Tag: Faith & Doubt

Looking Back, Moving Forward: The Journey Into Phase 2

For the past few weeks, we’ve laid the foundation for something bigger—an honest, critical, and open exploration of faith, reason, and the questions that matter.

We’ve taken time to define what this space is about: a place where we don’t settle for easy answers, where we dare to ask why we believe what we believe, and where faith and reason meet at a crossroads.

Now, it’s time to take the next step.

Where We’ve Been

Since launching, we’ve tackled some key themes that shape the discussions ahead:

🔹 The Importance of Questioning Belief – Why critical thinking isn’t an enemy of faith but a necessary part of understanding it.

🔹 Theological Fear vs. Intellectual Honesty – How fear-based teachings can discourage honest inquiry and how to move past them.

🔹 Faith, Doubt, and the Role of Reason – Examining whether belief and reason are at odds or if they can coexist.

🔹 Sunday Special Features – Deep dives into theological issues, exploring stories, doctrines, and perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom.

These discussions have set the stage for something more structured and in-depth.

Where We’re Going: Phase 2 Begins

Starting Tuesday, we’re shifting into Phase 2: Cycling Through All 11 Categories in Order (March 25 – April 29).

What does this mean? Instead of posting in a free-form way, we’ll be systematically working through each of the core themes that define this journey.

This will ensure that every major topic gets the depth, analysis, and conversation it deserves.

We’ll take our time. We’ll ask hard questions. And, most importantly, we’ll keep things clear, structured, and engaging.

What to Expect

💡 Each post (Tuesday and Friday), we’ll focus on a different major category—giving each topic space to be fully explored.

📖 Some posts will analyze scripture, history, and doctrine. Others will examine philosophy, science, and personal experience.

❓ We’ll raise questions without demanding specific answers—because thinking critically matters more than memorizing dogma.

Join the Conversation

This blog isn’t just about presenting ideas—it’s about engaging with them.

🔹 What topics are you most excited for?

🔹 What big questions have been on your mind?

🔹 What would you like to see explored in more depth?

Drop your thoughts in the comments or reach out directly. Your insights, questions, and challenges make these discussions richer.

Phase 2 begins Tuesday. Let’s keep the conversation going. 🚀

The Problem of Evil: If God is Good, Why So Much Suffering?

One of the Biggest Challenges to Belief in an All-Loving, All-Powerful God

For many believers, God is described as all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He is said to care deeply for humanity, guide our lives, and bring justice to the world.

But if this is true, why does so much suffering exist?

📌 Why do innocent children die of starvation?

📌 Why do natural disasters wipe out thousands of lives?

📌 Why does God remain silent when people cry out in pain?

This question—known as the Problem of Evil—has troubled philosophers, theologians, and believers for centuries. Some have tried to defend God’s existence with explanations, but do any of these answers actually hold up?

Let’s examine the Problem of Evil, the most common defenses of God, and why this issue remains one of the strongest challenges to religious belief.

🔹 The Logical Problem of Evil: An Inescapable Contradiction?

If a god exists who is:

✔ All-Powerful (Omnipotent) – Able to stop suffering.

✔ All-Knowing (Omniscient) – Aware of all suffering.

✔ All-Loving (Omnibenevolent) – Wants to stop suffering.

Then why does so much unnecessary suffering exist?

This contradiction is the Logical Problem of Evil, famously stated by the philosopher Epicurus over 2,300 years ago:

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

If God is truly all-powerful and all-loving, then he should be able to eliminate suffering. If he doesn’t, either:

❌ He isn’t powerful enough to stop it (not omnipotent),

❌ He doesn’t know about it (not omniscient), or

❌ He doesn’t care enough to stop it (not benevolent).

For believers, this presents a serious theological problem—and many have attempted to answer it.

🔹 Common Defenses of God (And Why They Fail)

1️⃣ “God Allows Free Will, and Evil Comes From Humans”

Many argue that evil exists because humans have free will—we make bad choices, and suffering is a consequence of those choices.

📌 The problem?

✔ Free will doesn’t explain natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and diseases that kill innocent people.

✔ If God values free will so much, why does he intervene in the Bible (like flooding the earth or parting the Red Sea) but remains silent today?

✔ If heaven is a place where people have free will and don’t sin, why didn’t God create that world to begin with?

