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Questions Worth Pondering About The Nature And Morality Of Gods... Is The Sovereignty Of God Moral When He Allows So Much Suffering?

Or "If God Is Good, Why Did He Create A World Where His Creations Can Suffer?"

The issue of human suffering is a big one for many atheists. We don't believe in God, but the fact that many believers think of God as the source of all morality is pretty stunning. (If you've read the Bible cover to cover, that is) Yeah, I know that the Bible keeps telling us that God is good. But that's just the opinion of the Bible's authors. I honestly suspect that many believers have either given God a get-out-of-jail free card on this one or they've simply given up on resolving the question. Why do I think this? Because their answers are, for me at least, completely unsatisfactory. If there is a sovereign god and that god is good, then why does it allow its creations to suffer? All the answers I have ever heard really sound like cop outs to me.

Consider the following scenario:

You are about to cross the street when you see someone standing in the road. A truck is coming, but it's still far away. The person in the road isn't moving. The truck isn't slowing down, either. All you have to do is call out. In fact, you actually have enough time to cross the road yourself and warn them. But you don't do either of these things. You just stand there, waiting to see what will happen. Maybe getting hit will teach them a lesson, you think. Besides, you'll be there to call an ambulance if they're injured.

Are these the thoughts of a moral person? How is this situation different than God's?

If he exists as many believers envision him, then he has the power and the knowledge to stop the suffering of living things. So why does he prefer to sit back and let these things? Why did he create us and the world in a way that allows so much suffering? Why is he less guilty of immorality than the bystander who was waiting for the truck to hit someone standing out in the middle of the road?

I don't know of any answer to this problem that makes sense. That includes the ones offered by Jehovah's Witnesses. Do you have something that isn't totally obvious (or obviously wrong, in my opinion) and that no one has heard before?

Some frequently offered yet flawed answers include:

God wants to teach us a lesson. (What lesson? Why? Why not just imbue us with the knowledge the way some people claim he gave us a conscience?)

God wants to show us that we can't rule ourselves as effectively as he can. (Why didn't God just make us to be competent? Is he a control freak? If it's our flaws that make us unable to do this, why doesn't he fix us?)

God's motives are unclear, but I'm sure it will all work out in the end. (This isn't even an answer)

For me, the question of suffering is one of many issues that seem to cast doubt on the existence of a just, moral God. The world isn't bad enough to say that God is evil, but it isn't nearly good enough to say that God is good. Is God simply indifferent?

Or maybe - as I suspect - he simply doesn't exist at all. In which case, we're on our own and the question resolves itself.

Have another answer that's reasonable? Why not send it in with the contact link at the bottom of the page.

-the Atheist Geek-

What does the Atheist Geek really look like?

Yep. That's me all right. Would I lie?

Behold! The Atheist Geek brings you... Pornogrophy!!

The one force great enough to keep me from going totally insane. (Sorry God.)

Today, the internet's most unbiased encyclopedia brings you ... wait for it ... Evolutionism!

The CreationWiki actually has an entry on the decline of atheism for some reason. I don't know if the CreationWiki will be a regular feature at AGN or not, but this might be worth a look.

So Who Am I Proposing To Now?

Bionic Woman may not be your favorite show, but I have three words for you: Big. British. Boobies. 'nuff said.

And now, the Atheist Geek brings you...

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