A Good God Would Not Allow Suffering

Question 1

William rowe and John Stuart mill

Answer 1

The world is too unfair for their to be a God. For example a fawn in a forest fire - is this fair?

Question 2

Richard dawkins

Answer 2

World contains too much suffering for there to be a God. The digger wasp lays eggs in other insects and when they hatch it kills the insect, a good God would not have created this.

Question 3

Beliefs in God

Answer 3

God is meant to be omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient. If God had all these abilities he would and could prevent suffering. Therefore God either isn’t God or mustn’t exist

Question 4

John Mackie

Answer 4

Existence of evil and suffering proves God isn’t powerful and loving. The inconsistent triad contradicts each other which proves that either god doesn’t exist or he isn’t good or he isn’t poweful

Question 5

Catholics

Answer 5

Suffering is sometimes necessary, can prove commitment to faith. For example Jesus suffered and died on the cross, Christians should follow the example of Jesus and accept that suffering is apart of their life.

Question 6

Catholics and response

Answer 6

When Christians see others suffering they have a responsibility to respond and help those less fortunate. For example charities such as CAFOD and SVP follow the teachings of Jesus to ‘treat others how you would like to be treated’

Question 7

Encyclical?

Answer 7

Pope John Paul II wrote a letter to all Catholics in the 1980’s called Salvofici Doloris which means ‘the beauty of suffering’

Question 8

Pope John Paul II and Augustine views?

Answer 8

Pope John Paul II argues that love comes from suffering and evil. Like Augustine he said that suffering leads people to respond with kindness