Science, Faith, and the Problem of Pain
Body
“…every worldview under the Sun must deal with the problem of pain and suffering….. having God in the equation is humanity’s last best hope of making sense of this issue.” - Reasons
As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“…every worldview under the Sun must deal with the problem of pain and suffering….. having God in the equation is humanity’s last best hope of making sense of this issue.” - Reasons
“Whatever else evil is, it is not illusory. We experience the pangs of its impact, not only in an individual sense, but in a cosmic sense. The whole creation groans, we are told by Scripture, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.” - Ligonier
“As to each of the men’s positions, White is a reformed theologian (i.e., a Calvinist) while Craig espouses Molinism. Both affirmed the Westminster Confession of Faith’s stand on God and evil (section 5.4).” - CPost
“…the Pew study shows that the religious problem of suffering is not a major concern for most people today after all. Only 14% of American adults say that “sometimes I think the suffering in the world is an indication that there is no God.’” - Veith
“How could God allow such evil? How could he permit suffering to ravage people who love their families and dream of happiness and hope for something better, as we all do?” - TGC
“if, as some conclude, there is no God, the Problem of Evil remains. Indeed, it intensifies, to the point of becoming unbearable. This is the challenge of ‘atheodicy.’ So says University of San Diego law professor Steven Smith in his Public Square article entitled Injustice, Outrage, and the Problem of Atheodicy.” - Veith
Read the series so far.
The Christian answer to the problem of evil and suffering begins with God himself. When we have a proper view of God, the apparent problems begin to melt away.
Read the series so far.
Several other attempts have been made to address evil and suffering in our world.
Some Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, deny that evil and suffering are any more than an illusion. By denying that evil and suffering are real, they attempt to avoid any dilemma between the deities in charge of the world and the way the world is. The problem for this view, however, is that the experience of suffering is universal and undeniable. Additionally, these same Eastern religions seek to end oppression and alleviate the very suffering that they deny exists. This is clearly self-refuting.
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