The Problem of Evil and Suffering
Friedrich Nietzsche said if there was a God he would have created a perfect world without faults like earthquakes.
Epicurus said:  
If:
Then:
God cannot stop evil
God is not all-powerful
God chooses not to stop evil
God is not all-loving
God can stop evil and chooses not to
Why not? because God doesn't exist

The Christian Response

  1. God gave people free will to choose to love or do evil.
  2. God understands why there is suffering, humans cannot.
  3. Life is a test in which Christians should fight against evil and practically help those who suffer.

Word Up

Moral Evil - human actions which cause suffering

Natural Evil - suffering NOT caused by humans, e.g. earthquakes

Big Bang - explosion which some believe began the world

Benevolent - God is all-loving

Omnipotent - God is all- p owerful

Religious Upbringing - brought up to believe in God
e.g. baptism, taught to pray, celebrate festivals, going to a religious school.
This could lead someone to believe in God because:

  1. A young child accepts parents' beliefs
  2. Answers to prayer
  3. Feeling close to God in worship
  4. Taught God exists at school

Religious Experience - to come in direct contact with God

Numinous/Awe - feeling there's something much greater than you, e.g. in a Cathedral

Mystical - God speaks in a prayer, dream or vision

Conversion - life changed by God

Miracle - impossible made possible by od

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