Wendy,
I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading your post. In fact it choked me up a bit. You expressed your thoughts so well and they mirror much of my feeling on the matter. I'm glad what you've written what you have. I could not have expressed it better.
I remember one thing that really got me started questioning the existence of god. I was watching a nature show on TV and I realized while watching a crocodile take down a zebra, that this actually goes on every minute of every day. Life – survival - is a struggle not just for man, but also for all of the animals. Life is not pretty – there is suffering and fear and death. The survivors live for another day to face yet again the harsh realities of their existence. What kind of a god would have created a world like this? A world where animals are eaten alive, where natural disasters take their toll without discrimination, where disease ravages both man and beast.
I believe that this world is not compatible with an omnibenevolent creator – or even a half-competent one. To me, the naturalistic explanation of evolution with it’s driving force of natural selection, which can be cruel many times, leaves out the need for creator god apologetics. The driving force of natural selection has no personality, so there is no personal being to find fault with. Life just is the way it is.
I also was not aware of your daughter’s situation. My heart sank as I read your words – I had no idea. It’s not fair. My heart goes out to you. I wish I knew what to say. I suppose I really don’t know what to say for risk of sounding glib. Just remember (and I’m sure you do) that you have many who care for you and feel for you. We are always there for you when things get rough, because there will be a time for all of us when we need someone else to comfort us. Life is not fair, it just is. For this reason we must take comfort in one another.
With love,
rem
"Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so."
..........Bertrand Russell