What is the reason for evil, suffering, pain, death, and all the other bad things in life?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about the reason for evil, suffering, pain, death, and all the other bad things in life.

Option provided: 'Humans are sinful and have ruined the perfect earth God created.'

This answer frames evil and suffering within a theological perspective common to several Judeo-Christian theodicies. It posits that a perfect creation existed, and human sin introduced corruption or ruin, giving rise to evil and suffering as a consequence of moral failure. The core idea is that free will and disobedience led to a fallen state, and the present bad conditions are a result of that fall from an originally good creation.

Why this interpretation can be considered plausible within its context:
- It anchors evil to human agency and moral responsibility, which aligns with how many traditions explain the presence of suffering after an act of disobedience or rebellion.
- It preserves the goodness of creation by attributing the source of corruption to creatures rather than to God or to randomness, shifting blame to human choices.
- It allows for the possibility of redemption, repentance, and moral growth, since the problem originates in voluntary actions rather than in an impersonal, predetermined fate.

Potential limitations or common critiques (these help distinguish this option from others you might see):
- The statement doesn’t fully address non-moral evil, such as natural disasters or illnesses, which occur independently of human sin. Critics argue that a benevolent, omnipotent being would need to account for natural evil as well.
- It implies a single cause for all evil, whereas many theodicies propose multiple contributing factors (e.g., the presence of free will, the nature of the world, greater goods that require evil to be possible, etc.).
- Some theological frameworks distinguish between sinning humans and the fallen state of creation itself, suggesting more nuance than a simple human-caused ruin.

In summary, the option identifies a central thread in many religious explanations: human sin disrupts a previously good creation, creating a framework in which evil and suffering are intelligible as consequences of moral and spiritual corruption. This makes the statement coherent within its theological viewpoint, even as it may be incomplete or contested in broader discussions about the full scope of evil in the world.

Intro. Christianity - FinkR: 24-25_YR 2024-25 Crean Lutheran Theology Diagnostic - Extra Credit!

What is the reason for evil, suffering, pain, death, and all the other bad things in life?

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