Somewhere way back when, I took a comparative religion course and it was interesting. Mostly, it focused on how other religions compared to the central teachings of Christianity. One parameter that I don’t recall considering with any depth was the problem of pain/suffering.
The essential problem of human suffering is often referred to as theodicy, a term coined by Leibniz. The problem is familiar, or at least intuitive, to most people: 1) God is all powerful; 2) God is loving; 3) There is suffering. Bart Ehrman, in his recent book, “God’s Problem,” illustrates the history of the problem by referring to David Hume who pointed out the essential problem as stated by the ancient Greek thinker, Epicurus: “Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then He is impotent. Is He able but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence, then, evil?” Let it be known that Ehrman’s book is not written from the standpoint of faith but rather the standpoint of one who has left the faith over this very issue. Nevertheless, it is instructive for a stark and challenging understanding of the issue.
Neo-Buddhist teaching, and perhaps, classical Buddhist teaching, says that enlightenment is the end of suffering. One modern teacher explains this as meaning that we create our own suffering by the relentless, repetitive thought processes that most of us, most of the time, are unconscious of. Our thoughts create emotional pain seems to be the main idea and as we react to thoughts we act out in ways that affect others. There is truth to this but it does not explain the suffering of illness, catastrophic weather, accidental injury, or even death. It is also worth pointing out that this line of thought is also not alien to the Christian scriptures.
Christian teaching emphasizes not only this however, but more than I can summarize here. Sufficient to say that it recognizes a multifactorial approach to the problem of pain and suffering. From the Bible’s perspective on creation, randomness has entered human experience, and the world and its inhabitants are imperfect. Part of this approach also touches on free will and human responsibility. One could also look to presuppositions of eternity over and against time to bring perspective to the issue as well. The Bible teaches that God has a purpose in suffering and Ehrman is quick to point out how the Old Testament is clear that God sends suffering on people (though this is not the effective cause of all suffering).
I remember the opportunity I had many years ago to talk with Carl Henry over coffee when I was in Seminary and the topic at hand was theodicy. He gave pause to admit the magnitude of the issue and then said that the words of Joseph to his brothers after they had sought his help in Egypt, had always been meaningful to him. They had previously sold Joseph to become a slave but eventually he had arisen to become a governor. In a place of absolute power over those same brothers, he addressed their past mistreatment of him. He said, “you meant it for evil but God meant it for good?”
What do you think? Is God all powerful? Is God Good? Is God?
