No. God allows suffering because this life doesn't matter. It is to be used in service to him. Many afflictions are due to the sins of others who ruin our planet. They create distrust, further distancing them from God and his healing. Lepers existed when Jesus was alive. Was that his doing. Do not ascribe suffering to God when you have no idea what suffering is about.
Quoting: Newton's Own I have no choice but to ascribe suffering to God, as He is the grand designer. And *They* do not create the distrust, *God* creates the distrust. He is the arbiter of *Reality.* His is the *ultimate* responsibility.
As I pointed out before: Perhaps imagine a Heaven and a Hell--dream up a reward and punishment that will somehow magically balance the books, so to write? The problem remains the extent and severity of the suffering. If die she must, far quicker and less-severe methods do end a tyke's existence. Forced listening of country-western music, for example. Children do, unfortunately, ask what the did wrong to be punished by such a condition. What "reward" balances it? Is it greater than that obtained by children who die of leukemia, car accidents, and falling masonry? Why? Furthermore, that one imagines a Mengele horribly tortured throughout eternity--something involving fish hooks and Patsy Cline--does not justify the extensive and severe suffering of the child. Finally, if some grand argumentum ad ignorantiam of a "reward" exists, why do not the children who die of the less-horrible leukemia and steam rollers deserve it?
Therefore, since No Alleviation of such Unjustified Suffering occurred, we are left with Five Possible Choices regarding deities:
1. No Deity Exists
2. A Deity Exists and He is Evil
3. A Deity Exists and He is Incompetent
4. A Deity Exists and He is Irrelevant
5. A Deity Exists and He is Some Combination of 2-4
All are, of course, free to choose from any one of the five.
If you have a *logical* alternative, please describe it.
