Problems of suffering and evil Flashcards
What are Buddhist teachings on suffering?
Buddhists teach that suffering is a fact of life. Buddhists don’t believe in God, thus for them, selfishness, greed and desire, as well as an attachment to material things, is why we suffer.
What are the problems to do with suffering, for those who believe in God?
Surely if God is real, he must not be all knowing/ all loving/ all powerful - or else he would do something. Does this mean he doesn’t exist?
How would religious people explain suffering?
They may say it is a cause of free-will, it helps people to grow in their relationship with God, it teaches people lessons.
What are the two types of suffering? Give examples.
1) Natural suffering (e.g. tsunamis, earthquakes etc.)
2) Man-made/ moral suffering (e.g. theft, violence, gossip etc)
What do religious people say that evil is?
Some believe that evil is a personal being, such as the devil - who tempts us to do wrong. Others believe that evil is an impersonal force, such as when an alcoholic is drawn to alcohol.
What would an atheist say about what evil is?
An atheist would say that as humans we are naturally selfish and greedy, which causes us to do evil. They may also say that there are psychological reasons for evil behaviour.
Why do some people believe that we suffer?
Some people believe that suffering has a purpose. They believe that pain can teach us that something is wrong (the ‘toothache theory’), or it can teach us to appreciate things that we previously took for granted. Suffering can also make us better or stronger as people; if we show to have courage or determination. Some people believe that it is a test of faith or a punishment for sin, whilst others believe that it is part of God’s mysterious plan that we cannot fully understand or comprehend.
Explain what is meant by/ the story of ‘The fall’
In Genesis, in the bible, we read about ‘the fall’ of Adam and Eve, which Christians believe was the beginning of suffering in the world for humans. ‘The fall’ shows the consequences of free will; Adam and Eve had the choice as to whether or not they were going to eat the apple, and even though they were told not to - they had the ability to eat it, and did. This brought evil and suffering into a once perfect world.
Why do Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross?
Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to take the sins of the world as his own. That was the only way that humans could become sinless, and be accepted by God. Christians believe that anyone can have God’s forgiveness, if they believe in Him.
What is key to the Christian faith?
FORGIVENESS. This is why Jesus died on the cross, and there are many teachings on this, such as ‘turn the other cheek’ (Matthew 5:38) and in the Lord’s prayer it says ‘Our father in heaven…. forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’ (Matthew 6:9-13)
What do Muslims believe?
That every baby gets a second chance, and that there is no such thing as original sin.
What do many atheists believe?
That there is so much suffering in the world, and so much evil that there can’t be a God, or if there is he cannot be all powerful/ all loving/ all knowing.
Why do Christians believe that free will is necessary?
Because without it, we would be no more than robots - and our loving actions would mean nothing.
What did Christian theologian CS Lewis say about suffering?
CS Lewis said that suffering is necessary because it shapes us and we learn from it. We learn how to behave in a mature way (rather than like a spoilt child) and it teaches us about love and compassion. CS Lewis once said: “Pain is God’s megaphone for rousing a deaf world.”
What is the Buddhist response to suffering?
Buddhists say that if suffering is caused by craving and desire, then to stop suffering we need to stop craving and overcome our attachment to material things. The way to do this is to follow the teachings of the eightfold path to develop right understanding, speech and actions and to live the middle path between wealth and poverty.
