Many people have asked why bad things happen. They ask what they did to deserve it, and they may become bitter or angry at God, the world, life, or other people. And, to tell you the truth, they're justified. But, they do not understand how a "loving" God would let them suffer. I present a number of reasons why bad things happen.
First, we have free will. This is our greatest loss, for it leads to all our suffering. In other words, bad things happen, often, because someone made a bad decision. This is also the true reason war happens (not that "religion did it" stuff).
Second, our world actually moves, which means that bad things happen. Plagues spread, earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, and fires devastate things. Our world is not terribly friendly, and in His Word, God often left the nation of Israel traditions to prevent this, such as Kosher, and other things.
Third, we need a test. It may not earn us anything, but if we go through all the trials of life, we will come out stronger, and we will never be broken unless we give in.
There, now you know why bad things happen. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated, hate mail is not.
How does eating Kosher prevent any of the following 'Plagues spread, earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, and fires'?
Kosher food is, in general, healthier food, and it can prevent some diseases. For instance, shellfish, when cooked improperly, can be harmful, and Israelites definitely did not know how to cook shellfish.
It doesn't.
We live in a fallen world and it's evil. So I guess the question everyone wants to know is why doesn't God eradicate evil? If he did, there goes free choice. If he destroyed every opportunity for choice he destroys every opportunity for love as well. So therefore he allows evil for the highest good.
For God to destroy evil is evil. Instead God defeated evil thru Calvery. And choice lives on but evil's days are numbered and weighed and found wanting.
I don't think we live in an evil or fallen world. I think God is still the number one power and presence not evil.
Very interesting article Erath. But I think it's a bit easier than that. KCF pritty much said it, basically bad things happen because life is not perfect. Things happen and all you can do is learn from them so in reality, bad things can be good things at the same time.
I do however find it interesting that you and KFC sorta have different opinions about Basmas question. Goes to show just how different ones "interpretation" of God's words can b, even when bot of you seem to be close to equal in you faith.
I do have 2 things to pick on from both you and KFC:
I don't think free will is a loss. Suffering only happens because people allow it to happen. We all know death will come to us all sooner or later, yet we still cry and ask why they had to die. We all know fire burns yet we still play with it. It is our free will that gives up our humanity, our ability to love (and to hate as sad as it may seem) but some of the best things in life (such as love, happiness and freedom) would not exist without freee will because having the ability to hate, be unhappy and be locked up allows love, happiness and freedom to exist. And how could we love God and love did not exist because free will did not exist? The only suffering we can not control is physical pain and even with today's modern medicine there are some pains we can not control.
So you are saying God created a fallen evil world? And here I though God could do no wrong? But I'm sure you're gonna blame humanity for this fallen and evil world, right? But then didn't God create humanity as well? Kinda interesting how some see God as unable to make mistakes yet his greatest creation (according to us humans), humanity, is plagued with errors. But that is were free will comes in. God seemed to want things to be this way, otherwise he would not have created us this way. Don't you think?
But god created us with the brains that we use to decide what we do, god could have created us with brains that have free will but a greater desire to worship him. God must have set up in our brains the desire for some people not to worship him and therefore to be punished for it.
He must have know that when he made Adam and Eve that they would fall as he is perfect and knows every consequence of his action.
Yes, He did create Adam and Eve with knowledge that they would fall, but He did not make them fall.
But he did make them in such as way so that they would. If I make a bridge without enough supports who is to blame for it falling down the bridge or the maker?
Let's consider for just a moment a few examples of 'bad things' that could (and do) happen to people. (1) An aeroplane crashes, and all the occupants are killed. (2) Thousands of peasants die in a third world epidemic, or drown in a tsunami. (3) An entire community is wiped out when a dormant volcano unexpectedly erupts.
Erathoniel, I'd be interested in your thoughts on these scenarios. Specifically, what is the 'test' in each case to which those involved have been subjected? Were they 'broken' because they decided to 'give in', or have they indeed 'come out stronger'?
This is not a dig, Erathoniel - I'm in earnest. That said, I'm hoping you can muster a response that is a little more considered than the old 'God moves in mysterious ways' chestnut that some elect to wheel out when their arguments are subjected to such scrutiny; it's always struck me as little more than a hugely convenient cop-out.
I would also be instrested in hearing the answer to that question.
KFC - god made Adam and Eve (and set up the world for the rest of us) knowing that he made them in such as a way so that they would make the choices they made which include the choice to eat the apple - when he made them he made them to make their choices and he must have know how they would make them. In the bridge analogy the maker made the saftey net knowing that it would never be used as the bridge/people had been designed not to use it.
But Jythier, this doesn't make sense when considered in respect of the examples I gave above. Yes, I know you also say:
But if it wasn't a test, what was it? The title of this thread is, after all, 'The reason bad things happen'. So what was the reason in these cases?
But didn't god make satan and designed him to do the things he does now?
I'm not quite sure what your belief about the reason for my 'curiosity' has to do with the issue at hand, CharlesCS. Anyway, let me reiterate the point I was trying to make. In the scenarios I describe, and countless others anyone could cite, individuals die without being 'tested', and through no fault of their own making.
Consider those who die in aeroplane crashes, earthquakes or floods. Many of them will be children, babies, perhaps as yet unborn. How were they tested?
The very cop-out I referred to earlier, I'm afraid. One cannot, on one hand, argue that bad things can be explained, yet on the other claim divine mystery. That's called having your cake and eating it.
If this entire planet was created for the sole reason of testing our souls then why should god bother as he will be able to figure out what each of us would do in any given situation and simply put us in the correct afterlife?
Unborn people who die because of miscarriages. Will they passed or failed their tests when they have had no chance to do anything?
What exactly are you saying here, Jythier? It reads to me as though you're arguing that there is no explanation needed when people die in aeroplane crashes, earthquakes, floods, war, famine etc., because death is not a 'bad thing'.
Why would God allow so many people to be born, only to be subsequently wiped out without so much as a 'by your leave', and through no fault of their own? That smacks of cruelty to me.
Ah, yes, but don't you like having free will? How much fun is it to make a robot to serve you, when you can have fully inteligent beings to do so?
Yes, God made Satan, but with free will, and Satan fell, just like man.
I thought the whole point was that god was chosing those obayed his dicats?
KFC- if Satan fell because he had too much pride who created him to have all that pride?
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