Evil and Suffering

• If you can come in different forms, and can have an impact on a person’s relationship with their faith.
• Christianity teachers, the evil entered the world as a result of Adam and Eve given into temptation in the Garden of Eden - they disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge. This switch from a perfect world to one contained evil is known as ’The Fall’.
• 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 that God created humans with free will - it is up to them to choose whether they perform evil deeds, or not, just as it was up to Adam and Eve, whether to give into temptation or not. Good is the opposite of evil, and since God is good Christians tried to follow his example.
• Moral Evil

  • this is when suffering is brought about by the cruel actions of people
  • this includes things like murder war, rape and torture
  • this person causing the evil is able to make a choice about what is morally right or wrong
• Natural Evil

  • this kind of evil and 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 inference in the natural world, raising the question of whether that makes those events human-made
• Evil and suffering, Milly questionnaire, belief in God - or even to reject their faith
• Some might say that some suffering exist God can’t both be benevolent and omnipotent - loving and all powerful. God wouldn’t allow that to happen. they might argue that he doesn’t exist or that he can’t have the characteristics that believers say he has.
• “ the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… he does not treat us as our sins deserve…” - Psalms 103:8-10
• But others would say that, although God has his 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 suffering 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.
• Obviously, life on earth isn’t meant to be perfect - the focus should be on reaching heaven.
• 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