Free will doesn’t explain why an all-loving God allows suffering that isn’t caused by human choices.

2️⃣ “Suffering Builds Character and Strengthens Faith”

Some believers say pain is necessary for growth—suffering teaches people resilience, patience, and moral strength.

📌 The problem?

✔ Would we praise a parent who allows their child to suffer just to “build character”?

✔ Many people don’t grow stronger through suffering—many are permanently damaged (physically, mentally, or emotionally).

✔ Why does suffering seem so random? Many die before they have a chance to grow from it.

If suffering was truly necessary, then why does heaven supposedly exist without suffering?

3️⃣ “God Works in Mysterious Ways”

This argument says that God has a bigger plan, and we simply can’t understand it.

📌 The problem?

✔ This isn’t an answer—it’s a way to avoid answering the question.

✔ If moral rules apply to humans, why shouldn’t they apply to God? If we call human cruelty “evil,” why should we call God’s cruelty “mysterious”?

✔ If suffering is necessary, why do believers still pray for relief? Shouldn’t they accept suffering as part of God’s plan?

Saying “We don’t know why God allows evil” is admitting that we don’t know if God is truly good at all.

🔹 The Evidential Problem of Evil: The Scale of Suffering

Even if we assume that some suffering is necessary, why is there so much suffering—and why does it seem so random?

Consider:

📌 Natural disasters – Tsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes kill thousands.📌 Genetic diseases – Babies are born with painful, fatal conditions.

📌 Animal suffering – Billions of animals endure agony, completely unaware of any “greater purpose.”

📌 The Holocaust, genocide, and war – If God intervenes in human history, why not stop the worst atrocities?

The scale and seemingly random nature of suffering makes it even harder to reconcile with the idea of a loving, just God.

🔹 Why the Problem of Evil Matters

Many former believers say this was the biggest question that led them to leave religion. The Problem of Evil forces us to ask:

❓ Is suffering a natural part of the world, or does it require an explanation?❓ Would a truly loving, all-powerful God allow the level of suffering we see?❓ Are religious explanations for suffering convincing—or are they just excuses?

🔹 Final Thoughts: The Most Honest Answer?

When confronted with the Problem of Evil, some believers adjust their idea of God—perhaps he is not all-powerful, or perhaps he is not all-loving.

Others face the hardest conclusion—maybe the simplest explanation is that God doesn’t exist at all.

📌 If suffering exists because there is no divine intervention, then the world looks exactly as we would expect it to—with random disasters, illnesses, and cruelty that have no guiding hand behind them.

What to Read Next

📌 Why I Left Religion After 60 Years of Faith (My personal deconversion story and what led me to question my beliefs.)

📌 Does Prayer Really Work? (Analyzing whether prayer has real-world effects or is just confirmation bias.)

🚀 Join the Conversation

What do you think? Have you ever struggled with the Problem of Evil? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Problem of Evil: If God is Good, Why So Much Suffering?

One of the biggest challenges to the idea of a loving, all-powerful God is the existence of suffering and evil in the world. If God is truly omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good, then why does He allow immense suffering—both human and natural?

This question, known as the Problem of Evil, has been debated by philosophers and theologians for centuries. Some argue that evil is evidence against the existence of God, while others claim that suffering has a divine purpose.

Let’s explore the core arguments, common theistic defenses, and why they fail.

🎥 The Problem of Evil Explained

Before diving deeper, watch this Crash Course Philosophy video for a clear and balanced overview of the Problem of Evil. It explains both the logical and evidential versions of the argument.

📺 Watch: The Problem of Evil (Crash Course Philosophy)

The Logical Problem of Evil

The Logical Problem of Evil, first articulated by the philosopher Epicurus, argues that the existence of evil is incompatible with an all-good, all-powerful God. The reasoning is simple:

1️⃣ If God is all-powerful, He can eliminate evil.
2️⃣ If God is all-good, He would want to eliminate evil.
3️⃣ Evil exists.
4️⃣ Therefore, an all-powerful, all-good God cannot exist.

This argument is logically deductive—meaning if the premises are true, the conclusion must follow. Theists attempt to resolve this contradiction with various explanations, known as theodicies.

