Does the existence of wickedness and of suffering prove that there is no GOD? ?

Question

Does the existence of wickedness and of suffering prove that there is no GOD? ?

Answer 1

If you say that is true, then the opposite must also be true ... the existence of faith, hope and love prove there is a God.

Answer 2

I think it proves the existence of wickedness and suffering. This world is filled with endless examples of evil and pain. I do not understand how one could determine the existence of God or the lack there of based on what we perceive in this world. It would only be determined on what others have decided was true or on what someone really wanted to be the truth. Without a way to prove or disprove the existence of God, it would always be speculation. In order to know for sure, one would have to find a method that would allow them to use someway to first gauge the reality of their own existence and only then be able to gauge the existence of something or someone else.

Linked below is an awesome video that does a great job in describing the idea of perception. The first time I watched it  I was a bit taken back as it challenges one to really think about this whole life we have been living and realizing that it might not be at all what we once thought it was. I hope you have the time to check it out. It has answered many of my questions about life, the existence of all the wickedness and suffering you mentioned, the provability of God's existence and the perfect connection between the two. Good luck in finding the answers you are searching for!

Answer 3

Suffering all passes with forgiveness.

Wickedness passes by looking at the wicked after forgiveness..at the perfection that God made them to be.

Answer 4

It just supports an ever increasing view of how great God is.  To see such wickedness in the world, how much greater God must be since He will defeat it.

Answer 5

NOTHING can prove the (non) existence of God.  Proof comes from logic, and logic cannot be applied to God.

Logically, I can't reconcile pain/suffering/injustice with an all-loving God.  So, logically, that kind of God cannot exist.

However, there is always a possibility that God exists, but is unable or unwilling to help, or he just isn't aware of how bad things are.

That's not much of a God, I admit, but he could be those things and still be able to create the universe etc..

Answer 6

No, the existence of wickedness and of suffering prove that there is Satan.

When mankind sinned in the Garden of Eden, Satan was given opportunity to tempt and test...evil entered the world.

I've seen my share of pain and tragedy in this world.  I was abused by a family member as a child, I lost a child to complications of a birth defect at the age of nine.  So, I have considered this question in depth.

There is no good or easy answer when tragedies occur. But to try and understand, we must step back and look at the big picture. God made everything perfect. When man sinned, that perfection was spoiled and all of our environment was tainted. The fact is, we live in a world where evil abounds. It is rampant throughout every aspect of creation. We are subject to the evil actions of sinful people around us. God can and does intervene in some events, but why not others? Only He knows that answer, but the Bible teaches that there will be a time when He will end this world as we know it. In heaven, there will be no more death, sadness, pain, sickness, or suffering of any kind. Below are some thoughts on why I believe God allows us to suffer.

1) One reason many of us suffer is because we do things that cause us pain. We don't eat right, so we have heart attacks. We drive carelessly or fast, so we have accidents. We smoke, so we get lung cancer.

2) But what about innocent children who are not responsible for their suffering? Why do they get sick? Maybe it's because we do not live in a perfect world. God intended for us to have perfect bodies, perfect health, and freedom from pain and suffering. The world He created was originally perfect, just as He had planned it. But evil destroyed our perfect world. When sin entered the picture, it brought with it death, pain, and suffering. Don't misunderstand me, people do not suffer because of their own personal sins, necessarily; but because the world is changed because of sin being in the world. Jesus said, "In this world, you will have tribulation." Just as in the case with Job, I believe that evil forces attack us and cause much suffering in an attempt to get people to blame God and turn away from Him.

In order for God to preserve our rights as individuals (to choose for ourselves), He had to allow us the freedom to sin. He also had to allow the consequences of our behaviors. That means that He does not normally interfere with things which happen naturally in this world, such as sickness and disease caused by toxins in the environment, accidents as a result of risky behaviors, and natural disasters resulting from changes in the ozone layer, etc. God does not cause these natural consequences, but He does allow them. However, many times, He does intervene miraculously or work even in the worst of situations to bring about something good from them.

3) Why would God allow me to suffer? Maybe so that I can increase my faith in Him, increase my compassion for others, or be better able to encourage and help other hurting people (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

BUT WE DO HAVE HOPE FOR BETTER THINGS:

Though this world is no longer perfect, as God intended it to be; He will create a perfect world for us in heaven where there will no longer be any tears, pain, or suffering; and "death will be swallowed up in victory." Why? Because God will ultimately get rid of everything that is not His. Suffering, sin, pain, tears and death are not His.

