tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513199068907090344.post7572256701646442828..comments2024-03-26T16:24:34.218+00:00Comments on Meeting The Masters: God and SufferingWilliam Wildbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13231219533755925897noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513199068907090344.post-47173017681536121812016-04-25T08:38:51.369+00:002016-04-25T08:38:51.369+00:00Yes, I agree with what you're saying about the...Yes, I agree with what you're saying about the demands the media makes for an explanation about how this or that could be justifiable in terms of the existence of God. It's very shallow! I roll my eyes when I hear an earnest cleric saying that such and such an incident must make us question our faith. No, it must make us try to understand our faith a little more deeply. The idea that this Earth is a school would help with that I think. <br /><br />For a Christian the example of the sufferings of Christ should be more than enough to make us see that suffering has a place in the divine scheme of things.William Wildbloodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231219533755925897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513199068907090344.post-69021065091656957582016-04-25T07:00:57.322+00:002016-04-25T07:00:57.322+00:00@William - A clear and helpful discussion.
I wou...@William - A clear and helpful discussion. <br /><br />I would add that a particular modern problem is being confronted via the mass media with the sufferings of some individual or people whom we only know via the mass media - and being asked (at a moment's notice!) to explain why that particular example of suffering (as described by the mass media) is justifiable in terms of as living God.<br /><br />I think this common situation is one which can never be answered properly, and which we should not even attempt to answer. My understanding is that God will explain our own suffering to us (even if not instantly, at the first casual request) and those of people whom we know - explain it at least sufficiently if not completely - and there are many possible explanations which may not be mainly to do with the person who is suffering. I also believe that - to a much greater extent than recognized - the degree of actual suffering experienced is not always what it seems - and that some people in some situations require (as as you state have agreed to ) to experience suffering in order that they have the best (or only) chance of learning - and such suffering may seem trivial to other people, but not to the person experiencing it. <br /><br />But somebody like Mr Fry is setting up an unanswerable question to which the response he requires would seem to be a short and simple answer that nonetheless covers all suffering in the world! Absurd - and indeed dishonest.Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.com