R.C.I.A. February 27, 2008R.C.I.A. February 27, 2008

The Big Question?The Big Question?

Why pain?Why pain?

Why Suffering?Why Suffering?

We all experience this state of We all experience this state of the human condition. the human condition.

How can we reconcile the How can we reconcile the existence of a God who is all existence of a God who is all good and all powerful with the good and all powerful with the fact that suffering and evil are fact that suffering and evil are real?real?

Mystery of SufferingMystery of Suffering

Church views suffering as a Church views suffering as a mystery.mystery.

The Scriptures shed much The Scriptures shed much light on the subject.light on the subject.

Christ’s life, Passion, and Christ’s life, Passion, and death provide even more death provide even more meaning behind the mystery meaning behind the mystery of suffering. of suffering.

How the question has How the question has been answeredbeen answered

Basic statementsBasic statements God existsGod exists God is goodGod is good God is all-powerfulGod is all-powerful Evil existEvil exist

Answers to the ProblemAnswers to the Problem

#1 God exists#1 God exists

#2 God is good#2 God is good

#3 God is all powerful#3 God is all powerful

#4 Evil exists#4 Evil exists

Atheism – denial of #1Atheism – denial of #1

Pantheism – denial of Pantheism – denial of #2#2

Polytheism – denial of Polytheism – denial of #3#3

Idealism – denial of #4 Idealism – denial of #4

The Christian AnswerThe Christian Answer

Begins in the Old Testament with the fall.Begins in the Old Testament with the fall.

The book of Job picks up the issue “Why do The book of Job picks up the issue “Why do good things happen to bad people?”good things happen to bad people?”

Gospel – Response of Christ to suffering.Gospel – Response of Christ to suffering.

Understanding the Understanding the Christian AnswerChristian Answer

Two Common MisconceptionsTwo Common Misconceptions 1. Evil things exist: - there is 1. Evil things exist: - there is

nothing physically that is evil. nothing physically that is evil. An example –An example – The attack with the penThe attack with the pen

Pen is good Pen is good Swing is goodSwing is good Aim is goodAim is good The will – that contains the The will – that contains the

problem – my choiceproblem – my choice Evil is depravation of good.Evil is depravation of good.

2. Moral vs. Physical Evil2. Moral vs. Physical Evil

Understanding ….Understanding ….

# 2: Moral vs. Physical Evil# 2: Moral vs. Physical Evil Sin = moral evil – corruption of free willSin = moral evil – corruption of free will Suffering = physical evil resulting from Suffering = physical evil resulting from

corrupting effect of sin in the world.corrupting effect of sin in the world.

SufferingSuffering

Origin of EvilOrigin of Evil Creation – Fall of Creation – Fall of

AngelsAngels Fall of Adam and EveFall of Adam and Eve

Natural Order is Natural Order is corruptedcorrupted

Corruption of natural Corruption of natural order leads to order leads to sufferingsuffering

Disease etc. beginsDisease etc. begins

View of Suffering at the View of Suffering at the time of Christtime of Christ

People suffer because they deserve it.People suffer because they deserve it.

Jesus changes this viewJesus changes this view Luke 13:1-5 Jesus addresses the crowd and Luke 13:1-5 Jesus addresses the crowd and

speaks of the 18 who were killed when the tower speaks of the 18 who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapses. - “Do you think they were of Siloam collapses. - “Do you think they were worse offenders?”worse offenders?”

Old view is still present – in some parts of the Old view is still present – in some parts of the worldworld My friend Mario…My friend Mario…

Overcoming the old viewOvercoming the old view

Christ changes Christ changes everythingeverything

Where is God in the problem of suffering?Where is God in the problem of suffering?

Is he silent? Is he distant? The great Is he silent? Is he distant? The great clockmaker?clockmaker?

NoNo God becomes incarnate and suffers beside us. God becomes incarnate and suffers beside us.

He comes down and embraces fully the He comes down and embraces fully the condition we are in and even endures death on condition we are in and even endures death on a Cross laying down his life for us.a Cross laying down his life for us.

Two Friends on a log - example Two Friends on a log - example

Why death?Why death?

Why does Christ have to suffer and die? Why does Christ have to suffer and die?

Why does it have to be Christ?Why does it have to be Christ?

Why Jesus?Why Jesus?

Infinite gap has been created by sin.Infinite gap has been created by sin.

Our choice leads to distance between God Our choice leads to distance between God and us.and us.

Only someone who is human and divine can Only someone who is human and divine can bridge that gap?bridge that gap?

Why death?Why death?

Why not snap his fingers?Why not snap his fingers?

Covenant had been entered into.Covenant had been entered into.

Only way out of a covenant is death. Only way out of a covenant is death.

At Christ’s death the Gospel’s record the At Christ’s death the Gospel’s record the significant event?significant event? Temple vale torn in twoTemple vale torn in two Earth quake etc. Earth quake etc. Josephus records the temple gate collapsedJosephus records the temple gate collapsed

Entering into risen lifeEntering into risen life

Through our Baptism we die and rise with Through our Baptism we die and rise with Christ.Christ.

Suffering then can become transformative Suffering then can become transformative when we unite our sufferings with the Cross of when we unite our sufferings with the Cross of Christ. Christ.

Redemptive SufferingRedemptive Suffering Our suffering unites us with ChristOur suffering unites us with Christ St. Paul’s theology – (Colossians) are sufferings St. Paul’s theology – (Colossians) are sufferings

help others in the Church when offered up.help others in the Church when offered up. Value of human dignity affirmed. Value of human dignity affirmed.

Faith and SufferingFaith and Suffering

Christianity does not mean one will never Christianity does not mean one will never suffer. Not the wealth and health gospel.suffer. Not the wealth and health gospel.

Christ urges us to take up our Cross.Christ urges us to take up our Cross. Story of a saint and the cross. Story of a saint and the cross.

Only Suffer what we can handle.Only Suffer what we can handle.

God brings good out of suffering and evil.God brings good out of suffering and evil. Good out of bad? Examples? Good out of bad? Examples?

We will see clearly in the end. We will see clearly in the end.

Quote on SufferingQuote on Suffering

““God whispers to us in our God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is his our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”world.”

C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis

Continue LearningContinue Learning

CreditsCredits

Photo CreditsPhoto Credits Slide 1: From FlickrSlide 1: From Flickr

Sweet suffering Sweet suffering http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffelix69/1601991315/http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffelix69/1601991315/

Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering #13 Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering #13 http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_artshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_arts/1387771444//1387771444/

Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering # 10 Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering # 10 http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_artshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_arts/1386881071//1386881071/

Slide 2: From FlickrSlide 2: From Flickr Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering #18 Iraq Wars Windows of Suffering #18

http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_artshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/david_lewis_baker_arts/1386880001//1386880001/

CreditsCredits Slide 3Slide 3

Suffering Virgin Suffering Virgin http://www.flickr.com/photos/colodio/1235108140/http://www.flickr.com/photos/colodio/1235108140/

Slide 4Slide 4 The Suffering The Suffering

http://www.flickr.com/photos/colodio/1235108140/http://www.flickr.com/photos/colodio/1235108140/

Slide 5Slide 5 Belson Cross http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmic/264898981/Belson Cross http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmic/264898981/

Slide 9 Kiss Angel Wings Slide 9 Kiss Angel Wings http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515

Slide 12 the cross Slide 12 the cross http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515/Jesus http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515/Jesus , Isa, Christ, , Isa, Christ, http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_saygoodbye/134728515/