Religions answers to the suffering of innocents

[Maninthemiddle]

No matter what your faith may be, inevitably the question will arise from others: Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent children? From the perspective of your religion, how do you answer this? In my opinion, Buddhism's concept of karma provides a meaningful response. However, I am open to hearing about the explanations offered by other religions. I do not claim that Buddhism has all the answers, which is why I am interested in exploring this question further.

 

[SalixIncendium]

From the Hindu perspective of karma, more specifically, my flavor of Vedanta, Isvara (God) is dispassionate and doesn't "allow (or disallow) things to happen." Isvara merely tracks karmic action, and dispenses the fruits of these actions.

That said, "things" that happen to innocent children, while possibly impacted by karmic action, are more commonly the fruits of the parents' actions.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I’m not sure, from my own very loosely Christian perspective, that there is an answer, for how can man know the mind of God? The OT answer always seems to be variations of “Trust your God, and do His will”.

Not sure the Gospels address the question directly, though “My Father’s Kingdom is not of this world” suggests we should not expect justice in this one. Caesar and Satan seem to have the worldly power between them.

 

[Eddi]

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

Because nature

The world runs according to nature rather than according to God's will

In my opinion

 

[Nakosis]

No matter what your faith may be, inevitably the question will arise from others: Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent children? From the perspective of your religion, how do you answer this? In my opinion, Buddhism's concept of karma provides a meaningful response. However, I am open to hearing about the explanations offered by other religions. I do not claim that Buddhism has all the answers, which is why I am interested in exploring this question further.

I suspect that without suffering people wouldn't have motivation to do much. We act generally to overcome suffering or to avoid it altogether.

So if there were a God and they wanted to create a species who sat around doing nothing then remove all suffering from their experience.

 

[sayak83]

No matter what your faith may be, inevitably the question will arise from others: Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent children? From the perspective of your religion, how do you answer this? In my opinion, Buddhism's concept of karma provides a meaningful response. However, I am open to hearing about the explanations offered by other religions. I do not claim that Buddhism has all the answers, which is why I am interested in exploring this question further.

I said something here that pertains to this point

https://www.religiousforums.com/threads/why-do-you-reject-jesus.279163/post-8634648

 

[Aupmanyav]

Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent children? From the perspective of your religion, how do you answer this? In my opinion, Buddhism's concept of karma provides a meaningful response. However, I am open to hearing about the explanations offered by other religions. I do not claim that Buddhism has all the answers, which is why I am interested in exploring this question further.

There is no evidence or possibility of existence of any God or Goddess. Don't pass the blame on fictitious entities.
Though I am not a Buddhist, I think the Buddhist answer is 'skandhas' (aggregates - vedana, samjna, samskaras Skandha - Wikipedia)
In Advaita Hinduism that I follow, it is chance, uncertainty and probability. More or less the same, conditions that come to exist.

I suspect that without suffering people wouldn't have motivation to do much. We act generally to overcome suffering or to avoid it altogether.
So if there were a God and they wanted to create a species who sat around doing nothing then remove all suffering from their experience.

You mean God did it, God wanted it like that?

 

[PureX]

There are several possibilities I can think of ...

1. To teach us humility.
2. To teach us responsibility.
3. To teach us unity.
4. To teach us transcendence.

 

[dybmh]

Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent children? From the perspective of your religion, how do you answer this?

This is how I answer:

Bad things happen to innocent children because the world is not perfect. Only God is perfect. Even though the world cannot be perfect; God is granting the individuals of the world tools and resources to ease the suffering of innocent children. God is good.

 

[Maninthemiddle]

From the Hindu perspective of karma, more specifically, my flavor of Vedanta, Isvara (God) is dispassionate and doesn't "allow (or disallow) things to happen." Isvara merely tracks karmic action, and dispenses the fruits of these actions.

That said, "things" that happen to innocent children, while possibly impacted by karmic action, are more commonly the fruits of the parents' actions.

So if a child is born blind or worse you think it’s the parents fault.

 

[Maninthemiddle]

I’m not sure, from my own very loosely Christian perspective, that there is an answer, for how can man know the mind of God? The OT answer always seems to be variations of “Trust your God, and do His will”.

Not sure the Gospels address the question directly, though “My Father’s Kingdom is not of this world” suggests we should not expect justice in this one. Caesar and Satan seem to have the worldly power between them.

If this is true then why should Gods commandments be followed.

 

[Maninthemiddle]

I’m not sure, from my own very loosely Christian perspective, that there is an answer, for how can man know the mind of God? The OT answer always seems to be variations of “Trust your God, and do His will”.

Not sure the Gospels address the question directly, though “My Father’s Kingdom is not of this world” suggests we should not expect justice in this one. Caesar and Satan seem to have the worldly power between them.

If this is true then why should Gods commandments be followed.

There is no evidence or possibility of existence of any God or Goddess. Don't pass the blame on fictitious entities.
Though I am not a Buddhist, I think the Buddhist answer is 'skandhas' (aggregates - vedana, samjna, samskaras Skandha - Wikipedia)
In Advaita Hinduism that I follow, it is chance, uncertainty and probability. More or less the same, conditions that come to exist.

You mean God did it, God wanted it like that?

you said don’t blame fictitious identities, I don’t recall blaming anyone.
I spoke of karma which is the fault of the individual

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

No matter what your faith may be, inevitably the question will arise from others: Why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent children? From the perspective of your religion, how do you answer this?

From my perspective, I wish that more people spent less time talking about why God allows bad things to happen to innocent people and more time dealing with why we allow so many bad things to happen to innocent people.

Before speculating about karma, lets focus on indifference.

 

[dybmh]

The OT answer always seems to be variations of “Trust your God, and do His will”.

... variations of "trust because your ways are perfect and just. Ours are not.". The implication is none are perfect except for God, including all of the created material world.

for how can man know the mind of God?

What is known about God is limited to what God is revealing to each individual, but, the answer to the question can be derived logically.

There are 3 and only 3 cases:

1. God is benevolent
2. God is neutral or absent
3. God is malicious

The only one which permits the creation of a material world is case#1. This is not clear and obvious because the implications of God's absolutely literally infinite magnitude are not understood or applied when answering the question: why does God permit harm to innocent children?

 

[SalixIncendium]

So if a child is born blind or worse you think it’s the parents fault.

Are you putting words into my mouth? Please quote where I said or even implied that.

 

[dybmh]

I wish that more people ...

... would stop complaining and do something positive?

That's good advice.

 

[dybmh]

The world runs according to nature rather than according to God's will

Nature isn't God's will?

 

[dybmh]

Don't pass the blame

^^ Words to live by ^^

 

[metis]

Nature isn't God's will?

Maybe God is Nature.

 

[dybmh]

Maybe God is Nature.

Nature and more, always more