How does the existence of suffering raise questions about God's power and love?

A God who is all-powerful and all-loving would seem to stop suffering. Suffering exists, so some conclude that God lacks power, lacks love or does not exist.

What does Psalm 103 teach about God's nature?

Psalm 103 describes God as compassionate, gracious and slow to anger. The psalm says God forgives sins and heals diseases.

Why does Psalm 103 make the problem of suffering sharper for Christians?

Psalm 103 presents God as loving and healing. Believers then face the question of why such a God allows people to suffer.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

Catholic Christianity: Catholic BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The Trinity in the Nicene Creed and Catholic worship The Trinity in the Bible and the early Church councils The Creation account and the nature of God Catholic beliefs about humanity, dominion and stewardship The Incarnation of the Word in Catholic belief The Paschal Mystery: the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Catholic beliefs about salvation and grace Catholic eschatology: resurrection, judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory

Catholic Christianity: Living the Catholic LifeAny paper

Topic overview The seven sacraments and the sacramental nature of reality The Mass as the source and summit of Christian life The Catholic funeral rite Catholic prayer and the Lord's Prayer Popular piety: the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration and the Stations of the Cross Catholic pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Lourdes, Rome and Walsingham Catholic Social Teaching and the work of CAFOD Catholic mission and evangelism

Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The importance and purpose of marriage for Catholics Catholic teaching on sexual relationships Catholic teaching on the purpose of the family and family types How the Catholic parish supports families Catholic teaching on contraception and natural family planning Catholic teaching on divorce, annulment and remarriage Catholic teaching on men and women in the family Catholic opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination

Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Catholic responses to the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Catholic teaching Catholic responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Catholic teaching on abortion Catholic arguments for life after death Catholic responses to arguments against life after death Catholic teaching on euthanasia and hospice care Catholic responses to the environment and animal rights

Catholic Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Catholic attitudes towards justice Catholic attitudes towards crime and the work of Prison Fellowship Catholic teachings about good, evil and suffering Catholic attitudes towards punishment Catholic attitudes towards the aims of punishment Catholic teachings about forgiveness and mercy Catholic teachings about the treatment of criminals and torture Catholic attitudes towards the death penalty

Catholic Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Catholic attitudes towards peace and Jesus as the Prince of Peace Catholic peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Catholic attitudes to the causes and problems of conflict Catholic attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Catholic teaching on the Just War theory Catholic attitudes to Holy War Catholic attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Catholic responses to violence, war and terrorism

Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Catholic understanding of Jesus as the culmination of revelation Visions and Catholic belief in God Miracles and Catholic belief in God Catholic attitudes to religious experience The design argument in Catholic thought The cosmological argument in Catholic thought The problem of suffering for Catholic belief in an all-loving God Catholic responses to the problem of suffering

Catholic Christianity: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Catholic teaching on human rights Catholic attitudes towards equality and inequality Catholic attitudes towards religious freedom and a multi-faith society Catholic attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Catholic attitudes towards racial harmony Catholic attitudes towards racial discrimination Catholic attitudes to social justice Catholic attitudes towards wealth and poverty

Christianity: Christian BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The Trinity in Christian belief Christian beliefs about creation The Incarnation of Jesus The last days of Jesus' life Salvation and atonement in Christianity Christian eschatology: judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory The problem of evil and suffering for Christians Christian responses to the problem of evil and suffering

Christianity: Living the Christian LifeAny paper

Topic overview Liturgical and non-liturgical Christian worship Baptism, the Eucharist and the Christian sacraments Types of Christian prayer and the Lord's Prayer Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Iona, Taize and Walsingham Advent, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter Christian mission, evangelism and Church growth The local church in the community The worldwide Church, reconciliation and Christian Aid

Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage for Christians Christian teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Christian family How the local church supports Christian families Christian attitudes to contraception and family planning Christian attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Christian family Christian responses to gender prejudice and discrimination

Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Christian responses to the Big Bang and the value of the universe The sanctity of life in Christian teaching Christian responses to evolution and the origins of human life Christian attitudes to abortion Christian arguments for life after death Christian responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Christian attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Christian responses to environmental issues and animal rights

Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to justice Christian attitudes to crime and the work of Prison Fellowship and Street Pastors Christian teachings about good actions, evil actions and why people suffer Christian attitudes to punishment and Luke 12:35–48 Christian attitudes to the aims of punishment Christian teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Christian attitudes to the treatment of criminals Christian attitudes to the death penalty

Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemaker Christian peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Christian attitudes to conflict and its causes Christian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther King Christian attitudes to the Just War theory Christian attitudes to Holy War Christian attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Christian responses to violence, war and terrorism

Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Revelation as evidence for God in Christianity Visions as evidence for God in Christianity Miracles as evidence for God in Christianity Religious experience and the burning bush Answered prayer as evidence for God The design argument and Christian belief The cosmological argument and Aquinas's First Three Ways Religious upbringing and belief in God

Christianity: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Christian teaching on human rights Christian attitudes to equality Christian attitudes to religious freedom Christian attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Christian attitudes to racial harmony and the work of Desmond Tutu Christian attitudes to racial discrimination Christian attitudes to social justice Christian attitudes to wealth and poverty

Islam: Muslim BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam The Five Roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam The nature of Allah and Tawhid Risalah: prophethood in Islam Kutub: the Muslim holy books Malaikah: angels in Islam Al-Qadr: predestination in Islam Akhirah: Muslim beliefs about life after death

Islam: Living the Muslim LifeAny paper

Topic overview The Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam Shahadah: the Muslim declaration of faith Salah: Muslim prayer Sawm and the Night of Power Zakah and khums Hajj: pilgrimage to Makkah Jihad in Muslim life Id-ul-Adha, Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Ghadeer and Ashura

Islam: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Islam Muslim teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the family in Islam How the ummah supports Muslim families Muslim attitudes to contraception Muslim teaching on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Muslim family Muslim teaching on gender prejudice and discrimination

Islam: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Muslim teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Islam Muslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human life Muslim attitudes to abortion Muslim responses to arguments for life after death Muslim responses to arguments against life after death Muslim attitudes to euthanasia Muslim responses to issues in the natural world

Islam: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Muslim attitudes to justice Muslim attitudes to crime Muslim teaching on good, evil and suffering Muslim attitudes to punishment Muslim attitudes to the aims of punishment Muslim teaching on forgiveness Muslim teaching on the treatment of criminals Muslim attitudes to the death penalty

Islam: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Muslim attitudes to peace Muslims and peacemaking Muslim attitudes to conflict Muslim responses to pacifism Just war theory and Islam Holy war and Islam Muslim attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Muslim responses to violence, war and terrorism

Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Revelation as proof of the existence of Allah Visions and the existence of Allah Miracles and the existence of Allah Muslim attitudes to religious experience The design argument in Islam The cosmological argument and al-Ghazali's kalam Suffering and Allah as compassionate Muslim responses to the problem of suffering

Islam: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Muslim teaching on human rights Muslim attitudes to equality Muslim attitudes to religious freedom Muslim attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Muslim teaching on racial harmony Muslim responses to racial discrimination and Malcolm X Muslim attitudes to social justice Muslim attitudes to wealth and poverty

Buddhism: Buddhist BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The life of the Buddha Dhamma, dependent origination and the Three Marks of Existence The First Noble Truth: dukkha The Second Noble Truth: samudaya and the Three Poisons The Third Noble Truth: nirodha, samsara and nibbana The Fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path and the Threefold Way The Five Khandas, Buddha-nature and the Arahant and Bodhisattva ideals Buddhist ethics: kamma, merit, the Five Precepts and the Six Perfections

Buddhism: Living the Buddhist LifeAny paper

Topic overview Buddhist meditation: samatha, metta bhavana, vipassana and zazen Buddhist chanting Mantra recitation, mala beads and offerings Buddhist places of worship: temples, viharas and gompas Buddharupas and other objects of devotion Buddhist puja in the vihara and the home Buddhist death and mourning rituals Buddhist festivals and retreats

Buddhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Buddhism Buddhist teaching on sexual relationships The Buddhist family and its purpose How the Buddhist sangha supports families Buddhist attitudes to contraception Buddhist attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Buddhist family Buddhism, gender prejudice and discrimination

Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Buddhism Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Buddhist attitudes to abortion Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife Buddhist responses to arguments against life after death Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights

Buddhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Buddhist attitudes to justice Buddhist attitudes to crime and its causes Buddhist teaching on good, evil and suffering Buddhist attitudes to punishment Buddhism and the aims of punishment Buddhist teaching on forgiveness and restorative justice Buddhist teaching on the treatment of criminals Buddhist attitudes to the death penalty

Buddhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Buddhist attitudes to peace Buddhist peacemaking and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Buddhist attitudes to conflict and its causes Buddhist pacifism and passive resistance Buddhist responses to the Just War theory Buddhist attitudes to war Buddhist attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Engaged Buddhism and Buddhist responses to violence and terrorism

Buddhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the non-existence of a personal God The devas, the Realm of Gods and the Wheel of Life Enlightenment as a Buddhist religious experience Buddhist teaching on miracles Buddhist prayer and the Avalokitesvara mantra Buddhist teaching on visions Buddhist attitudes to religious experience A Buddhist upbringing

Buddhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on human rights Buddhist attitudes to equality and the Lotus Sutra Buddhist attitudes to religious freedom Buddhist attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Buddhist teaching on racial harmony Buddhist attitudes to racial discrimination and the Dalai Lama Buddhist attitudes to social justice Buddhist attitudes to wealth and poverty

Hinduism: Hindu BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The nature of Brahman in Hinduism Nirguna Brahman, Saguna Brahman and Vaikuntha Brahman, Antaryami and Bhagavan: three aspects of the divine Hindu deities: avatars, murti, Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti Atman, karma, samsara and moksha The Purusharthas, sanatana dharma and varnashrama dharma Hindu responses to suffering, knowledge and ignorance Hindu cosmology: yugas, prakriti, tri-guna and maya

Hinduism: Living the Hindu LifeAny paper

Topic overview Hindu yoga: karma, jnana, raja and bhakti Hindu focuses of worship and representations of the divine Hindu places of worship: temple, home and heart Hindu forms of worship in the temple and home Hindu sacred festivals Hindu pilgrimage: the Ganges, Varanasi and Vrindavana Hindu environmental projects and cow protection Hindu charity, dana and seva

Hinduism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The importance and purpose of Hindu marriage Hindu teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Hindu family and types of family How the Hindu community supports families Hindu attitudes to contraception and family planning Hindu attitudes to divorce and remarriage Hindu teachings on men and women in the family Hindu opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination

Hinduism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life Hindu attitudes to abortion Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Hindu attitudes to euthanasia Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights

Hinduism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Hindu attitudes to justice Hindu attitudes to crime and its causes Hindu teachings on good, evil and suffering Hindu attitudes to punishment: danda and prayascitta Hindu attitudes to the aims of punishment Hindu teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Hindu teachings on the treatment of criminals Hindu attitudes to the death penalty

Hinduism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Hindu attitudes to peace Hindus as peacemakers: ahimsa and Mahatma Gandhi Hindu attitudes to conflict in society Hindu attitudes to pacifism and satyagraha Hindu attitudes to the Just War theory Hindu attitudes to holy war and dharma yuddha Hindu attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Hindu responses to violence, war and terrorism

Hinduism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Revelation in Hindu scripture Hindu attitudes to visions Hindu attitudes to numinous experiences Hindu attitudes to miracles Hindu teaching about prayer and the Gayatri Mantra Hindu teachings on the non-existence of a personal God Hindu attitudes to religious experience as evidence for God Hindu attitudes to religious upbringing

Hinduism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Hindu teaching on human rights Hindu attitudes to equality and caste Hindu attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Hindu attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Hindu attitudes to racial harmony Hindu attitudes to racial discrimination Hindu attitudes to social justice Hindu attitudes to wealth and poverty

