
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


The question has been around for millenia. If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and benevolent, why do people suffer? The answer seem obvious to many (most?) people. It's because of free will. It's because of sin. Its because of the devil or other evil powers. It's because God is testing us. It's to make us appreciate the good. It is to make goodness possible. It will all be resolved in the afterlife. It's a mystery that only God can answer. Pick your answer. There other options are out there! But is any of them ultimately satisfying? Do they really explain the problem? If not, where does that leave us? Is belief in an all-powerful, loving God possible?
By Bart Ehrman4.8
633633 ratings
The question has been around for millenia. If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and benevolent, why do people suffer? The answer seem obvious to many (most?) people. It's because of free will. It's because of sin. Its because of the devil or other evil powers. It's because God is testing us. It's to make us appreciate the good. It is to make goodness possible. It will all be resolved in the afterlife. It's a mystery that only God can answer. Pick your answer. There other options are out there! But is any of them ultimately satisfying? Do they really explain the problem? If not, where does that leave us? Is belief in an all-powerful, loving God possible?

577 Listeners

5,576 Listeners

3,196 Listeners

26,380 Listeners

2,861 Listeners

3,295 Listeners

941 Listeners

4,167 Listeners

1,951 Listeners

1,662 Listeners

506 Listeners

3,358 Listeners

15,506 Listeners

228 Listeners

1,455 Listeners