Why does God allow us to suffer?

[Extraneous]

God can and does use atheists to accomplish His purpose.

Wearing down the saints you mean? I come here because i dont have anything else. I suffer depression and many other things. Why should i need to come to a Christian website only to be harassed by Atheists? Why does God allow my suffering? Huh? Maybe i should start to blame him too. I can blame him for creating a website full of strife and then giving me nothing else.

Get off my back, i got no time for it, and im out of patience with Christians who have nothing better to do than leave their comfy little Church pews, in their comfy little lives, only to go online and argue about everything under the sun. Im fed up. Thank you, goodnight

 

[Locutus]

What if God isnt real? That is your implication. Many people who believe he exists feed the poor and help others who suffer. You see value in tearing that down? All you would do is cause more suffering. Its you who seem to be lost in your own morality, if you cant see that.

Are you saying these people are only doing 'good works' because they fear a deity? Or because it hadn't occurred to them until they read the bible? I think you sell them very short. Good people are good people, and will always find ways to help.

And no, I don't wish to 'tear down' any charitable institutions if they operate 100% unconditionally (without ever attempting to convert the recipients of their charity), and plenty of Catholic organisations do just that. I'm an active and financial supporter of one such.

 

[Locutus]

You have proven that mankind is incapable of that. Look at you, you want to destroy the teaching of love.

This thread is about a deity/belief in a deity who allows great and profound suffering, but is alleged to prevent minor suffering.

And mankind is doing something about that profound suffering, the conditions for which your god created. So you have that bass ackwards.

 

[Locutus]

Then get off the internet and go relieve suffering, instead of tearing down a message of love

I've just spent the last three hours and $220 of my money doing just that. Still, this thread is about your god allowing suffering, not my leisure activities.

 

[Locutus]

Why is he allowing so many children to live horrible lives. Why are they being punish? Or having to live horrible lives. How is this teaching us about love or anything?

they believe god allows those kids to die horribly to teach warm, safe, and well fed westerners important moral lessons.

it feels grotesque to even type that.

 

[Locutus]

If i had listened to God, i wouldn't be suffering right now. Thats the truth, I didn't follow what he taught, and now im suffering because of that, Its not him who caused my depression and other things, its people who treat me like dirt. Had i listened to God, i would have not needed to endure the abuse of people. I cant speak for others, but thats my story. Should i be angry at God for not making me obey him, so i would not need to suffer at the hands of people? I dont see how being bitter and angry will make it better. Its my fault and thats the truth. However, God promises hope and restoration one day, in heaven.

So i embrace his message of love for others, i learn to forgive them, which actually relieves my suffering because unforgiveness only disturbs my peace in a very bad way, I cannot see how God is at fault for anything, and he actually tried to warn me, You can blame him for not creating a better life for me, but that would mean that you would admit he is real. If he is real then how can i possibly be angry at him? Hes my only hope.

I'm glad you found some healing via religion. However, I think you miss much by thinking only a deity is your friend. An unproven deity, at that. Don't sell people short. Humans can be amazingly good, you just need to make the effort to find them. Best of all, they're definitely real

 

[Locutus]

Why are you allowing it? How many kids can you feed with your internet bill?

I do real, tangible things to alleviate the sort of suffering we're talking about here, and I don't have god-like powers. It costs me much time and energy to make even a tiny difference. How much easier would it be for a deity?

 

[Locutus]

There are only two ways to logically look at this.

One way to see it, is that God is not real. If that's the case then its illogical to blame him.

If however he is real, then blaming him is unwise, because without him you have nothing.

We don't 'blame' a god we don't believe exists. Our argument is entirely with those who DO believe this god exists.

 

[Locutus]

Atheists boast of their intellect, yet they prove that logic is far from them. Why dont you go out and fix the world instead of sitting on the internet crying about God?

Once again, this thread is about why your god allows suffering. We want you to tell us why, since he's not talking.

 

[Locutus]

Think about how illogical your question is. You dont even believe he exists. So the only logical reason you would have to question him is to prove that he doesn't exist. Will that stop sex slavery? No. So whats the point then? How does Atheism help? .

The 'logical reason' is to try to get otherwise good and decent people to think through the implications of a god who allows profound suffering, but fixes bad backs on request. We hope to bring attention to the moral cost of belief in such a god.