We have hope that all suffering will be relieved when we go to spend eternity with God. But, this promise of eternal bliss is only for those who know, serve, and love Him. God is not the cause of any suffering in this world, Satan is. To blame God for evil is foolish, because it actually causes us to follow the one who is truly responsible for pain and problems.

Why doesn't God cure our bodies? Maybe because our souls are of greater importance to him than our bodies are! Though He cares about our physical suffering, healing our soul is more urgent because it is the soul that lives forever. Our relationship with God is what determines where that soul spends eternity.

In this world, bad things happen even to good people. Those who have a personal relationship with God are better able to cope with whatever happens in their lives. We can live without fear, even though we do not know what the future holds if we know the one who holds the future in His hands. When we discover the great love God has for us, we can let go of our fear. Psalm 27:1 says "The Lord is my salvation. Whom shall I fear?" Jesus triumphed over death, and He alone can save us from eternal death. He can also see us through all the trials of life and bring us safely to heaven.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SUFFERING:

Romans 8:18: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us!"

Romans 8:17: "We must also share in his suffering, if we are to share in his glory."

Joh

Answer 7

Of course it doesn't.  Using that logic one could also claim their are no cops, judges, courts or prisons either.

All that proves is that people do wicked things and cause suffering.  

Answer 8

Not at all. God gives us opportunity to find our own path in life. He knows that our hearts are heavy and our minds are confused, but if we are open and take in all that there is to take in, we will be enlightened. The wickedness comes from a fearful man that does not know God as he should. To know God is to know goodness.

Answer 9

It pretty much proves that there IS God!  (We are just pushing Him away from our countries!!)  He doesn't go where He is not 'wanted'.

Answer 10

NO! When you think about it, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, Satin became ruler over man. So men a going to wicked naturally. And that's why JESUS was sent on earth. Through JESUS, we were given a chance to make it to heaven.

Answer 11

Ummm...nobody ever has to prove there is no god...burden of proof lies the other direction...

Answer 12

Not necessarily.  The wickedness and suffering could be god's will to get us to weed out the sick and weak.  

On the other hand, why would a benevolent god watch over and do nothing while all of this is going on if it existed

Answer 13

No it only proves that God is not perfectly Good and maybe just maybe he does not give a ****

Answer 14

No. It makes God look like a jerk.

Answer 15

No way, God does exist.

See why God made us flawed is.. if God made everyone perfect... there won't be a reason to live. Besides, He wants us to learn experience life, in all ways possible! That's how loving He is! Look at regular parents, they don't 100% pamper their kids, they let em grow up on their own, same logic!

See, thing is, Satan was there, and God let him, so we may experience hardships.

But since we have free will through God, God gave us the choice to be wicked or good, and Satan is very persuasive, that's why many people are bad. Red suit, horns, a little tail and pitchfork is the stereotypical view of Satan, but in reality many people say Satan is the most beautiful thing they've ever seen. That's how hard Satan tries.

Seriously, God gave us free will because He's loving and wants us to experience and learn through our Human Life.

The wickedness, seriously it would've never existed if people truly were faithful to God and lived by his Word, instead of just calling themselves followers of God... those are Pagans.

Answer 16

No, if anything it proves that we all have free will.

Answer 17

yes

Answer 18

Our Lord said we must take the good with the bad.

Answer 19

No.

Answer 20

The existence of long-haired guys does not prove the non-existence of barbers =)

Answer 21

It COULD be, but there are many other explanations that would allow God also.

Although I believe God is loving, he could be really harsh, and constantly punishing people if they did just a little bit wrong (with no forgiveness).

God could just not care.

God maybe trying to get us to help each other.  The Bible says that we are responsible for bringing death here, and He is helping us, but he will not take away free will.  I mean, it does explain what we see, just as all of the other possibilities.

This point alone is not sufficient.

Answer 22

No, it proves there IS a God. The presence of Evil proves there is a God.

Read the link page below. Put in such a way, even an athiest could understand.

Answer 23

the 101,213th way I've seen to ask this question....

Answer 24

No, it only proves that he is not omniscient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent.

He could still have one or two of those characteristics - but not all three. Therefore, the God described in the Bible does not exist.  

