The document discusses the problem of suffering and evil in the world. It presents three main categories of suffering: 1) Suffering caused by man, 2) Natural disasters, and 3) Disease. It also notes that atheists use the pervasiveness of suffering to discredit the idea of a loving God. However, theists believe God may have reasons for allowing suffering that humans do not understand. The document argues that atheists must prove: 1) The impossibility of God using evil for a greater good, 2) That God could have no reasons for allowing suffering, and 3) An instance of definitively pointless suffering. But overall, humans may lack the information to make definitive judgments about God's reasons for permitting evil

1. Why is there soWhy is there so
muchmuch
suffering?suffering?
YRM Nov’16YRM Nov’16
Ehab RoufailEhab Roufail

2. 22
Pain/Suffering/Death isPain/Suffering/Death is
EverywhereEverywhere
We see pain, suffering and death all around usWe see pain, suffering and death all around us
Holocaust wipes out 6 million Jews during WWIIHolocaust wipes out 6 million Jews during WWII
September 11, 2001 attack on World Trade CenterSeptember 11, 2001 attack on World Trade Center
resulted in the death of 3000resulted in the death of 3000
Tsunami kills more than 250,000 in Dec. 2004Tsunami kills more than 250,000 in Dec. 2004
2 million Sudanese Christians have been martyred2 million Sudanese Christians have been martyred
for their faithfor their faith
Earthquakes, floods, accidents cause thousandsEarthquakes, floods, accidents cause thousands
of deathsof deaths
Earthquake in Haiti kills more than 150,000 in Jan.Earthquake in Haiti kills more than 150,000 in Jan.
20102010

3. 33
Pain/Suffering/Death isPain/Suffering/Death is
EverywhereEverywhere
Human sufferingHuman suffering
Toothaches to broken limbs and cancerToothaches to broken limbs and cancer
Infant deathsInfant deaths
WarsWars
FaminesFamines
Etc…Etc…
Suffering caused by man, natural disasters,Suffering caused by man, natural disasters,
& disease& disease

4. 44
Pain/Suffering/Death isPain/Suffering/Death is
EverywhereEverywhere
Three main categories:Three main categories:
Suffering caused bySuffering caused by manman,,
Natural disastersNatural disasters ,,
DiseaseDisease

5. Logical and emotionalLogical and emotional
questionsquestions
• Logically: is it rational toLogically: is it rational to
believe in a loving andbelieve in a loving and
all-powerful God, givenall-powerful God, given
the moral evil andthe moral evil and
horrible suffering in thehorrible suffering in the
world?world?
• Emotionally: how can IEmotionally: how can I
trust God when Hetrust God when He
allows me to suffer? Howallows me to suffer? How
can I find meaning orcan I find meaning or
value in my suffering?value in my suffering?

6. 66
Atheist ArgumentAtheist Argument
 How can an all-powerful, all-loving GodHow can an all-powerful, all-loving God
allow pain, suffering and evil?allow pain, suffering and evil?
– People ask why such things occurPeople ask why such things occur
– Why such death and suffering if a loving GodWhy such death and suffering if a loving God
is in control?is in control?
– Atheists use the pervasiveness of suffering toAtheists use the pervasiveness of suffering to
discredit a ‘loving God’discredit a ‘loving God’
 Why doesn’t God use His power to stopWhy doesn’t God use His power to stop
the evil, suffering, pain, and death?the evil, suffering, pain, and death?

7. 77
Questions People AskQuestions People Ask
 What is evil?What is evil?
 Where did evil come from?Where did evil come from?
 What is the purpose of evil?What is the purpose of evil?
 Does there have to be so much evil?Does there have to be so much evil?
 Couldn’t God make a world without evil?Couldn’t God make a world without evil?
– Could have not created anythingCould have not created anything
– Could have created a world without free creaturesCould have created a world without free creatures
– Could have created free creatures that would not sinCould have created free creatures that would not sin
– Could have saved all sinners in the end despiteCould have saved all sinners in the end despite
their sintheir sin
 Then why did God choose this world?Then why did God choose this world?

