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Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Is there an answer?

161 replies

bluekelebek · 03/12/2023 14:23

I wasn't raised religious, and tbh I dont know what/if I do believe in.. but is there an answer to - if there is a God, why is there so much suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad people seem to get on with life with no repercussions, regardless of thei actions?

OP posts:
Cupcakes2024 · 13/01/2024 16:06

bluekelebek · 03/12/2023 14:23

I wasn't raised religious, and tbh I dont know what/if I do believe in.. but is there an answer to - if there is a God, why is there so much suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do bad people seem to get on with life with no repercussions, regardless of thei actions?

For me its fair straight forward,

basically humans wrote all the various religious texts

Languages evolve and there's not always substitutes

We know how important grammer can be in altering a sentence etc

If modern religions were correct or there gods were the correct ones, then why or what happened with the various gods before modern ones

Chances are god or an advanced being is an E.T

And any writings are written by humans for humans, otherwise why do we need to edit the texts or re interpret the text's

Its like a military orders for making a cake, do x , y, etc and cake completed, rather than oh your text said x but I did q etc

Cupcakes2024 · 11/02/2024 12:27

Seems quiet thread ?

ProvincialLady1 · 11/02/2024 21:11

I don't know if you're Christian or if the Christian worldview is of interest to you, so apologies if that's not the case but I'll try to give a Christian view.

First of all, what aspect of suffering are you saying is incompatible with God's existence? Physical pain, for example, isn't something I would classify as a moral evil. It's necessary for survival. Babies who are born with a condition that causes them to be unable to feel pain usually don't survive beyond a few years because they can do terrible damage to themselves without knowing it. The same is true for animals.

According to Christian belief, moral evil is not part of God's original plan but is a reality of living in a fallen world in which we have free will, and frequently use it to cause suffering to ourselves and other people.

I'm not sure you should be working with the assumption that an easy, low-stakes and pain-free existence is necessarily what God wants for us anyway. There's not much opportunity for courage, compassion or even joy in that version of life IMO. But staying with physical suffering, illness and death - even the physical world is affected by the Fall, bringing a different level of pain and struggle and ultimately death into the world.

In Christianity Jesus is the central 'answer' to the issue of suffering because far from being remote and uncaring, God experienced all of our suffering with us and ultimately triumphed over both death and sin with all its attendant suffering. So while we're still living with that reality, we look forward in faith and hope for a time when every tear will be wiped away.

I don't know if this is helpful, I know it's a very emotional issue and ultimately these answers are rather dry. I think there are philosophical ways in which we can understand things more clearly, but our response to people who are actually suffering should always be to try and relieve that suffering and to love and care for them.

ThursdayTomorrow · 11/02/2024 23:31

The answer to your question OP is humans messing things up time and time again.

ZenNudist · 11/02/2024 23:40

What are you hoping to get out of starting this thread? Rehashing a philosophical argument about evil/suffering. There are many more cogent places to seek answers. Tim Keller The Reason For God is a great book of Christian apologetics (what you call defence of the faith). I don't know anything written from other faith perspectives.

I guess a faith journey can be anything you want it to, but you'd get further if you asked God for answers rather than mumsnet.

Sorry to be snarky but honestly prayer is definitely not just for believers.

Climbingwallsnotmountains · 14/02/2024 11:35

God gave us free will and unfortunately too many people use it for all the wrong reasons. We can only hope that they repent before it's too late because they won't get away with it in the next life...

Talipesmum · 14/02/2024 11:40

FestiveAuntFanny · 03/12/2023 15:34

There is a simple answer, just not a comforting one: there is no god, things happen randomly and there's no justice but imperfect human justice.

Anything else is a fairytale that people tell themselves to feel better.

Personally I have found that facing up to this doesn't make life meaningless, or lacking in spirit and wonder, or a desire to make things better and to live up to a code of morals. It just puts the onus for those things where it belongs - on us.

Absolutely this.

decionsdecisions62 · 15/02/2024 07:56

The answer is that the Mumsnet species don't like talking about spirituality. They prefer to talk about salaries, narcissism and mortgages.

Kdtym10 · 15/02/2024 08:24

decionsdecisions62 · 15/02/2024 07:56

The answer is that the Mumsnet species don't like talking about spirituality. They prefer to talk about salaries, narcissism and mortgages.

Don’t forget schools and handbags!

Lalupalina · 13/03/2024 16:03

*There is a simple answer, just not a comforting one: there is no god, things happen randomly and there's no justice but imperfect human justice.

Anything else is a fairytale that people tell themselves to feel better.*

This!

It makes no sense for a so called loving and kind and all powerful god to give young children genetic mutations that cause cancer or other life limiting diseases. Absolutely nothing justifies that!!!

ErrolTheDragon · 13/03/2024 18:14

decionsdecisions62 · 15/02/2024 07:56

The answer is that the Mumsnet species don't like talking about spirituality. They prefer to talk about salaries, narcissism and mortgages.

Which is why this board exists and often has pretty active threads on it. The question raised by the op has been discussed many times. Hmm

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