Job is a good man who loses his children, wealth and health, but refuses to curse God. Job's friends wrongly insist his suffering must be punishment for sin.

How does God answer Job?

God speaks from a whirlwind and asks where Job was when the earth was made. Job realises that God's wisdom is far beyond human understanding.

What does the Book of Job teach Catholics about suffering?

Suffering is not always a punishment for sin. Humans may not understand why they suffer, but they can still trust God.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

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Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of Religion

Catholic responses to the problem of suffering

3 things to know
Paper 3

Overview

The Psalms and Psalm 119 on God's word, the trials of Job and God's answer, Augustine's free will defence and evil as privation, Irenaeus, prayer and charity, and why each theory falls short.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

How do the Psalms help Catholics respond to suffering?

Key term

What does Psalm 119 teach about suffering?

Key term

What does Psalm 119:105 say about God's word?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
How do the Psalms help Catholics respond to suffering?
Model answer
Many psalms express pain, anger and doubt honestly to God. The Psalms show that believers can bring suffering to God in prayer and still trust him.
2
What does Psalm 119 teach about suffering?
Model answer
Psalm 119:71 says it was good to be afflicted so as to learn God's decrees. Suffering can draw a person closer to God's word.
3
What does Psalm 119:105 say about God's word?
Model answer
Psalm 119:105 calls God's word “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. God's word guides believers through dark times.
4
What happens to Job?
Model answer
Job is a good man who loses his children, wealth and health, but refuses to curse God. Job's friends wrongly insist his suffering must be punishment for sin.
5
How does God answer Job?
Model answer
God speaks from a whirlwind and asks where Job was when the earth was made. Job realises that God's wisdom is far beyond human understanding.
6
What does the Book of Job teach Catholics about suffering?
Model answer
Suffering is not always a punishment for sin. Humans may not understand why they suffer, but they can still trust God.

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Catholic responses to the problem of suffering

Overview

What you need to know

How do the Psalms help Catholics respond to suffering?

What does Psalm 119 teach about suffering?

What does Psalm 119:105 say about God's word?

Questions from this subtopic

How do the Psalms help Catholics respond to suffering?

What does Psalm 119 teach about suffering?

What does Psalm 119:105 say about God's word?

What happens to Job?

How does God answer Job?

What does the Book of Job teach Catholics about suffering?

Other ways to work this

What is inside Levo

See a huge jump in your memorisation

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Blank Blitz consolidates the facts

Build It trains answer structure

Test It catches misconceptions

Brain Breaks between sessions

Every question in Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of Religion, on a schedule.