Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?

If God is an all-powerful, unending source of love, then why does he allow terrible things to happen to innocent people?

Children are born with aids, some are born into slavery, others are forced into prostitution, etc. Why did this happen to them? They were simply born into a crappy society. They were never able to choose whether they would disobey God and get punished, they were just instantly punished upon birth.

Can someone give me a legitimate answer?

Because God Realizes we need people to make fun of. So he gives them to us so we can make fun of them.

Why don't you go research some apologetics on legitamate christian websites, or read a pope endorsed catechism?

They are not innocent. It's the inheritance of sin that explains the causes of bad things.

Because, every once in a while God sits back and says, "**** it".

If you like to hear my view watch this debate. I agree with Mark Driscoll, the guy without glasses who is debating. :P

I'd normally give a long response, but I have a headache and am going to bed... Goodnight.

Because we have free will. The ramifications are not always good, but you can't have free will without it.duxup

Isn't the Universe determined from start to finish?

There are children starving out there and dying everyday because of it. You tell me that happens because they have free will or because they have sinned?

Sometimes people disgust me. Fact, some people deserve their bad fortune and others don't. God "allows" bad things to happen because he obviously doesn't care about our hardships since we all have free will and each chose our paths ourselves (BS).

god doesn't make bad things happen to good people, we do...redbaron3

Think about the actual question for five seconds before giving a lame response. The question was: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?"

[QUOTE="duxup"]Because we have free will. The ramifications are not always good, but you can't have free will without it.meggido

Isn't the Universe determined from start to finish?

[QUOTE="redbaron3"]god doesn't make bad things happen to good people, we do...Astrapsody

Think about the actual question for five seconds before giving a lame response. The question was: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?"

[QUOTE="meggido"]

[QUOTE="duxup"]Because we have free will. The ramifications are not always good, but you can't have free will without it.duxup

Isn't the Universe determined from start to finish?

Every event is caused by a prior event (at least on a macro level). Your "choice" is merely the product of a series of events

[QUOTE="duxup"][QUOTE="meggido"]

Isn't the Universe determined from start to finish?

meggido

Every event is caused by a prior event (at least on a macro level). Your "choice" is merely the product of a series of events

[QUOTE="meggido"]

[QUOTE="duxup"] Not as far as I'm aware of.duxup

Every event is caused by a prior event (at least on a macro level). Your "choice" is merely the product of a series of events

Nah, it's a big philosophy thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determinism

Didn't God go through a pretty elaborate setup just to ensure that mankind would fall?

How would he find out a person's true nature if he let people know for a fact that he exists?-GeordiLaForge-

Why must the Christian god even perform this test at all? He's omniscient and supposedly created every man and woman in his own image, so he would know by default the outcome of every human being's moral foundation the very second they popped into existance.

[QUOTE="Astrapsody"]

[QUOTE="redbaron3"]god doesn't make bad things happen to good people, we do..._rock_

Think about the actual question for five seconds before giving a lame response. The question was: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?"

That however does bring up the question of why we need a god.

If god isn't helping and I have to fix all of my problems on my own, then what reason do I have to follow a god who I don't think exists?

Because he doesn't exist?

Reina's views on life: "What is, is, what will be, will be. God or not, all powerful super being or not or just some lucky sod with a kitten who wants to rule the world, it's all pre-determined and meant to be. The innocent suffer not for malicious reasons, but to test their strength of spirit, to see if they are truly able of being more than those who don't suffer expect of them. Free will, choice and options are something we believe we have, and we do in a way, but no matter what we choose it's all pre-determined either way. Just dream of the shore and go with the flow"

Reina's a character I created for a story. I do woner if all I've suffered in my life was to make me stronger in spirit, to make me be kind and focused instead of bitter and dangerous and hurting others, which is something I refuse to ever do since I don't see the point to hurting others.
We have choices, but life will still continue on no matter the choices we make. Suffering happens, it's up to that person if they manage to live through it what they do with the pain they've endured.

R/T

[QUOTE="-GeordiLaForge-"]How would he find out a person's true nature if he let people know for a fact that he exists?-Jiggles-

Why must the Christian god even perform this test at all? He's omniscient and supposedly created every man and woman in his own image, so he would know by default the outcome of every human being's moral foundation the very second they popped into existance.

Our god is a spiteful one, AND HE'S GOING TO GET YOU. So pray all you want, sing a couple of hail mary's, cause your ass is going to meet gods boot, GOD IS PISSED. and you pissed him off, I hope you're happy with yourself.

[QUOTE="Astrapsody"]

[QUOTE="redbaron3"]god doesn't make bad things happen to good people, we do..._rock_

Think about the actual question for five seconds before giving a lame response. The question was: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?"

god doesn't make bad things happen to good people, we do...redbaron3

There is no God so bad things just happen to everyone for no reason =/

This life is a test. People can opt to do good or bad. Even though such people might suffer, they will be rewarded in hereafter. For example, a kid with aids. Since he is innocent, in the hereafter he will be sent to heaven(this is in compliance with the islamic concept where children(are born innocent) are not held accountable for sins till they are mature).

I have no trouble with suffering itself, it sucks but it's part of life. What irks me is why do some people suffer worse than others? Are they born with more original sin? Strikes me somehow asextraordinalyunfair.

It is better spend more effort improving our lives than thinking about anything related to God because there is no answer for it.magicalclick

It is better spend more effort improving our lives than thinking about anything related to God because there is no answer for it.magicalclick

Because if we had perfect lives we wouldnt believe there was a God at all. Therefore if we are to strive to please God and make it to heavento be with him we must have some sort of challenges in our life. And God does love us and wants us to make the right decisions.

[QUOTE="_rock_"][QUOTE="Astrapsody"]

Think about the actual question for five seconds before giving a lame response. The question was: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?"

MrGeezer

That however does bring up the question of why we need a god.

Well if you think about it, without God what would be the point of Good and Evil? Why arent we raping and killing each other for our own selfish desires? We would be nothing more then animals. there for since we arent there is a God and he loves us and wants us to do Good to someday join him in heaven. But it is our fallen nature that we sin and do evil. Therefore we should strive to do good as God intended us to do.

If god isn't helping and I have to fix all of my problems on my own, then what reason do I have to follow a god who I don't think exists?

[QUOTE="_rock_"][QUOTE="Astrapsody"]

Think about the actual question for five seconds before giving a lame response. The question was: "Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people?"

MrGeezer

That however does bring up the question of why we need a god.

.

Well if you think about it, without God what would be the point of Good and Evil? Why arent we raping and killing each other for our own selfish desires? We would be nothing more then animals. there for since we arent there is a God and he loves us and wants us to do Good to someday join him in heaven. But it is our fallen nature that we sin and do evil. Therefore we should strive to do good as God intended us to do.

If god isn't helping and I have to fix all of my problems on my own, then what reason do I have to follow a god who I don't think exists?

what the hek? sorry my quote got all jacked up. what Mr. Geezer wrote is actually what i wrote. except for that 1 sentence in the top box saying "then that brings up the question why do we need a God" or something like that

to test their faith

This is the reason why I am atheist and I turned my back to god because he hurts innocent people.

Because if we had perfect lives we wouldnt believe there was a God at all.Derek1177

This is the reason why I am atheist and I turned my back to god because he hurts innocent people.

SSBFan12