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Evil and suffering (Does suffering have a purpose? (Some suffering is…
Evil and suffering
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Problems with suffering
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If God is omnipotent and can do anything, God could prevent suffering or stop it all together. God created the world but then why does it contain so much death and destruction.
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NATURE OF EVIL
A DEVIL:
- In Christianity there is Satan who is the opposite of God.
- Just like God Satan is thought to be a personal and supernatural being.
HUMAN BEHAVIOUR:
- Evil is a physiological phenomenon, influenced by a persons upbringing or society.
- They can also be influenced by their family or friends (peer pressure).
- Mental illness
IMPERSONAL FORCE:
- It is like a magnet and pulls people towards doing action which they know harm people.
- When there is a huge amount of suffering people believe that there is an impersonal force at work which is beyond reason and humans are unable to influence it or stop it.
WHO'S TO BLAME:
- God: He created people and gave them free will, allowing them to choose to do bad rather than good.
- Our fault: Selfishness, greed and a lack of respect. When we give into the dark side of our nature, we do evil. God does not force us we make the choice ourselves. Man made evil is real.
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Reasons for suffering
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Man made suffering:
Caused by the result of people acting in a way that hurts themselves or others, can be accidental or deliberate.
If God created humans, why did he give us free will? Why not make them perfect?
Human freedom is a part of our nature, people can logically decide what is right or wrong and can feel responsibilities themselves.
Christian Beliefs about evil:
- Everything that God made in the world was perfect.
- Evil came into the world through Adam and Eve, they realised they had freedom and could choose between right and wrong
Jesus commanded Christians to 'love thy neighbour' . He taught people to love their enemies and when evil is done to them 'turn the other cheek', we must forgive others so God can forgive them.
BUDDHISTS BELIEFS ABOUT SUFFERING:
- Everyone will suffer at one point in their life, Buddhists believe in Annica, Anatta and Dukkha.
- Buddhists say that is one follows the 'Nobel eight fold path' one will not suffer.
- If one also follows the 'Middle way' then they will not suffer.