Why does God allow children to suffer?

lewlew · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject:

I wanted to reply to the notion that the suffering in the world has nothing to do with God. Most religions insist that if you pray hard enough your suffering will be eliminated and others believe that suffering is good when it comes to religion because it means that god is "working"on you. None of it makes any sense to me. I am reading "90 Minutes in Heaven" right now. I got to page 32, and I am having trouble reading the rest of it. Any one else read it??

Chris OConnor · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

I've never heard of it. Tell us a little about this book.

Chris OConnor · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject:

Is this the book? http://www.amazon.com/SELECTIONS-Minutes-Heaven-Inspiring-beyond/dp/08 00719093/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228073550&sr=8-1

Chris OConnor · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject:

In the review on Amazon.com....

Ophelia · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject:

Suffering makes no sense to me.
For some people, suffering allows you to grow or become stronger, but in other cases the amount of growth is minimal compared to the suffering. Yet people need to tell themselves that it was not done in vain, that they've gained in understanding of themselves or other beings, for otherwise the pain of a useless illness with nothing "gained" would be so bitter.
In some cases, the illness or suffering will change the person's way of thinking and he will become a different individual.

The title "Why does God allow children to suffer"? implies something I find to be true with both theists and atheists: if only the suffering could concern adults only, they could be reconciled with the universe it seems to me.
Certainly children are more innocent and less able to understand what is happening to them and find a solution, but many adults had been abiding by the rules before the catastrophe struck, and their ability to do something may still be very limited.
Adults' ability to understand what is is happening and react to it is sometimes very limited. When I see pictures of refugee camps in war-torn zones, I wonder how much capacity they have about making choices. The difference with children is that adults understand the concept of war and death for example. Also if things calm down, some of the adults will be able to make decisions concerning the future.

In general, adults have to chance to defend themselves, which (usually) children don't. But take mental illness for example, or Alzheimer's disease. You're not responsible, you can't fight, and it wasn't inflicted on you by the bad behaviour of other humans. It's just senseless, and this is how I view the universe.

seespotrun2008 · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:

I wanted to change children to people because I believe that we are all weak at some point in our lives and need help. I feel like in the US where I live there is emphasis placed on helping children yet as soon as those children turn 18 it is all up to them to figure it out. Trauma can be very destructive and just because someone is an adult does not mean that they are just able to figure things out. Choices can be limited by disability, gender, race, class, etc. I think that the community should support each other: men, women, and children.


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