format_quote Originally Posted by
Euphorium
Al Salam alaikum,
I was talking to a friend of mine who is an atheist and he asked me: "if God is real, then why do innocent people suffer?"
Innocent people (like baby's, people with down syndrom, etc) suffer, because of the test we all are undergoing on this Earth.
This world is a temporary world meant to test us...nothing more.
some people are tested with richness, others with poverty, some with health and others with sickness, etc.
format_quote Originally Posted by
Euphorium
He wasn't only referring to things like wars (which can simply be explained as being caused by humans not God himself)
How is that a good explanation? If humans decide to start a war, the war itself is not a part of Gods plan?
What happened to God being All knowing and All seeing?
format_quote Originally Posted by
Euphorium
He also meant examples of when one gets a child that happens to have cancer. His question is how would an innocent child deserve that?
He mentioned another example of a friend of his (who's also an atheist), who ended up in the hospital, because of a suicide attempt at 15 years old, because her life was really rough.
The same answer complies to these both examples. The child having cancer is of course not a test for the child when its younger than 7 years old...because kids that young are not yet responsible for their actions.
But it is a test for the mother, the father, grandparents, other relatives, doctor, kindergarten teacher, neighbours, etc...how they deal with the situation etc.
format_quote Originally Posted by
Euphorium
How can I answer these questions in a way that would be understandable to an atheist?
I am very grateful for any answers or advice you can give me.
With best regards