Why did this happen? Chapter 3

journal  Have you ever had a problem reconciling a God who is just with the fact of unjust evil and suffering in the world? If so, explain what happened? If not, tell why you think this has never been a problem for you.

What do you think?  Take the attitudes survey on page 37.

Why?  by asking this ? we assume there is an answer  answers created  Superstition- non-christian belief that bad luck is caused by magic or certain actions like walking under a ladder  by asking this ? we assume there is an answer  answers created  Superstition- non-christian belief that bad luck is caused by magic or certain actions like walking under a ladder

Our Quest for Justice  life isn’t fair, but people seek explanations for the bad things that happen to them

Justice  Retributive justice- good people are rewarded and evil people are punished.  Seen in OT-  Proverbs about who will suffer  God rescuing Noah, the Israelites  Retributive justice- good people are rewarded and evil people are punished.  Seen in OT-  Proverbs about who will suffer  God rescuing Noah, the Israelites Not why suffering exists but how it is distributed

Unjust suffering  Can challenge our faith  Theodicy- trying to reconcile God’s justice with the fact of unjust evil and suffering  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Suffering as punishment seems great until we are suffering  Can challenge our faith  Theodicy- trying to reconcile God’s justice with the fact of unjust evil and suffering  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Suffering as punishment seems great until we are suffering

All of those ideas are inadequate  God is shown in a bad light  Innocent suffer (babies, kids)  Loving God JC describes  Human Goodness: the innocent suffer too  God is shown in a bad light  Innocent suffer (babies, kids)  Loving God JC describes  Human Goodness: the innocent suffer too

A test of faith  Abraham and Isaac  But this does not hold true because God is Omniscient  Abraham and Isaac  But this does not hold true because God is Omniscient

A form of Discipline  Suffering to make us stronger  Like pottery that emerges from the fire, God it the potter and we are the clay  Suffering to make us stronger  Like pottery that emerges from the fire, God it the potter and we are the clay

Not a form of discipline  There is no guarantee that with suffering we will become stronger  If it were true being virtuous would include seeking out suffering  There is no guarantee that with suffering we will become stronger  If it were true being virtuous would include seeking out suffering

No answer to the ?  Could be the wrong ?

Suffering and Freedom  Some suffering caused by human sin *7 capital sins  Free choice  To love or reject God  Without suffering we could not be truly free  Free to react to evil in any manner  Some suffering caused by human sin *7 capital sins  Free choice  To love or reject God  Without suffering we could not be truly free  Free to react to evil in any manner

Victim to Victor  Face problems rather then dodge them  Keep close to people you love  Discover what you are really feeling  Balance the ongoing problem with other parts of your life  Face problems rather then dodge them  Keep close to people you love  Discover what you are really feeling  Balance the ongoing problem with other parts of your life

 Be responsible for your own decisions  Be true to your moral, religious, and spiritual beliefs  Be proactive, not reactive, to your situation  Maintain your sense of humor  Be responsible for your own decisions  Be true to your moral, religious, and spiritual beliefs  Be proactive, not reactive, to your situation  Maintain your sense of humor