Archives For doubt

A Good Week for Theodicy

Chris —  May 7, 2009

The classic “How could a loving God allow for all the pain in our world?” question is the number one proof for atheism.  I often hear stories of people who have lost their faith over this question.  

This week has included a suspected murder of one of my college classmates, a devastating fire in one of the poorest parts of Austin, and my own personal neverending job search.  You can’t help but asks questions, “Why does God let these things happen?” or even, “What kind of God would let that happen?”

Christian answers tend to fall in one of two categories.  There’s the seemingly blind faith of the Calvinist, “God is sovereign. He has his reasons.”  Then there’s the more ambiguous arguments of Arminians and Open-Theists, “God gave us free will.  These things happen.” Neither of them really make me feel any better.

Theodicy hasn’t driven me from God, but it has for many others.  I wonder how many of those who struggled with these questions felt like they were supposed to have blind faith, and that there was no room in the church for their doubts.

The key is wrestling with it. Ask your questions.  Give God your worst.  If he’s God, if he even exists, he can handle it.