Evil and Suffering 👹
Free Will Led to Evil Entering the World
Christianity teaches that evil entered the world as a result of Adam and Eve giving in to temptation in the Garden of Eden - they disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge
“When the woman saw… the fruit of the tree… she took some and ate it. She also gave something o her husband… and he ate it.” Genesis 3:6
After the Fall, every human being was born with a flawed nature, capable of causing suffering - this is the idea of original sin.
Christians believe God created humans with free will - it’s up to them to choose whether they perform evil deeds or not, just as it was up to Adam and Eve whether to give in to temptation of not. Good is the opposite of evil, and since God is good, Christians try to follow his example.
Human-Made or Natural Evil
Moral (Human-Made) Evil
This is when suffering is brought about by the cruel actions of people
This includes things like murder, war, rape and torture
The person causing the evil is able to make a choice about what is morally right or wrong
Natural Evil
This kind of evil, and the suffering that comes with it, is caused by the world in which we live, and is no one’s ’fault’.
This includes things like disease, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes
However, many recent natural disasters may have been caused by human interference in the natural world, raising the question of whether that makes those events human-made
Evil can make you Question Faith
Evil and suffering may lead some people to question their belief in God - or even to reject their faith
Some might say that since suffering exists, God can’t be both benevolent and omnipotent - a loving and all-powerful God wouldn’t allow it to happen. They might argue that he doesn’t exist, or that he can’t have the characteristics believers say he has.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… he doesn’t exist not treat us as our sins deserve…” Psalm 103:8-10
But others would say that although God has these characteristics, he gave people free will and so doesn’t interfere. Or some may say that he wants to help, but isn’t powerful enough.
Christians react to evil and suffering in various ways. Suffering is often seen as a test of faith - God has his reasons (even if we don’t know what they are). Many believe that God is with people in their suffering, and that it can bring people closer to him.
“I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort…” Psalm 119:75-76
Others say that life on Earth isn’t meant to be perfect - the focus should be on reaching heaven.
The Book of Job tells of the terrible suffering Job endures and how he questions God. In the end, Job comes to the conclusion that God is all-powerful and knows what he is doing - and that suffering must be accepted because people can’t really understand the world or God’s plan: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…” (Job 13:15)
Christians believe they should try to help people who are suffering - practically (charity) and by praying. Jesus said that “…whatever you did for one of… these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40)
Mark Scheme Evaluation - ‘A loving God would not allow people to suffer’
Arguments in support
Suffering can cause extreme pain and sadness which, if he is loving, God should not want his people to experience.
Suffering is caused by Satan, the power of evil so he should be blamed for suffering.
God doesn't care or cannot / or will not / do anything about suffering.
An all loving God should use his all-powerful nature to prevent his creation from experiencing pain
God has given many teachings to prevent moral evil and suffering from happening but some choose to ignore them - it is not God's fault that people reject God's solution.
Natural suffering is a result of an imperfect earth that God created so he should prevent suffering because it is his fault.
He allowed Jesus, other great Biblical figures and persecuted Christians to suffer.
Belief that those who live in the way God wants them to, will not suffer in the afterlife / their suffering will be over.
Arguments in support of other views
To appreciate good, humans must experience bad, so suffering helps humans to appreciate good things that help rather than harm so its existence is necessary.
Suffering can be the result of human choices and actions (moral evil) / from war / which result from the gift of freewill / which it would be wrong for a loving God to interfere with.
Suffering can be seen as a test of faith that people should endure to gain a great reward / reference to experiences and suffering of Job / helps humans to grow spiritually and maybe encourages them to help others who suffer.
Suffering can be beneficial to humans because it can highlight and identify an underlying problem so God allowing it to happen is an act of love.
Christian teaching instructs people to show love by caring for others, if God did not allow people to suffer, this would not be possible.
To appreciate good humans must experience bad so suffering helps humans to appreciate good things that help rather than harm so its existence is necessary.
Belief that God condemns people to suffer in the afterlife if they deserve to / it is their own fault.