Suffering Objectives Understand the Christian response to suffering

Suffering

Objectives: • Understand the Christian response to suffering • Explain what the story of job teach about suffering • Analyze whether God is unjust by allowing his people to suffer

Types of Suffering There are 2 types of suffering: • Human suffering- This refers to human actions that cause suffering. • Natural Suffering- This refers to events that are not the result of human actions but cause suffering e. g. earthquakes. • Free Will – having the ability to choose one’s own actions

In another lesson we said suffering could be a reason why people do not believe in God. Some people however would totally disagree with this… YES, Suffering does make it hard to believe in God because…. NO, suffering does not make it hard to believe in God because…

What Is The Problem Of Evil And Suffering? Religious people have a problem with evil and suffering because; v If God is benevolent (good and kind), he would want to get rid of evil and suffering v If God is omniscient (all knowing), he must know about the evil and suffering taking place every day v If God is omnipotent (all powerful), he must be able to get rid of evil and suffering

Christian Responses To Evil And Suffering There are many responses that Christians offer to the problem of evil and suffering. We shall look at 3 of them; v People have free will v This world is a preparation for paradise v We cannot understand God’s reasons

People Have Free Will Christians believe that although God is all powerful, He gave people free will. This means that all human beings have the free will to choose their own actions. When God created the world, he did not want people to act like robots carrying out his will. He wanted people to have the freedom to make their own choices and make their own mistakes. Unfortunately, people have the free will to do bad, as well as good, actions. Adolf Hitler used his free will to bring terror to other people Mother Teresa used her free will to help others

This World Is A Preparation For Paradise Many Christians argue that the life we live on earth is merely a preparation for the life that comes after we die. To truly appreciate anything, we must go through some difficult times. Therefore, Christians say that the evil we experience in this life is merely preparing us so that we can fully appreciate our time in paradise.

We Cannot Understand God’s Reasons God is omniscient. This means he is all knowing. In comparison, humans know very little. God has his own reasons for allowing evil and suffering but, as mere human beings, we are not yet in a position to understand what they are. God even allowed His own Son to suffer.

Why do we Suffer? Rank the following in order of which is the best explanation of what suffering is: 1 you most agree with 5 you least agree with • Suffering is a test of a person’s faith. It is easier to believe in God when life is going well than when life is hard and unpleasant. • Suffering happens in order to teach us a lesson • Suffering is a punishment for our sin and therefore deserved • Suffering is the result of our bad choices • Suffering is just something that happens to everybody

The Fall • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Vt. Tqk. ALFf. U

Choose 4 Words and explain what they show about THE FALL ADAM PERFECT EVE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE SERPENT THE FALL GARDEN OF EDEN DISOBEYED GOD SUFFERING

Where do Christians believe it comes from? • The Fall and free will (choice) The world was made perfect. God provided for humans they had to do nothing for themselves. It was human kind who allowed suffering and evil to exist God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree The snake encouraged Adam and Eve to eat an apple After they ate the apple they became aware that they were naked and were banished out of the garden and God said the world was no longer perfect and there would be suffering

Job & Suffering • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b. SUyi 4 PYt 7 s

What does Christianity teach about suffering? Jesus suffered when he was crucified on the cross so knows how it feels to suffer. He also came back to life so good can come from suffering. The Story of Job. God is in control and has a plan for everyone God gave human beings free will- they are able to choose what they do. It was Adam and Eve who disobeyed God and made the wrong decision that led people to suffer God is all loving, all caring and all powerful A THEIST VIEW- NOT BLAMING GOD FOR SUFFERING KEY WORDS: OMNIPOTENT, OMNICIENT

Be the examiner • • “Suffering makes people stronger. ‟ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. (6 marks) On one hand suffering does make us stronger. If there wasn't any suffering people would have nothing to fight for e. g. stairwell B. The people in the building were suffering because they were injured. This made them want to get out of the building more. Due to suffering it made them stronger. On the other hand suffering doesn't make us stronger. If someone had cancer and they were in a lot of pain they wouldn't want to suffer. They'd just want to die instead of waiting for the time to come later on in life knowing that they will die soon. This would also make relatives of the person suffering with cancer weak from suffering so much because one of their family has cancer. I think that in ways suffering does make people stronger. Suffering makes us want to get better e. g. getting through the illness. A religious comment would be Hindus because they believe that if you don't do well in life you receive bad karma which makes you suffer. By suffering bad karma you become stronger.