Why do bad things happen to good people?

[Anonymous]

Like many people. I have struggled with this question. I thought I would throw it out there in case one of you had an answer that would resonate with me. I was raised religiously Jewish and the answers I have always been given are things like "we can't understand God's plan" and "God is in control but people have free will." If God is in control why did God let someone get kidnapped, raped, and murdered? Why did my 40yo friend die of cancer today, leaving three children and a grieving spouse? If God is omnipotent, why did God allow this? Why must people suffer horribly? If someone has free will to do horrible things, God has free will to stop it. I read the book, Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People, thinking the author, who was religious and had lost a child to cancer (I think) would have a good explanation. The book was basically several hundred pages of "God works in mysterious ways." His answer did nothing for me. Does anyone out there have an answer that is satisfactory to them? I'm honestly curious. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

If God exists, it cannot be both omnipotent and benevolent. It's that simple.

[Anonymous]

Because bad things have to happen to someone. Being good or not doesn't protect you (more justification that the god theory doesn't hold *holy* water)

[Anonymous]

Without bad, we wouldn't know good.

[Anonymous]

Karma. Good people were bad in a prior life, and karma is catching up.

The other possibility is, the good people are not as good as you think they are. I'm super friendly and helpful at work, I'm a GREAT friend, etc. But I waste a ton in the privacy of home. I throw out a lot of food, I use disposable bowls and flatware, etc.

[Anonymous]

My friend's church did a sermon series on this recently-- I went to one-- it was good stuff.

[Anonymous]

“God’s job is not to make sick people healthy. That’s the doctor’s job. God’s job is to make sick people brave.”
? Harold S. Kushner, Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World


The author is a Jewish rabbi whose son had a degenerative disease.


http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Happen-Good-People/dp/1400034728

[Anonymous]

He allowed really bad things to happen to his son. And it saves everybodies souls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He allowed really bad things to happen to his son. And it saves everybodies souls.

Way to totally disregard OP's beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Why do good things happen to bad people?

The truth is that it is less important what happens to us than what happens within us. When something bad happens to me, I don't blame God. I reach to Him for comfort and guidance. (Likewise, I don't blame Him when I do bad things or when people who seem bad IMHO seem to be getting undeserved rewards from society.) I also see the bad things as opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth. Someone I thought was a friend did a bad thing to me. I am still dealing with the effects, but I also opened my eyes to more subtle things that harmed me spiritually, professionally, and even financially that I chose to do as a consequence of our friendship.

I meet very few religious people who obsess about why bad things happen to good people. Most understand that God gave humans free will. Hitler used his to cause harm. Mother Teresa used hers to heal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Without bad, we wouldn't know good.

So kids need to suffer and die of cancer so you can appreciate a sunset? Right.

OP, the answer is that there very likely is no God. Once you accept that, you will find more peace and realize that you should aim to put out as much love and positive energy into the world and it will both come back to you and sustain you during hard times. There's not some mystery you're missing out on, some lesson you're not getting. If God tries to teach us lessons by creating child soldiers and Catholic priests that rape children, then we should all just end it now and stop being pawns in his sick game.

[Anonymous]

Because there is no God. Good things and bad things are random. Yes , we have some control, but many things, like some illness and accidents and bad luck are random.

God didn't do it because there is no God. Stop worrying about why bad things happen to good people and focus on what you can control. Taking God out of it makes life simpler.

[Anonymous]

If I believed there was no God, I would not feel peace. I would definitely feel empty and hopeless. You keep what comforts you and I will keep my Great Comforter.

[Anonymous]

So sorry you lost your friend to cancer, OP. It is truly awful that a 40 year old mum has been lost to her kids, husband, and friends. There is no reason. Only time will heal a bit. The wound will always be there. Be strong for the kids and husband.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do good things happen to bad people?

The truth is that it is less important what happens to us than what happens within us. When something bad happens to me, I don't blame God. I reach to Him for comfort and guidance. (Likewise, I don't blame Him when I do bad things or when people who seem bad IMHO seem to be getting undeserved rewards from society.) I also see the bad things as opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth. Someone I thought was a friend did a bad thing to me. I am still dealing with the effects, but I also opened my eyes to more subtle things that harmed me spiritually, professionally, and even financially that I chose to do as a consequence of our friendship.

I meet very few religious people who obsess about why bad things happen to good people. Most understand that God gave humans free will. Hitler used his to cause harm. Mother Teresa used hers to heal.

Really, those are the choices? Mother teresa and Hitler? What was God thinking?