Solutions to evil and suffering (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Notes
Solutions to evil and suffering
The question of why evil and suffering exist in a world created by an all-loving and all-powerful God presents one of the greatest challenges to Christian faith. However, Christianity offers various explanations and responses to help believers understand and cope with this difficult issue.
Biblical understanding of evil and suffering
The origins of evil
According to Christian teaching, evil was not part of God's original design. The Book of Genesis describes how God created a perfect world without suffering or pain. However, this changed through what Christians call "The Fall" - when Adam and Eve exercised their free will to disobey God in the Garden of Eden. This act of disobedience allowed evil and suffering to enter the world.
The Fall represents a foundational doctrine in Christian theology, explaining how humanity's relationship with God was broken and how evil entered what was originally a perfect creation. This concept helps Christians understand that suffering is not part of God's intended design for the world.
God's response through Jesus
Christians believe that God did not abandon humanity to suffer alone. Instead, God sent Jesus Christ to Earth to overcome the evil in the world through his death on the cross. This demonstrates God's love and provides hope for ultimate victory over suffering and evil.
The role of the devil
Some Christians understand that evil entered the world through the influence of the devil, who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This perspective sees suffering as part of a spiritual battle between good and evil forces.
Christian responses to evil and suffering
Christianity offers six main ways that believers can understand and respond to the problem of evil and suffering:
1. The Book of Psalms - finding comfort and purpose
The Psalms provide reassurance to Christians that evil and suffering serve a purpose in the world. They remind believers that difficult experiences can offer opportunities to follow Jesus's example and live according to God's intentions. The Psalms teach that God remains a source of strength during difficult times:
"God is our refuge and our strength." (Psalm 46:1)
"Teach me knowledge and good judgement, for I trust your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." (Psalm 119:66-67)
The Book of Psalms has been a source of comfort for Christians throughout history, offering both honest expressions of human suffering and affirmations of God's faithfulness. Many believers turn to specific psalms during times of difficulty to find words that express their own struggles and hopes.
2. The example of Job - maintaining faith through suffering
Biblical Example: Job's Faithful Response to Suffering
The Biblical account of Job demonstrates how believers can endure tremendous suffering whilst maintaining their faith in God. Job lost his family, wealth, and health, yet he continued to trust in God's plan.
Key lessons from Job's experience:
- Suffering does not always indicate divine punishment
- Faith can be maintained even in extreme circumstances
- God's purposes may be beyond human understanding
- Remaining faithful during trials demonstrates true devotion
"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." (Job 1:22)
Christians learn from Job's example that suffering might be part of God's greater purpose, and that remaining faithful during difficult times will ultimately be rewarded.
3. Free will - human responsibility for moral evil
God gave humans free will, and Christians recognise that people sometimes choose to turn away from God's teachings. This creates moral evil when humans make wrong choices that cause suffering to others. The philosopher St Augustine developed this idea in his work called Theodicy, explaining how human freedom to choose between right and wrong can lead to evil actions.
Understanding free will is crucial to Christian theodicy. If God had created humans without the ability to choose, they would be incapable of genuine love or moral goodness. However, this freedom necessarily includes the possibility of choosing evil, which explains why moral suffering exists in the world.
4. Vale of soul-making - suffering as spiritual development
This theological concept suggests that evil and suffering serve a purpose in spiritual growth, even when we cannot understand what that purpose might be. Suffering can strengthen a person's character and help them appreciate the good things in their lives more deeply. The philosopher John Hick promoted this understanding, arguing that hardships contribute to spiritual development rather than being purely negative experiences.
5. Prayer - seeking divine strength
Many Christians respond to evil and suffering through prayer, asking God to provide them with strength to cope with the problems they encounter. Christians believe that even when their prayers are not answered in the exact way they hoped, God still has a plan for everyone and will provide support during difficult times.
6. Charity - practical response to others' suffering
Christians often feel inspired by witnessing suffering to take practical action to help others. A notable example is Chad Varah, who established the Samaritans organisation as a response to the suffering he witnessed whilst working as a priest in London. This demonstrates how faith can motivate believers to address suffering through charitable action.
Key Points to Remember:
- Evil was not part of God's original perfect creation but entered through The Fall when humans disobeyed God
- Christians believe Jesus came to overcome evil through his death and resurrection
- The Psalms and Book of Job provide comfort and examples of maintaining faith during suffering
- Free will explains moral evil as the result of human choices to turn from God
- Suffering may serve a purpose in spiritual development (vale of soul-making)
- Christians respond to suffering through prayer for strength and charitable action to help others