Common Theistic Defenses (And Why They Fail)

Many theists attempt to justify evil with explanations like:

1️⃣ Free Will Defense

  • “Evil exists because God gave humans free will, and free will allows for moral evil.”
  • Why It Fails:
    • This only explains human-caused suffering—not natural disasters, diseases, or animal suffering.
    • God could have created free will without allowing people to commit horrific acts (e.g., murder, torture).

2️⃣ Suffering Builds Character (“Soul-Making Theodicy”)

  • “God allows suffering to test and strengthen our character.”
  • Why It Fails:
    • Why do babies suffer and die before developing character?
    • Why must suffering be extreme and unevenly distributed?
    • Many people don’t become stronger from suffering—they simply break.

3️⃣ God Has a Mysterious Plan (“Greater Good” Theodicy)

  • “We can’t understand God’s reasons, but evil ultimately serves a greater purpose.”
  • Why It Fails:
    • This is a non-answer—it assumes God’s existence without proof.
    • It diminishes suffering—how can genocide, child abuse, or cancer be “part of the plan”?

4️⃣ The Afterlife Makes Up for Suffering

  • “All suffering will be compensated in Heaven.”
  • Why It Fails:
    • A just God wouldn’t need earthly suffering in the first place.
    • Suffering in animals and infants has no ‘greater purpose.’

🎥 Going Deeper: The Evidential Problem of Evil

Many philosophers today focus on the Evidential Problem of Evil, which argues that suffering makes God’s existence improbable, rather than impossible.

William Rowe, a leading philosopher, explains how gratuitous suffering—suffering that serves no greater good—contradicts the idea of an all-good God.

📺 Watch: William Rowe on the Problem of Evil

The Problem of Natural Evil

Even if human suffering could be justified by free will, natural disasters, diseases, and animal suffering present an even greater challenge.

✔ Why would a loving God create tsunamis, earthquakes, and pandemics?
✔ Why do innocent animals suffer in nature?
✔ Why would genetic diseases and birth defects exist at all?

These forms of suffering serve no clear purpose and disproportionately affect the most innocent, making them difficult to reconcile with divine justice.

Conclusion: Does the Problem of Evil Disprove God?

📌 The Problem of Evil remains one of the strongest arguments against a benevolent, omnipotent God. Theistic responses fail to justify suffering without assuming God’s existence first.

📌 If God exists but chooses not to intervene, then He is either not all-good or not all-powerful—contradicting classical theism.

📌 While some argue that suffering is necessary, a truly omnipotent God would not be bound by such constraints.

In the end, the presence of suffering makes belief in a loving, omnipotent God deeply problematic.

📌 What to Read Next

📺 Does Prayer Really Work? (Analyzing whether prayer has real-world effects or is just confirmation bias.)

💡 Join the Conversation – What do you think? Does the Problem of Evil challenge the existence of God? Leave a comment below!

Why I Left Religion After 60 Years of Faith

A Journey from Deep Belief to Skepticism

For 60 years, I was a committed Southern Baptist. I read my Bible, prayed daily, attended church faithfully, and truly believed I had a personal relationship with God. My faith was the foundation of my life—it gave me purpose, shaped my decisions, and provided what I thought was absolute truth.

Then, everything changed.

🔹 A Life Built on Faith

I wasn’t just a casual believer—I was deeply involved in my church and community. My faith wasn’t a Sunday-only commitment; it was woven into every aspect of my life.

✔ I trusted the Bible as the inspired Word of God.

✔ I prayed with conviction, believing my prayers were heard.

✔ I evangelized and shared my faith with others.

✔ I never doubted—until the day I did.

🔹 The First Cracks in My Faith

Looking back, I realize my faith had small cracks for years, but I ignored them. Whenever I encountered difficult questions, I did what every faithful believer does: I prayed, sought guidance, and reaffirmed my trust in God.

But certain questions refused to go away.

1️⃣ The Problem of Evil & Suffering

I couldn’t reconcile the idea of a loving, all-powerful God with the overwhelming suffering in the world.

  • Why does God allow innocent children to die from disease and starvation?
  • Why do natural disasters wipe out thousands of lives in an instant?
  • Why does God remain silent while people cry out for help?

Every answer I received felt hollow:🗣 “God works in mysterious ways.”🗣 “Suffering is part of His divine plan.”🗣 “We can’t understand His wisdom.”

But if I couldn’t understand God, how could I trust Him completely?