8. What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life?
 What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life?

9. TheThe
Purpose ofPurpose of
LifeLife
 What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life? ––
 ““Now all has been heard;Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.”for this is the duty of all mankind.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13Ecclesiastes 12:13
 ““I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power ofI want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of
his resurrection and participation in hishis resurrection and participation in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”
Philippians 3:10Philippians 3:10

10. What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life?
 What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life?
 If circumstantial happiness then God hasIf circumstantial happiness then God has
failed.failed.
 However, if it is the knowledge of God andHowever, if it is the knowledge of God and
a relationship with God, then suffering isa relationship with God, then suffering is
not necessarily a defeater for God’snot necessarily a defeater for God’s
existenceexistence??

11. I. Prove the impossibility of God using evil toI. Prove the impossibility of God using evil to
bring about the greater good.bring about the greater good.
What the atheist must prove?What the atheist must prove?

12. I. Prove the impossibility of God using evil toI. Prove the impossibility of God using evil to
bring about the greater good.bring about the greater good.
II. Prove that God could have noII. Prove that God could have no reasonreason forfor
allowing suffering.allowing suffering.
Inscrutability: Do we have the access to enoughInscrutability: Do we have the access to enough
information to make that judgment?information to make that judgment?
 Alvin Plantinga, “The theist believes that God has aAlvin Plantinga, “The theist believes that God has a
reason for permitting evil; he doesn’t know what thatreason for permitting evil; he doesn’t know what that
reason is. But why should that mean that his belief isreason is. But why should that mean that his belief is
improper or irrational?”improper or irrational?”
Alvin Plantinga,Alvin Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil,God, Freedom, and Evil, 11.11.
What the atheist must prove?What the atheist must prove?

13. III. Prove an instance of suffering that is definitively pointless.III. Prove an instance of suffering that is definitively pointless.
 Even if you were able toEven if you were able to ““ProveProve”” a situation of pointlessa situation of pointless
suffering, it would be outweighed by all the other cases ofsuffering, it would be outweighed by all the other cases of
suffering thatsuffering that
– 1) Did have a point or1) Did have a point or
– 2) Cases that we couldn2) Cases that we couldn’’t rule out not having a point.t rule out not having a point.
 If God isnIf God isn’’t in the equation then you cant in the equation then you can’’t argue for hopet argue for hope
on any level. Ultimately, all is meaningless.on any level. Ultimately, all is meaningless.
– Alvin Plantinga,Alvin Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil,God, Freedom, and Evil, 11.11.
What the atheist must prove?What the atheist must prove?

14. Scenario to think on:Scenario to think on:
Think about the following scenarioThink about the following scenario……
1. Fact: I am a good person.1. Fact: I am a good person.
2. Fact: I often inflict pain on little children, voluntarily,2. Fact: I often inflict pain on little children, voluntarily,
and people pay me to do this, and they often watchand people pay me to do this, and they often watch
me do this.me do this.
What would you conclude?What would you conclude?
3. Fact: I am a dentist who does his job.3. Fact: I am a dentist who does his job.
Point: Without point 3, we could only conclude that thePoint: Without point 3, we could only conclude that the
person is a moral monster who needs to beperson is a moral monster who needs to be
imprisoned, or worse.imprisoned, or worse.
Greg Welty, ibid, 3.Greg Welty, ibid, 3.

15. What the atheist mustWhat the atheist must
prove?prove?
 ““We are not in the position to beWe are not in the position to be
able to assess whether God hasable to assess whether God has
sufficient moral reasons forsufficient moral reasons for
allowing suffering to exist.”allowing suffering to exist.”
- William Lane Craig- William Lane Craig
““TThe Problem of Evil,he Problem of Evil,”” ibid.ibid.