The document discusses why suffering exists if God is all-good and all-powerful. It explores how Christianity answers this question, noting that suffering originated from the fall of humanity and corruption of the natural order. It argues that Jesus suffered and died on the cross to bridge the infinite gap caused by sin, and that uniting our sufferings with Christ through faith can transform suffering and bring redemption.

1. R.C.I.A. February 27, 2008

2. The Big Question? Why pain? Why Suffering? We all experience this state of the human condition. How can we reconcile the existence of a God who is all good and all powerful with the fact that suffering and evil are real?

3. Mystery of Suffering Church views suffering as a mystery. The Scriptures shed much light on the subject. Christ’s life, Passion, and death provide even more meaning behind the mystery of suffering.

4. How the question has been answered Basic statements God exists God is good God is all-powerful Evil exist

5. Answers to the Problem #1 God exists #2 God is good #3 God is all powerful #4 Evil exists Atheism – denial of #1 Pantheism – denial of #2 Polytheism – denial of #3 Idealism – denial of #4

6. The Christian Answer Begins in the Old Testament with the fall. The book of Job picks up the issue “Why do good things happen to bad people?” Gospel – Response of Christ to suffering.

7. Understanding the Christian Answer Two Common Misconceptions 1. Evil things exist: - there is nothing physically that is evil. An example – The attack with the pen Pen is good Swing is good Aim is good The will – that contains the problem – my choice Evil is depravation of good. 2. Moral vs. Physical Evil

8. Understanding …. # 2: Moral vs. Physical Evil Sin = moral evil – corruption of free will Suffering = physical evil resulting from corrupting effect of sin in the world.

9. Suffering Origin of Evil Creation – Fall of Angels Fall of Adam and Eve Natural Order is corrupted Corruption of natural order leads to suffering Disease etc. begins

10. View of Suffering at the time of Christ People suffer because they deserve it. Jesus changes this view Luke 13:1-5 Jesus addresses the crowd and speaks of the 18 who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapses. - “Do you think they were worse offenders?” Old view is still present – in some parts of the world My friend Mario… Overcoming the old view

11. Christ changes everything Where is God in the problem of suffering? Is he silent? Is he distant? The great clockmaker? No God becomes incarnate and suffers beside us. He comes down and embraces fully the condition we are in and even endures death on a Cross laying down his life for us. Two Friends on a log - example

12. Why death? Why does Christ have to suffer and die? Why does it have to be Christ?

13. Why Jesus? Infinite gap has been created by sin. Our choice leads to distance between God and us. Only someone who is human and divine can bridge that gap?

14. Why death? Why not snap his fingers? Covenant had been entered into. Only way out of a covenant is death. At Christ’s death the Gospel’s record the significant event? Temple vale torn in two Earth quake etc. Josephus records the temple gate collapsed

15. Entering into risen life Through our Baptism we die and rise with Christ. Suffering then can become transformative when we unite our sufferings with the Cross of Christ. Redemptive Suffering Our suffering unites us with Christ St. Paul’s theology – (Colossians) are sufferings help others in the Church when offered up. Value of human dignity affirmed.

16. Faith and Suffering Christianity does not mean one will never suffer. Not the wealth and health gospel. Christ urges us to take up our Cross. Story of a saint and the cross. Only Suffer what we can handle. God brings good out of suffering and evil. Good out of bad? Examples? We will see clearly in the end.

17. Quote on Suffering “ God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis

18. Continue Learning

19. Credits Photo Credits Slide 1: From Flickr Sweet suffering http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffelix69/1601991315/ Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering #13 http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_arts/1387771444/ Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering # 10 http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_arts/1386881071/ Slide 2: From Flickr Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering #18 http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_arts/1386880001/

20. Credits Slide 3 Suffering Virgin http://www.flickr.com/photos/colodio/1235108140/ Slide 4 The Suffering http://www.flickr.com/photos/colodio/1235108140/ Slide 5 Belson Cross http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmic/264898981/ Slide 9 Kiss Angel Wings http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515 Slide 12 the cross http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515/Jesus , Isa, Christ, http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515/