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ChristsWords.com The original Greek words and sysmbols |
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The Problem of EvilThe traditional Christian explanation for while evil and suffering exists in the world is the fall of Adam. Though certainly biblical, for non-believers, this view is unpersuasive. More to the point for this site, it isn't what Christ taught. Christ taught that evil and suffering were part of God's plan and make sense. Just as certain physical constants in the universe are necessary for life to exist, Christ teaches that evil and suffering are necessary conditions for a meaningful life (see this article on "satan" in the Gospels.) The fact that those who reject any meaning in life cannot understand this viewpoint doesn't mean that evil is a "problem.” One doesn't have to believe in original sin to appreciate Christ's viewpoint. We start by recognizing that the word that the Gospels translates as "evil" doesn't mean that at all (longer article here about Good and Evil). The word usually translation as "evil" is poneros, which means burdened and base. It carries a sense of suffering as well as making second-rate choices. For those who haven't rejected the idea that life may have meaning, evil and suffering are necessary for the very simple, logical reasons that Christ talks about almost constantly. While Christians teach this has to do with the fallen nature of man, Christ never says anything like that even remotely. When he discusses the purpose of good and evil, he does it in the context of the purpose of the world (mistranslated as "the end of the world") and the purpose of adversity (mistranslated as "satan"). There are two kinds of "evil" that people in the world: suffering cause by nature (sickness, disaster, death) and evil caused by the actions by humans. Bad Acts by People and Free WillThe first category of evil exists as a necessary condition of free will. If evil actions by humans were not possible, we would have no meaningful choices. If no suffering (ours or that of others) resulted as consequence of our decisions, all choices would be equally good and therefore meaningless. Those who think a loving God would have only made a world were human evil was impossible are simply saying that a loving God would be the supreme dictator: preventing us from hurting each other. Or they are saying that God should have arrange the world so that all our decisions generated good consequences. However, logically, this means that we would have no decision to make. Every decision would be equally good. Actually, Muslims believe that people are free to act, but every result is determined by God alone. In other words, they believe that our actions do not have consequences as such. It is always God that decide. When Christ cast out evil demons, he was able to free people of their bad habits and crazy impulse, but he still made it clear that they had choices. Even if we get rid of our demons, they will return unless we aim our minds toward another purpose (Mat 12:44). We let our bad impulses destroy our lives because we surrender to them, allowing the strength of our will to be bound by them. Our choice is between fighting and being bound (Mar 3:27). Natural Disasters, Illness, and DeathSo, why would a loving God allow natural disasters? Why are children killed in hurricanes if God is good? Doesn't God love little children? The answer is simple. If there were no suffering caused by nature, we would have no reason to care for one another and no incentive to learn more about the world and how it works. We love little children in the first place because they need us. If no harm could come to children, we wouldn't love them so. If the world was made up of candy canes and gum drops, what incentive would we have to learn about it, to seek the meaning of life. People who say that life has meaning because no good God would allow suffering are simply rejecting the purpose of suffering. A good translation of Mar 3:26 (which I offer here) make it clear that the purpose of adversity is to force us to rise up. Satan cannot throw out satan (Mar 3:23), or, more precisely, adversity cannot throw out adversity. We must do it for ourselves. Meaning and PurposeLike children complaining that their parents won’t let them eat candy for every meal, we cannot complain that God doesn't give us what we want automatically. He will give us what we need, but first we have to knock and knock to get the answers. As adults, w have to realize that this world has suffering of both types as necessary conditions for our freedom and growth. Life allows real suffering because suffering encourages real growth. Real suffering is what make real pleasure possible. Real pain means real joy. The world that Christ talks about allows real freedom and real consequences. |
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