Magnum
I think the "problem of evil" is bigger than just the bad produced by the free will of humans. What about all the horror and suffering in the animal realm?
I remember a few years ago, my entire way of thinking as to why God allows suffering—took a complete 360 degree turn.
What happened is that I was given a baby kitten that was found in the street and he was so small that in order to survive, I had to bottle feed him and care for him till he was able to eat himself. It was hard work because it wasn’t just once a day. It was every two hours for about a month if I wanted him to live.
This cat grew up and believed I was his father. He followed me everywhere and always wanted me to pick him up. He slept with me, sat on my lap when I watched tv. Followed me to the bathroom and waited beside the door until I came out. As soon as I came home from work or school. he ran to meet me. I went through my teenage years and became an adult with this cat. I got very close to him.
Then one day he started getting sick. I took him to the vet and spared no amount of money. I was willing to pay thousands of dollars to keep him alive. After spending about one thousand dollars, the vet told me that there was nothing they could do anymore to help him. I told the vet “Please, I will pay you anything you want, just keep him alive”
The vet replied, “I’m sorry, it’s his time, he has lived more than most cats” He lasted 15 years. I was devastated, I took him home and wrapped him in a blanket and sat with him all day and all night.
The next day early in the morning, he let’s out this eerie cry and looked at me and tears starting coming out of his eyes, then he took his last breath and stopped breathing. To this day it has been the worse day of my life.What I saw that day Haunts me to this day.
It was at this point in my life that I started considering the possibility that even if there was a God, he was not at all interesting in helping us or the animals.
This is when I starting noticing that the world was made with prey and predator. I started doing research on animals and their suffering. What I started finding out, messed me up for a couple of years. I remember reading this statement;
quote;
"The total amount of suffering per year in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation. During the minute that it takes me to compose this sentence, thousands of animals are being eaten alive, many others are running for their lives, whimpering with fear, others are slowly being devoured from within by rasping parasites, thousands of all kinds are dying of starvation, thirst, and disease.
Then another person made this comment that pounded the last nail on my belief in the God of the Bible----not necessarily The Real Creator.
quote;
God made animals with pain receptors. Many animals especially the kinds that we eat the most can feel physical pain exactly the same way as humans. Many of those animals can and do suffer psychological trauma just like humans as well.
Yet God not only condones people killing and eating animals, but God created animals with the capacity to suffer while already knowing full well that they would. Then for a long period in history, he demanded humans to slaughter and sacrifice to him just because he enjoyed the act of devotion.
This direct encouragement of the suffering of the innocent is entirely inconsistent with tri-omni nature.
If God couldn’t create a food cycle for all creatures that didn’t include suffering, then he isn’t omnipotent.
If he didn’t know the system would lead to suffering then he isn’t omniscient.
Now if he could of done better, if he could of made a food cycle that didn’t promote suffering, but chose not to.
Then he’s not only lacking in omni- benevolence but many would argue he is a Sadist.
‘Whether animal life and human life was Created this way or it came about by accident, this was the reality of it all and I had to accept it.
What I do now - Is Go out of my way to be kind to animals. I have tons of cats that come to my house each morning and I feed them every day just like this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EYZnSXEla0