Thanks for offering!
Gotta admit, though, that I have seen countless attempts to solve such theological problems - none of which was convincing.
Don´t take it personally but I am not really too enthusiastic about seeing this stuff again and again.
IOW: if it´s one of the standard defenses I sure would take a look at your argument.
I think that last sentence came out wrong, and you'd prefer something non-standard? To begin with, it accounts for this statement:
No, what I'm actually saying is that I feel that there are ways this universe could have been constructed so that I am better off than I am now. Where is this fabled "objective wrong" of which you speak?
My previous reference to "heaven" is in its simplest meaning: the best we can imagine. We can ALL imagine how this world could be better than it is now. Agreed?
So, why is the world, and this life, less than perfect? Or in childishly simple terms, why is it not heaven?
God's plan is for earth not to be heaven. If we ever doubt that He recognizes the difference and the implications to us in the midst of our suffering, well that is one use for the symbol that is my faith icon. It serves as a reminder that He knows COMPLETELY.
He sees the finished product, and we do not. Even as a Christian, I do not. Even those Christians that have had great visions of heaven, they will be the first to tell us that they do NOT comprehend the finished product.
In the meantime we are still aware that this life and this world are indeed, not "heaven." This is theologically consistent, even though we would all like it to be different. And it will be! And no, its not a question of "just waiting for the sweet by and by." We all have an active role to fulfill between now and then, and each individual is both unique and important.
Here is a passage of Scripture that zeroes in on this:
"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who
subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved."
I quoted this in a modern translation (ESV) rather than the KJV. This one reads kind of clunky, and the original language has no punctuation. The part I emphasized tells us we are subjected to hope in the KJV, which despite being archaic drives home a point I hope you find relevant to our discussion?