2️⃣ Prayer: A One-Way Conversation

For years, I truly believed that prayer worked. I felt comforted, reassured, and connected to God whenever I prayed.

But one day, I asked myself: “If prayer works, why does it look exactly like coincidence?”

  • If a sick person recovers, we say, “God answered our prayers.”
  • If they die, we say, “God had a different plan.”
  • If nothing happens, we say, “Keep praying—God’s timing is perfect.”

No matter what the outcome, we always found a way to credit God—even when it was clear that prayer had no measurable effect.

If God was truly all-powerful and interactive, why did He never provide clear, undeniable answers?

3️⃣ The Bible’s Inconsistencies

The more I studied the Bible, the more I noticed contradictions and moral problems I had previously overlooked.

  • Why does the Old Testament portray a vengeful, wrathful God while the New Testament promotes love and forgiveness?
  • Why does God command genocide, slavery, and stoning in the Old Testament but condemn sin in the New Testament?
  • Why are there so many contradictions between the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life?

For decades, I convinced myself that the Bible had no errors—that any contradiction could be explained. But the deeper I studied, the more I realized that I was forcing the pieces to fit rather than accepting that the Bible was flawed.

🔹 The Moment I Stopped Believing

There wasn’t a single “aha” moment where I suddenly became an atheist. It was a slow, painful process.

I fought to keep my faith. I prayed more, studied harder, and asked pastors for guidance. But instead of finding reassurance, I found more doubts.

Then, one day, I realized something terrifying:I didn’t believe anymore.

I wasn’t rejecting God because I wanted to sin. I wasn’t “angry at God.” I wasn’t looking for excuses.

I simply realized that there was no reason to believe anymore.

🔹 Life After Faith: What I Gained

Leaving Christianity wasn’t easy. I lost the certainty and comfort that faith provided. But I also gained something unexpected:

✔ Freedom – No more cognitive dissonance, no more justifying contradictions.

✔ Honesty – I could finally admit that I didn’t have the answers—and that’s okay.

✔ A New Perspective – I saw the world through evidence and reason rather than faith.

✔ Authenticity – I no longer had to pretend to believe in something I knew wasn’t true.

Many believers assume that losing faith means losing morality, purpose, and meaning. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

🚀 I didn’t lose meaning—I created it.

🔹 What I Want for You

If you’re reading this, you might be questioning your faith, or maybe you’re a believer who wants to understand why some people leave religion.

I’m not here to attack believers—I was one for most of my life. I know how deeply personal and emotional faith is.

But I do want to challenge you to think critically. Ask questions. Demand evidence. Follow the truth—wherever it leads.

✉️ Join the Conversation

What about you? Have you questioned your faith? Are you a believer who sees things differently?

👇 Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Welcome to The God Question

Is Belief in God Rational? Let’s Examine the Evidence.

For much of my life, I accepted God’s existence without question. Faith provided comfort, certainty, and a framework for understanding the world. But as I began to critically examine my beliefs, I encountered an unsettling thought: What if I’ve been mistaken?

This question is not an attack on faith—it’s an invitation to investigate. If God exists, shouldn’t the evidence be undeniable? If He doesn’t, why do so many people believe?

The Problem with Faith as Evidence

Religious belief is often sustained by faith, but is faith a reliable path to truth? If faith can justify belief in any god—Jesus, Allah, Krishna, or Zeus—how do we determine which is correct? Can personal conviction alone serve as proof?

Where Science and Reason Fit In

Science demands testable claims and repeatable evidence, yet religious belief often relies on personal experience and ancient texts. If we used faith-based reasoning in medicine or law, would we trust the results?

An Invitation to Question

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do believe that questioning is the first step toward understanding. Here at The God Question, we explore topics like:

  • Is there verifiable evidence for God?
  • Why do people cling to faith despite contradictions?
  • Can morality exist without religion?
  • What psychological and cultural forces sustain belief?

This blog isn’t about rejecting faith outright—it’s about exploring the hard questions that many hesitate to ask.

Join the Conversation

If you’ve ever doubted, wondered, or sought deeper clarity, you’re in the right place. Let’s examine the evidence, challenge assumptions, and search for truth—wherever it may lead.

🔹 Read the Blog – Start exploring the questions that matter.🔹 Subscribe – Get updates on new posts.🔹 Share Your Thoughts – Engage in meaningful discussion.