There was an interview on NPR recently with Bart Ehrman who wrote a book entitled, "God's Problem." Ehrman, a former devout Christian speaks of his attempts to reconcile why there is so much suffering in the world if there indeed is a God. He cannot come up with any satisfactory answers and ultimately loses his faith entirely.
Here is the link to his interview and book.
It really got me to thinking of how you all might answer the question which Ehrman poses: "If there's an all-powerful and loving God, why do human beings suffer?"
I have my own biases, opinions, and answers to this question which I am still in the process of developing. But I was wondering how you all might answer this age old question.
When you are faced with crises and challenges which are difficult to understand such as the loss of a loved one, mental and physicial illness, and general suffering, the God question usually comes to the forefront. What do we believe and why?
So what are your thoughts...whether you believe in a God or not...why does suffering exist? Is there some greater purpose?
Come sit a spell and shoot the breeze. Sweeten the day with a little synchronicity...
9 comments:
I beleive in God. I don't think he is the cause of our suffering though. Man has free will and that brings about a great deal of suffering in this world. As for things like disease and natural disasters... I believe that there is a reason for them but we just can't see it.
I don't need to go to his link. This question is as old as God. Every religion addresses it differently. I am more interested in YOU. What are YOU seeking? Are you not at peace with YOUR life? Do you want answers to all the questions so that YOU can feel life makes sense? We are born. We die. In between LIFE happens, short or long, rich or poor, happy or sad, sickness/health, fun/no fun--love, cry, laugh, the meaning of life is in your grasp. Your posts keep reaching out--reach in.
You read books, listen to radio, surf the web; isn't it exhausting? You are making the simple extremely complicated. God. Which God? Why that God? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why----NOT? Amazon.com is happy to sell you hundreds of books on all these topics. The authors are happy to take your $$ one too. The Drs. are happy to give you anti-depressants, your cab driver is happy to give you all life's answers. Your preacher is happy to help you out. In the 1960's LSD was happy to show you GOD! Just search yourself. You want God's purpose/reason--ask your God. All the Gods have given us all we need to answer your questions. I think you seek something else.
well...actually i feel i need to reach out more. i have been too internal...too inside myself. i am interested in what people have to say. as i have said, i have my own views on this question which i absolutely want to share. i am not desperate for some definite answer...there isn't any. i feel comfort in myself and what i believe and also what i question.
i feel good.
I recommend one book called "Where Is God When It Hurts?" by Philip Yancey
I deals with the same issues that you and I have been facing. Your local library should have one.
I've suffered for over forty years with bipolar disorder, but I have to say I don't regret the life I've lived. We learn from the episodes of pain and depression we go through. We learn to be stronger - deeper - grateful. We learn to have compassion for others who struggle with stuff. I think there are always ways in which we can make the best of things. The Bible says that all things work together for good. We just have to have faith - to trust.
As Marja said, all things work together - through God - for a good purpose. We don't understand why, nor will we until it is revealed.
As it says in Isaiah, "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
If anyone finds a better explanation, I'm willing to listen.
Toughie. I;ve been bipolar/schizoaffective for more than half my life. It's ingrained in my personality.
On the other hand, I have a subtitle "Those who the Gods wish to destroy they first drive mad".
I honestly don't know the answer to the question. Before I would say no, I agree with you. NOw I don't know.
I really like your blog though, it really makes me ponder.
I read/own the book that Jim mentioned. I highly recommend that you get it. Excellent read!
I hate to be a downer, but I think it is all random. I believe that there could be a creator, but I do not believe in any religion or divine intervention. If I believe in divine intervention then I have to give 'God' credit for the good and the bad. The way I see it there is just too much suffering in the world for me to think an infallible God is interceding on anyones behalf.
My husband was in a car wreck recently and the car is pretty much totaled but he is fine. We've had a couple of people say that "someone was watching out for him." Well, that is a nice thought but I'm a nurse and I saw some horrific things that happened to people after car wrecks, so bad that I don't even want to talk about it. Did God not care about those people? Also what about horrible things that happen to defenseless children like abuse or rape. Does God only intervene or answer the prayers of certain special people, and then you have entire nations of people born into poverty. I hate to be cynical, but I think you just have to do the best with the cards you are dealt in this life and appreciate each other.
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