Explaining Sufferingresourcesexplaining Suffering
Explaining Suffering
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By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
- Competency 1: Employ sound logic in philosophical reasoning.
- State and defend a personal position on the relationship between faith and reason.
- Competency 3: Distinguish philosophical and religious approaches to life questions.
- Describe a specific example of human suffering or evil.
- Explain and assess the use of the problem of evil to prove that God does not exist.
- Explain whether theism can be defended in the face of the problem of evil.
- Competency 7: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
- Use proper APA style and formatting to write effectively.
In this assignment, you will explore the philosophical significance of the presence of evil in our lives. Begin by describing a specific situation in which a human being suffers needless pain. You are welcome to select an example from your own experiences, but you may find it easier to think about the issue objectively if you invent a fictional case.
Now, consider how you might respond to someone in this situation who says, “God would not let this happen to me, so there is no God.” Does the reality of evil prove that God does not exist? Why or why not? If God does exist, why would God permit unnecessary suffering of this sort to afflict individual human beings? Remember that our defense against the problem of evil needs to be logically sound and have some practical comfort to the bereaved.
Finally, reflect on what this issue shows us about the role of faith and reason in practical life. Which of the two approaches provides us with a more satisfactory understanding of our place in a world that includes the reality of evil? To what extent do you believe that each is relevant to our practical life? Although your choice of a stance on this point is personal, you are responsible for offering logical argumentation in its defense.
Your paper should meet the following requirements:
- Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to APA (6th ed.) style and formatting standards.
- Number of resources: No external references are required, but if you employ any, include appropriate citations and references for your sources.
- Length of paper: Approximately 800 words, typed and double-spaced in Microsoft Word.
- Font and font size: Arial, 12-point.