth and humanity’s involvement. For people, regardless of what isle a person is all, it seems that everyone can agree, many pains come from individuals   choosing personal desires over the wellbeing’s of others, resulting in their downfall of themselves or their fellowman.