Why does God allow suffering? Bear in mind, those that don't need a perfect distraction, suffer less

[trophy33]

Why? What for?

The "why" regarding such different being as God is, is kind of nonsensical.

Imagine a cell in my gut asking another cell why I, as a whole person, am eating something specific or why I am moving in the moment and the gut is shaking.

The difference in our nature, knowledge and complexity between us and God is so extent that you can never expect a specific "because" answer you can understand in its context. Only general, philosophical ones I gave you.

 

[Larniavc]

So He could not just instantly fix things without destruction to those HE had already given HIS promise to never condemn, ie, to never bring judgement upon them, but to always save them from the legal and natural consequences of their choosing to become sinful in HIS eyes.

Why not? He can do anything.

 

[Larniavc]

and that something is that He will not break HIS promise to anyone.

Yeah, that’s not true. The Bible tells us that God has broken his promises a couple of times.

God promised to bring about the destruction of Tyree by bringing Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar to the task…but God would have known that he would fail…and therefor was lying when he said that he would destroy it by sending Nebuchadrezzar.

Not to mention how surprised Moses must have to realise his people where not actually free but were in fact trapped in the desert for 40 years.

And who can forget that God made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Look at Hebrews 11:8–13 and you will see “These all died in faith, not having received the promises.” Then there is also verse 39, “And these all, having obtained a good report, received not the promise.”

So I’m not sure your take on God’s character is valid.

 

[Larniavc]

Different sinners sinned for different reasons. The lessons about the nature of evil and the suffering it causes and the nature of the judgement against evil is different to suit the different lessons different sinners need to open their eyes.

No.

At one point he was fine to use a flood. Then we are told he promised he will never use it again. He is now no longer fine with that.

 

[Larniavc]

Bible is written from the human viewpoint. Almost the whole Old Testament was written in mythological age, not in philosophical age like the New Testament.

Therefore, its not a good idea to take philosophy or even science from the OT.

For example, when you read Gen 1 or Gen 2, you clearly see mythological language. When you read John 1, you clearly see philosophical language.

So the flood is a myth?

 

[Larniavc]

The "why" regarding such different being as God is, is kind of nonsensical.

Imagine a cell in my gut asking another cell why I, as a whole person, am eating something specific or why I am moving in the moment and the gut is shaking.

The difference in our nature, knowledge and complexity between us and God is so extent that you can never expect a specific "because" answer you can understand in its context. Only general, philosophical ones I gave you.

I don’t think that sufficient. God clearly has not stopped evil when he obviously can.

Therefore he chooses to coexist with evil and the detrimental effects it has on humanity.

 

[Blade]

I don’t think that sufficient. God clearly has not stopped evil when he obviously can.

Therefore he chooses to coexist with evil and the detrimental effects it has on humanity.

One has to know the word of God. If one is not a believer they will be blind to the word and not see. "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." Fact..

So no God can not do anything. If one truly from their heart wanted to know they could just ask Him. The key is has to be from the heart.

 

[timothyu]

The key is has to be from the heart.

Science has stumbled upon seemingly a fact we seem to have two brains since the advent of organ transplants. Memories and emotions of donors seem in many cases to transfer to heart recipients leading them to believe we have a double 'brain' situation, the head for practical physical matters and the heart which is our spiritual and emotional self. So saying 'from the heart' may not be as far fetched as it seems.

 

[ruthiesea]

Apart from when he chooses suffering. Otherwise why would it happen?

I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.-Isaiah 45.

 

[trophy33]

So the flood is a myth?

The flood's account is written down in mythological era, in that language.

I personally think it happened (not globally, but in Mesopotamia), but I see mythological language in the text (like the number "40").

 

[trophy33]

I don’t think that sufficient. God clearly has not stopped evil when he obviously can.

Therefore he chooses to coexist with evil and the detrimental effects it has on humanity.

Your question "why" cannot be answered in other way than just generally, with the limited reasoning we as humans have, though.

Evil is allowed to exist, because its good for some reason. What other answer do you want to get? We cannot show you all possible universes for you to see that this one is the best, so that you will see it with your own eyes.

We must be satisfied with philosophical reasoning, this is the natural light God gave to humanity.

 

[Larniavc]

So no God can not do anything. If one truly from their heart wanted to know they could just ask Him. The key is has to be from the heart.

Well that’s just confusing. I’ve been reliably informed by the Bible that he can. And from what you say here God only makes sense when you already believe.

Which is odd.

 

[Larniavc]

Memories and emotions of donors seem in many cases to transfer to heart recipients leading them to believe we have a double 'brain' situation,

No. No they don’t.

 

[Larniavc]

I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.-Isaiah 45.

I already know what the Bible claims. That is not new information. And you might be shocked by the amount off Christians will absolutely deny that any calamity comes from God. Despite that being exactly what the Bible claims.

 

[Larniavc]

The flood's account is written down in mythological era, in that language.

I personally think it happened (not globally, but in Mesopotamia), but I see mythological language in the text (like the number "40").

It’s hard to be convinced by the claims of the Bible when there are so many variations of ‘what is literal’ in the world (and on this very website).

 

[Larniavc]

Evil is allowed to exist, because its good for some reason. What other answer do you want to get?

Then it follows that God is constrained. I’m fine with that. Many Christians (even on this very website) would strongly disagree.

 

[Water and Fire]

Scripture tells us why there is suffering. It's no mystery, but the translation in the KJV, obscures it a little. The CLV is where it's at, for this particular scripture.

Ecc 1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

That's the KJV.

Ecc 1:13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that has been done under the heavens; this evil task Elohim has given to the sons of man, to be humbled by it.

That's the TS2009 version, but I like the CLV best which uses the "experience" rather than "task" which really makes the meaning of the verse clear.

The sons of men have been given an evil experience, to humble them by it.

Of course, if you love church doctrine rather than God's word, you won't like this translation, at all.

 

[trophy33]

It’s hard to be convinced by the claims of the Bible when there are so many variations of ‘what is literal’ in the world (and on this very website).

One must use his own reason and take the era the text was written in into consideration.

 

[trophy33]

Then it follows that God is constrained. I’m fine with that. Many Christians (even on this very website) would strongly disagree.

I would also disagree, because it does not have any real meaning.

But if you are personally fine with that, its a good start for an atheist, so I am fine with that in your context.

Or, you can say that God did not limit the creation in any sense and created all possibilities (not just the best one), so there are infinite parallel universes, from the worst ones to the best one.
But I do not think this option is viable or theologically acceptable.

 

[Larniavc]

One must use his own reason and take the era the text was written in into consideration.

Then the Bible is entirely subjective. Apart from the bits which aren’t, obviously?