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Front 1

Two Types of Suffering

Back 1

Natural and Man Made Suffering

Front 2

What Is Natural Suffering?

Back 2

Natural Suffering is a natural event, that is no ones fault, such as an earthquake, that causes misery by death.

Front 3

What Is Man Made Suffering?

Back 3

Man made suffering is something that is somebody's fault and is an action caused by humans. For example; beheading conducted by IS

Front 4

Problems Caused By Suffering For Religious Believers

Back 4

a) Challenges The Existence of God

i.e. Why did God not create a perfect world, if he is omnipotent.

This prompts the question is God really omnipotent, if he has created a world that causes suffering, to it's people.

Front 5

Problems Caused By Suffering For Religious Believers (2)

Back 5

b) God Allows Suffering to Exist

i.e. If someone is going to kill someone else, why doesn't God stop it, if he is omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent.

This challenges the believer's faith in God's attributes because surely if God is omnibenevolent, he would not allow a believer to suffer as that is not all loving.

Front 6

Suffering Can Make Us Stronger

(Does Have A Purpose)

Back 6

a) Without suffering, we cannot achieve something. i.e. A mother giving birth causes suffering, but is fundamentally used to achieve a goal. The mother in this case is innocent and experiences suffering, but can be justified as it helps bring about new life.

Front 7

Suffering Can Make Us Stronger

(Does Have A Purpose) 2

Back 7

b) Pain tells us something is wrong and stops us from doing things that cause serious harm. i.e. A muscle causing pain, if continued it would cause the muscle to tear, but instead you stop running preventing more serious harm

Front 8

Suffering Can Make Us Stronger

(Does Not Have A Purpose)

Back 8

a) A child abused makes them weaker, isolated and depressed.

Front 9

Suffering Can Make Us Stronger

(Does Not Have A Purpose) 2

Back 9

b) Willam Rowe -> Fawn example, where a forest fire starts and the fawn is left in agony for several days. This shows that there is some suffering which has no point because the suffering does not bring about any greater good nor prevent any evil. Therefore the fawn, who was innocent and died for no greater good or to prevent evil is unjustifiable. The fawn dying also had no benefit at all to the world, then God is also not justified by not intervening.

Front 10

Religious Explanations

ISLAM

Back 10

Allah gave Adam, the world to look after but also gave him free will. This means humans can choose to sin

Shaytan (source of evil), was given the job of testing people's faith and character through suffering . It is believed Shaytan can't test people more than the can bear and although Shaytan can test people he is not equal to Allah and cannot harm an individual unless Allah allows him to.

Front 11

Religious Explanations

Jewish

Back 11

Jews believe that God uses suffering to train or discipline his people and bring them back to him, much like a father disciplines his son. i.e. Not allowed to play Fifa 17, as he was poorly behaved at school.

Judaism teaches that suffering results from free will and is given to humans. Adam and Eve introduced it by choosing to eat the forbidden fruits.

Front 12

Religious Explanations

Christianity (1)

St Augustine

Back 12

God created a completely good universe. God gave humans and angels free will and through their actions they brought sin and decay into the world. The suffering from Natural Disasters is a punishment for humans for turning against God. Links to Adam & Eve eating forbidden fruits.

Front 13

Religious Explanations

Christianity (2)

St Irenaeus

Back 13

Suffering helps us to grow spiritually, by responding positively to suffering (by making right decisions and seeking goodness), we grow closer to God and develop into more spiritual and moral beings.

i.e. By praying etc.

Front 14

William Rowe:

Back 14

Fawn example, where a forest fire starts and the fawn is left in agony for several days. This shows that there is some suffering which has no point because the suffering does not bring about any greater good nor prevent any evil. Therefore the fawn, who was innocent and died for no greater good or to prevent evil is unjustifiable. The fawn dying also had no benefit at all to the world, then God is also not justified by not intervening.

Front 15

Dostoevsky:

Back 15

Suffering affects innocent people and children for no apparent reason. He says, 'If the suffering of children go to swell the sum of sufferings which was necessary to pay for truth, then I protest, that the truth is not worth such a price.' He is saying that truth is not worth the suffering of innocent children as they shouldn't suffer as they haven't done anything wrong as they are innocent. Thus they should not have to pay for everyone's sins as they are innocent and too young to pay for sins. Therefore suffering of innocent people cannot be justified.

Front 16

AQA Definition of Evil

Back 16

The opposite of good. A force or the personification of a negative power that is seen in many traditions as destructive and against God. Evil often causes suffering.