THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING
Finding the True Cause
ONE of the arguments put forth to cast doubt on the existence of God is what can be called the Problem of Evil or Suffering.
This objection is the result of a misunderstanding that evil and suffering are created by God, while the truth is that they result from the actions of man. The perception of evil and suffering in human life is the result of such wrong attribution.
When people see an instance of evil or suffering in a person’s life, they wish to explain it with reference to the person suffering. In most of the examples there is no justification for this in the afflicted person. This leads to the assumption that either there is no God in this world, or that God is cruel and unjust. However, this is an incorrect conclusion.
The suffering that takes place in a person’s life is sometimes due to the person’s own actions and sometimes due to the actions of the parents, relatives, or society in general. Quite often the collective system, in its broadest sense, is responsible. Suffering may be caused due to an immediate reason and sometimes its causes go back many generations. Whatever may be the cause, there is no basis in attributing it to God.
Analysis Using a Wrong Reference
The reason for this doubt is the analysis of the situation using a wrong
reference, that is, studying the state of affairs with respect to God,
whereas it should be seen in relation to man. For example, AIDS is
considered a serious problem. Medical research has established that
the risk of AIDS is a result of the misuse of human freedom. In medical
science, genetics has shown that many diseases are inherited from the
parents and passed down to future generations. These are referred to
as hereditary diseases. In the same way, thousands of people die, or
fall ill from various kinds of epidemics. These are also the result of the
actions of man.
The son of Indian economist and journalist Arun Shourie is confined to a wheelchair. The cause of this ‘suffering’ is that he was given a wrong injection in a hospital in the United States, the result of which made him physically paralyzed. Countless people die or become disabled as a result of violence and wars. All these are a result of human actions and interactions.
Attributing human suffering to God or to nature is utterly unscientific. A study of all the branches of science shows that nature is completely free from defects. Nature is so well-established and well-regulated that its functioning and performance are the reliable basis for the progress of civilization. If there was no predictable character in nature, then all the activities of science would come to an abrupt end.
A Comparative Study
The first principle towards an academic analysis of the problem of
evil is a comparative study. It is said that: it is in comparison that we
understand. Comparative study shows that the problem of evil and
suffering is limited to the human world. While man constitutes a very
small part of the universe, the rest of the universe, with all its gigantic
dimensions, is a completely flawless, zero-defect universe. There are
countless activities going on in the universe, but evil does not exist
anywhere else.
The suffering that takes place in a person's life is sometimes due to the person’s own actions and sometimes due to the actions of the parents, relatives, or society in general.
The human world is plagued by diseases, accidents, violence, and oppression. There is injustice, exploitation, wars, hatred and enmity, rebellion, riots, and crime. There are many such evils in the human world, however, the rest of the universe is completely free of evil. This difference proves that the problem of evil is created by man himself and not by nature. If evil was generated by nature, it would undoubtedly be found in the rest of the universe as well.
A Scientific Study
A scientific study of this matter shows that there is a clear difference
between the human world and the rest of the universe. The rest of
the universe is governed by the fixed laws of nature. On the contrary,
man is free. He maps out his life according to his own free will. This
difference is the root cause of the problem of evil.
An in-depth study of the issue reveals that all the evils of the human world are the result of the misuse of human freedom. Medical science shows that the cause of many diseases is not in nature, but is to be found in the blunders committed by man. These errors are sometimes committed by the sufferer and can also be inherited from the parents. Often, corruption in the societal system leads to diseases. It must be noted that linking disease to nature is the ideology of atheistic thinkers.
It is not based on any scientific principles. Similarly, terrorism, battles, global warming, pollution, ecological problems, etc. are all the result of the misuse of human freedom.
Attributing human suffering to God or to nature is utterly unscientific. Nature is completely free from defects. Nature is so well-established and well-regulated that its functioning and performance is the reliable basis for the progress of civilization.
The Correct Reference
Why did the Creator give man this freedom?
The Creator desires to give man an exceptional
reward. This great reward is Heaven, a place
of eternal bliss. Only those who use their
freedom responsibly will be entitled to an
abode in Heaven; those who―despite being
free―keep themselves in check and control
their desires. Where there is freedom,
there will also be the misuse of freedom,
but freedom entailing a great reward is so
precious that it cannot be taken away due to
apprehensions about its misuse.
The correct reference is to know the creation plan of God. According to this plan, man has been granted freedom in this world. God has made this elaborate plan so as to create an environment of test. The events of suffering that happen in human life arise directly or indirectly out of the misuse of this God-granted freedom.
Being patient does
not mean inaction. It
means planning your
strategy, assessing your
resources and taking
into consideration the
relevant natural factors.