In his book, “The Reason for God”, Timothy Keller spends one 10-page chapter discussing one of the fundamental reasons people have for ultimately rejecting a belief in the supernatural: suffering. We began this chapter study by viewing a clip of a discussion Keller had with a group of people with diverse backgrounds and religious beliefs.
Q1. How could God exist and still allow suffering? Does he passively allow it?
A1. Many argue that if God is all-loving or all-powerful he should stop suffering. The fact that the Christian God claims to be personal, good and omnipotent poses a problem for some given the fact that evil exists. If evil exists, at least one aspect of this God description appears to be compromised.
Rebuttal: Everyone has a personal choice to see everything having either a positive or negative outcome. Jesus has suffered too, proving that he loves us and that suffering has a purpose.
Anecdote: A 6-year-old child can’t recognize that everything his parents are doing is in his best interest. He can get upset and frustrated at his parents for choosing to put him through things that he can only see as bad. However, once he grows up, be can recognize the goodness in their actions. Likewise, although we may not immediately see the good from the evil we go through in life, we know that God does everything for our good. Everything has a purpose.
Video discussion:
a) Keller claims that the Christian God is the only one who has endured suffering.
b) While that may hold true for modern religions, many ancient ones involved deities who gave of themselves for the earth, people, rising of the sun, etc.
-While many things can have lessons learned because of them, others seem to have no purpose other than pure suffering. If you are able to find a purpose for suffering, it makes it easier to handle.
- Judgment calls about whether something is “good” or “bad” can only be made in the context of the fall of man.
- Suffering either moves people closer or farther away from God. An example from the Bible is Job, whose reward for suffering was realized in this life.
Questions: Is good and evil simply a judgment call? Or are there universal goods and evils?
What is good? What is evil?
Ideas: individual good or communal good, Wal-Mart’s business practices are “good” for the owner, but “bad/evil” for small business owners/those in slavery who make products/environment, evil is the absence of good,
“…if evil appears pointless to me, then it must be pointless….Just because you can’t see or imagine a good reason why God might allow something to happen doesn’t mean there can’t be one.” (Keller, 23)
Q2. Can natural selection be used as an explanation for altruistic behavior?
A2. Genes are selected for altruistic behavior, and people who go to war for their family are exercising their predisposition to fight for those they care about.
Rebuttal: You make a moral choice apart from natural selection about which particular action to take that goes beyond your disposition—you choose from a set of options.
Handout discussion:
Q3. Is it supernatural to know when something is right or wrong, evil or good?
A3. In order to make that judgment call, you have to have an underlying moral framework. God provides our definition of truth and justice.
Rebuttal: Right and wrong have changed over time depending on culture and upbringing. For example, when the USA was founded, protected individuals only included white males. Our understanding of the world is constantly evolving.
Side-note: The Bible, the ultimate book for understanding what God sees as good and evil, is full of commands to wipe out entire people groups, condone slavery, marry women who have been raped to their rapist, etc.
Final question: Is it ok not to understand everything?
On the moral thing... religion doesn't seem to dictate morals to me. There seems to be some kind of innate and also culturally propelled set of morals. I am pretty sure there are laws against being immoral in countries of all faiths. Laws against murder, stealing, drug trafficking. Also many people of ALL faiths and of no faith have great moral compasses and live lives full of compassion, empathy and giving. Live moral lives and make an impact on the world. This is one thing I sometimes call into question. If God is the only source of good, how can so many people all over the world know morality and exhibit good qualities of honesty and integrity? I think it is short sighted to say that the only way you can know morality is to know God. If God does indeed provide the framework of truth and justice, how can we maintain society. Sure, there is evil but for the most part people refrain from messing with one another too much and MANY people are great, wholesome, generous people.
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