The Concept of Suffering
In this assignment, you will
explore the philosophical significance of the presence of evil in our lives.
Begin by describing a specific situation in which a human being suffers
needless pain. You are welcome to select an example from your own experiences,
but you may find it easier to think about the issue objectively if you invent a
fictional case.
Now, consider how you might
respond to someone in this situation who says, “God would not let this
happen to me, so there is no God.” Does the reality of evil prove that God
does not exist? Why or why not? If God does exist, why would God permit
unnecessary suffering of this sort to afflict individual human beings? Remember
that our defense against the problem of evil needs to be logically sound and
have some practical comfort to the bereaved.
Finally, reflect on what this
issue shows us about the role of faith and reason in practical life. Which of
the two approaches provides us with a more satisfactory understanding of our
place in a world that includes the reality of evil? To what extent do you
believe that each is relevant to our practical life? Although your choice of a
stance on this point is personal, you are responsible for offering logical
argumentation in its defense.