 

[joshua 1 9]

Wearing down the saints you mean? I come here because i dont have anything else. I suffer depression and many other things. Why should i need to come to a Christian website only to be harassed by Atheists? Why does God allow my suffering? Huh? Maybe i should start to blame him too. I can blame him for creating a website full of strife and then giving me nothing else.

Get off my back, i got no time for it, and im out of patience with Christians who have nothing better to do than leave their comfy little Church pews, in their comfy little lives, only to go online and argue about everything under the sun. Im fed up. Thank you, goodnight

It is just one of those things you have to pray about and ask God to show you the way that He wants and has for you to go. Even sometimes we can not do it on our own and need the help of our fellow christians.

 

[Locutus]

Do you want to talk about people or do you want to talk about God? The question is what does the Bible say about God?

The Koran says amazing stuff about Allah, but you're not informed by that I'll wager - you're informed by the human face of Islam. So how about you ignore the human face of Islam, and instead read the Koran? I'm sure you'll come away with a much better impression of that faith - and will be able to ignore entirely anything unpleasant on the part of believers..

 

[Locutus]

God can and does use atheists to accomplish His purpose.

And Allah uses Christians to accomplish his purpose.

 

[joshua 1 9]

The Koran says amazing stuff about Allah, but you're not informed by that I'll wager - you're informed by the human face of Islam. So how about you ignore the human face of Islam, and instead read the Koran? I'm sure you'll come away with a much better impression of that faith - and will be able to ignore entirely anything unpleasant on the part of believers..

I have read enough of the Koran to know that the Koran teaches people to do harm and injury to others and I do not think that follows the teachings of Jesus. There maybe times when we need to defend ourselves and our family but that does not mean going out of our way to harm others.

 

[Locutus]

Get off my back, i got no time for it, and im out of patience with Christians who have nothing better to do than leave their comfy little Church pews, in their comfy little lives, only to go online and argue about everything under the sun. Im fed up. Thank you, goodnight

We have your best interests at heart, otherwise we wouldn't bother.

Meantime, I'm sorry your beliefs haven't alleviated your depression. The world, and people, are amazing. Try to embrace them. As Mary Oliver would say:

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down,
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

 

[Locutus]

I have read enough of the Koran to know that the Koran teaches people to do harm and injury to others and I do not think that follows the teachings of Jesus. There maybe times when we need to defend ourselves and our family but that does not mean going out of our way to harm others.

my point was, just as the Koran does not change your opinion of the islam (as manifested by the human face), so to the bible is meaningless to us. we look to the human face to form our opinions of Christianity.

 

[Locutus]

Im not here to bash Atheists. All im saying is that its illogical to blame God. I think i have showed why its illogical.

Im also saying that without God what hope do we have? Will we be better off without Him? What hope is there for us without Him? All we have coming is a grave. If that's Atheism then you are more than welcome to enjoy it. I choose to believe in something more.

Thats all im saying.

We're not 'bashing' your god. We can't bash something we don't believe exists. Our argument is with those who believe in the god, as described. We ask 'why do you worship such a god?'

Meantime, I don't think I'm going to live forever. I'm middle aged, and could pretty much die anytime within the next 50 years. I don't believe in any sort of afterlife or reincarnation. Yet I am full of hope, always. Hope for better weather tomorrow, hope for a good tomato harvest, hope for my kids and their kids, hope for humanity, nature, art, music, space travel, etc etc. My life is rich with meaning and joy, and I value every second - precisely because it's the only life I'm guaranteed. I'll not waste any of it.

 

[SkyWriting]

Are you talking about Africa. I thought many children were dying, from poverty. And that continent have been stricken with diseases and poverty. Why would God allow this?

You are the one allowing it. God does not exist to do your bidding.
God saves all who turn to Him on any continent. And to be clear,
children seem to have a front seat that adults should envy:

13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."


26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

[Locutus]

You are the one allowing it. God does not exist to do your bidding.

God saves all who turn to Him on any continent.

And to be clear, children seem to have a front seat that adults should envy:

So you expect us to fix it, but give god (who could so much more easily do it than we) a pass?

Unless they make the minor mistake of choosing another god or no god, then they can starve to death in the dirt.

Yes yes, the kiddies are better off with that excrutiating terminal cancer and/or starvation. They're 'blessed'.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

You are the one allowing it. God does not exist to do your bidding.
God saves all who turn to Him on any continent. And to be clear,
children seem to have a front seat that adults should envy:

13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."


26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

So your saying these people are dying because they haven't came to God . Or it's my fault, that I cant afford to feed them all. I'm not getting your point.