Answer 25

Nope.  

Just like puppies and sunshine don't prove there IS.  

All it proves is, if there is a god, it's definitely not omnibenevolent, and thus unworthy of worship.

Answer 26

No, it just proves that he is not a very integral part of our world.  The fact that you believe all that stuff is bad proves their is such a thing as good though.  And you have to wonder what the foundation in reality is for such an abstract concept as "good".  Could that foundation be God?

Answer 27

That's satan.

Answer 28

The curious as well as the critics of Christianity ask this question. If God is all-powerful and all loving, then why does He permit evil and suffering in the world? Various answers have been given but permanently settling the issue is impossible because so many of our answers raise further questions. Nevertheless, our lack of ability to answer the question perfectly does not mean that we cannot offer solutions. Of course, I do not assume to be able to answer these questions definitively, but I can offer some solutions.

     First of all, it is possible that God has reasons for allowing evil to exist that we simply cannot understand. In this the Christian can have confidence in God knowing that His ways are above our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As the Bible says, the just shall live by faith (Hab. 2:4).

     Second, God may be letting evil run its course in order to prove that evil is evil and that suffering, which is the unfortunate product of evil, is further proof that anything contrary to God’s will is bad, harmful, painful, and leads to death.

     God gave Adam dominion over the world (Gen. 1:28). When he rebelled against God, he set in motion an entire series of events and changed the very nature of man and creation. Both were affected by sin. Creation was no longer a paradise, but bore thorns and thistles (Gen. 3:17-18; Rom. 8:22). People became sinful (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3), who were haters of God (Rom. 3:19-12), etc. The only conclusion to such a situation is death. Jesus said, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened" (Matt. 24:22).

     Sin is rebellion against God and His created order. But God has not left us alone in this fallen world. He continued to enter this world, pointing us to Himself, to truth, to morality, purity, and love. He used the evil of the world (liars, perjurers, the envious, etc), to bring His Son to the cross so that we might have the opportunity of eternal life. In this, God has not stepped away from fallen creation, but has stepped into it by becoming Jesus. God works within the fallen world to affect change and He uses fallen people to accomplish His will. In this, He is proving His sovereignty over evil, suffering, and rebellious people, proving that sin and evil are utterly futile, and that He is worthy of honor and glory.

     A third possible reason that God is letting evil occur is so that on the day of judgment, the condemned will have no right to say that their sentence is unjust. God is not stopping people from exercising their free will. Think about this: If someone said that God should stop evil and suffering, then should God then stop all evil and suffering? If God only stopped some of it, then we would still be asking the same question of why it exists. So, if we want God to stop evil and suffering, then He must stop all of it. We have no problem with this when it means stopping a catastrophe, or a murder, or a rape. But what about when someone thinks of something evil? Evil is evil whether it is acted out or not. Hatred and bigotry in someone’s heart is wrong. If it is wrong, and if God is to stop all evil, then He must stop that person from thinking his own thoughts. To do that, God must remove his freedom of thought. Furthermore, which person on the earth has not thought something evil? God would be required, then, to stop all people from exercising their free will. This is something God has chosen not to do. Therefore, we could say that one of the reasons that God permits evil and suffering is because of man’s free will.

     Fourth, it is quite possible that God uses the suffering to do good. In other words, He produces patience through tribulation (Rom. 5:3). Or He may desire to save someone through it. Take for example, the account of Joseph who was sold into slavery by His brothers. What they did was wrong and Joseph suffered greatly for it. But, later, God raised up Joseph in Egypt to make provisions for the people of that land during the coming drought of seven years. But not only was Egypt saved, but also so was his family and brothers who originally sold him into slavery. Joseph finally says to them, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (Gen. 50:15-21). Of course, the greatest example of God using evil for good is the death of Christ. Evil people brought him to the cross, but God used that cross as the means to save the world.

     But then we must ask, if this is true, are we working against God by working against evil and suffering? No, we are not. God says he does not want us to sin and suffer. But it is simply true that God can use evil despite of its apparent despicable nature.

     God is in the world using the world and its failures for His glory and the benefit of those who listen to Him.

     But then, what about those who seem to innocently suffer with no benefit resulting? What about the woman who is raped, or the innocent by s

Answer 29

It only shows how a material world is inferior to the spiritual world where God resides.  He is preparing us to come home to Him before this world is destroyed.