I acknowledged that there may be versions of Christianity that have found ways to disconnect the OT monster completely....which seems difficult, if you are at the same time believing in Jesus....who cited OT legends (which he must have known were wrong) and appeared to think God was the same God the Jews experienced. (At least from the alleged eyewitness accounts - perhaps you don't like those either.)
That doesn't seem like "Christianity" to me. It's spirituality, but I don't see how it could have anything to do with Christ. But that's another thread.
It seems to me, from what you've described your particular version of Christianity as, that you have to honestly state that you have no idea why God permits/causes suffering. You're sure he must have a good reason for it (although you're not sure why you're sure of that) though. After all, he is God. And apparently, for people who have realized that the ancient Holy Texts are hooey, but would still like to believe in a deity, "God" is simply whatever you want him to be at the moment. He cares about us, but he can't do anything about our pain, and may never be able to, but rest assured he's out there.
Surely you realize how impossible to comprehend this must be for a skeptic or interested person. Christians all claim they're worshipping this one dude, but they can't agree on anything about him, what he likes, what he wants, or what he's like. Their answers on why HE/IT permits/causes suffering are just as scattered.
Having a discussion with a variety of Christians is subsequently frustrating. It's almost like a skeptic would need EACH of you to publish your very own book of personal theology, before engaging in a discussion with you. Because otherwise, we attempt to approach from what we perceive is a fairly common Christian belief, and are met with "Well that's not what I believe!" *Sigh*
As a Christian that found God through Jesus OUTSIDE the bible
How is that done - exactly?