reasons for human suffering

• What are the main theories on reasons for human suffering?

  • People make the wrong choices
  • Helps us grow and appreciate God
  • evil is a test
• Who proposed the idea that suffering exists because of people's wrongdoings?

  St Augustine
• What is the issue with suffering as a result of people's bad choices?

  If God is all-knowing then He would know the wrong decisions we will make. This also doesn't explain natural disasters.
• Evidence for suffering as a result of bad choices:

  "As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own." (Jeremiah 5:19)
• What theory for suffering did Irenaeus propose?

  Soul-making theory.
• Explain soul making theory

  Evil and suffering helps us be aware and appreciate God's existence. We learn and improve from the suffering around us.
• What are the problems with soul-making theory?

  Some suffering can't be learnt from like babies that fall ill. Because of suffering around them, some people sin or become angry and turn away from God.
• Evidence for evil being a test:

  "My God, my God why have you forgotten me? Why are you so far from my cries of anguish?" (Psalm 22:1)
• Explain suffering as being a test from God.


  There is a traditional view that God allows suffering in order to test our faith. An example of this is the book of Job.
• What are the problems with suffering as a test from God?

  If God is loving why is He testing people so harshly? It doesn't make sense for good people to be tested with bad people/ instead of bad people.
• Evidence that suffering is not from God:

  "God saw all that He made, and it was very good." (Genesis 1)