It is Thanksgiving Day and everyone is supposed to be thankful but I had to raise this issue: why does god allow suffering? (I hope it did not ruin your appetite, forgive me.) The question I am raising is both a theological and a practical question, and needing an answer on both directions. Why does God allow pain and suffering if he is a just and a loving God?Have you considered figuring out why the children of a remote village in Africa are dying of hunger, or those from a hidden valley in India are plagued with diseases with no one reaching out for them. Is there an end on the middle-east conflict between the Palestinian races? Why does an innocent child contract HIV? A loving parent suffers from a malignant cancer? Have you paused to ask why these things are happening?
Is it correct to suppose that God allows suffering arbitrarily? To me, this question raises even the issue on the existence of God. I will not attempt to answer nor pretend to know the answer on these issues. I asked to clarify. I asked to seek enlightenment. After all, the object of our thanksgiving today is God.
Can you please share your thoughts on the issue?
I should think that it is obvious why God allows suffering. It can be explained by only one of two truths. Either it is part of His great, glorious Plan for us, but we, being mere mortals, are to lame-brained to understand the rationale behind the Plan. Either that or, and this is the one my money is on, there is no God.
ReplyDeletePart of a glorious plan -I doubt. The latter could be possible. However, it will press me back to my other questions should I go with that. That is, which is easier to prove: there is God or none? (I know, this is entirely a different issue.)
ReplyDeleteThe problem of suffering should not be attributed to anyone except to man himself. Seeking explanation beyond our accountability is a futile exercise.