Griz wrote:
"Why does God (or Gods, any Supreme Being) allow suffering?"
Here's another non-Christian perspective.
In my religion, the Gods are not all powerful or all knowing. Think of them as immensely powerful relatives, with all of the typical human vices and flaws. There is a code of conduct, which they strive to uphold, the same as mortals do. At times, one God or another may take particular interest in the life of a mortal, for whatever reason. Come the end of the world, some of my Gods are killed, with others taking their places at ruling.
The Norns are those who control the destiny of men and Gods. The Norns are three in numberUrth or Wyrd (the past), Verthandi (the present), and Skuld (the future). They weave the fabric of lives as they choose. It is said they try to stave off Ragnarok (our end of the world).
In my religion, hardship is something to be endured. It is thought to build character. Perhaps God/Gods/The Norns put us through hardship to see what metal is within us? To test the worthiness of the weapon, so to speak? The same as you or I would do with a newly purchased gun?
Just my .02
P95carry wrote,
"How come for some - they can sin all they want, screw up folk's lives and then - go and get absolution ... all ready to start over again?"
It doesn't work that way with my Gods. great emphasis is placed on the deeds of ones life, and the manner in which one lived and died. Great scorn would be heaped upon one who behaved as you described, and he would earn a place in Niflhel, an underworld hall, built of wattled serpents, where murderers, perjurors and
adulterers wade in venomous streams. The corpses of men are tormented there by a demon-wolf, who gnaws at them continuosly.
Sorry, didn't mean to get all caught up in that. What you mentioned has always been a big gripe of mine about the "weekend Christian" mindset. Those who sin all week, then get pious on Sunday.
No disrespect intended to any Christians here. I have great respect for those of you who actually follow the teachings of Christ. I have several close friends who are devout Christians. We simply agree to disagree.
And with that, I'll stop my contirbution to thread-drift. Sorry, Griz, didn't mean to hijack your thread.
Byron