Judaism: Jewish BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The nature of the Almighty in Judaism Shekhinah, the divine presence The Messiah and the Messianic Age The covenant with Abraham The Covenant at Sinai and the Ten Commandments Jewish sanctity of life and Pikuach Nefesh The Mitzvot and moral principles Olam Ha-Ba, resurrection and judgement

Judaism: Living the Jewish LifeAny paper

Topic overview Jewish public worship and synagogue services The Tenakh, the Talmud and kashrut Jewish prayer three times a day and in the home The Shema, the Amidah and the mezuzah Jewish rituals of birth, coming of age, marriage and mourning Shabbat in the home and the synagogue Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot The design and objects of the synagogue

Judaism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Judaism Jewish teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Jewish family How the Jewish community supports families Jewish attitudes to contraception and family planning Jewish teachings on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Jewish family Judaism and gender prejudice

Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Judaism, science and the origins of the universe The value of life in the Tenakh Jewish responses to evolution Jewish attitudes to abortion Jewish arguments for life after death Jewish responses to arguments against life after death Jewish attitudes to euthanasia Judaism and the environment

Judaism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Jewish attitudes to justice Jewish attitudes to crime and its causes Jewish teachings on good, evil and suffering Jewish teachings on punishment The aims of punishment in Judaism Jewish teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Jewish teachings on the treatment of criminals Jewish attitudes to the death penalty

Judaism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Jewish teachings on peace Jewish peacemaking Jewish attitudes to conflict Judaism, pacifism and passive resistance Milchemet reshut and Just War in Judaism Milchemet mitzvah and Holy War in Judaism Jewish attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Judaism, violence, war and terrorism

Judaism: Religious ExperiencePaper 3

Topic overview Revelation in the Tenakh Visions in Judaism Miracles in Judaism Jewish attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Judaism The cosmological argument and Judaism Suffering and the nature of the Almighty Jewish responses to the problem of suffering

Judaism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Jewish teaching on human rights Jewish attitudes to equality and ahavat ha-beriot Religious freedom and the story of Esther Jewish attitudes to prejudice and antisemitism Jewish work for racial harmony Jewish attitudes to racial discrimination Jewish attitudes to social justice Jewish teaching on wealth and poverty

Sikhism: Sikh BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The nature of God in the Mool Mantar God as Creator (Karta Purakh)Human life as the chance to unite with God Sikh beliefs about karma, rebirth and mukti Gurmukh, manmukh and haumai The oneness of humanity in Sikhism Sewa: tan, man and dhan The sangat and Sat Sangat

Sikhism: Living the Sikh LifeAny paper

Topic overview Features of the gurdwara The role of the gurdwara and the Harmandir Sahib The history and purpose of langar Nam Japna: meditating on the name of God Sikh prayer in the home The akhand path Gurpurbs and Sikh commemorations Sikh birth, naming and Amrit ceremonies

Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Sikhism Sikh teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the Sikh family How the sangat supports Sikh families Sikh attitudes to contraception Sikh attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Sikh family Sikh opposition to gender prejudice

Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Sikh responses to the origins and value of the universe Sikh teaching on the sanctity of life Sikh responses to evolution Sikh attitudes to abortion Sikh responses to arguments for life after death Sikh responses to arguments against life after death Sikh attitudes to euthanasia Sikh responses to the natural world and animal rights

Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh attitudes to justice Sikh attitudes to crime and the Five Thieves Sikh teaching on good, evil and suffering Sikh attitudes to punishment Sikh views on the aims of punishment Sikh teaching on forgiveness Sikh teaching on the treatment of criminals Sikh attitudes to the death penalty

Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh teaching on peace Sikhs and peacemaking Sikh attitudes to conflict Sikh attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Dharam Yudh: the Sikh Just War The saint-soldier and Sikh views on holy war Sikh attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Sikh responses to violence, war and terrorism

Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Gurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the river Visions and mystical experiences in Sikhism Numinous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in Sikhism Miracles and Sikh belief Sikh attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Sikh belief The cosmological argument and Sikh belief A Sikh upbringing and belief in God

Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Christianity: Christian Beliefs

The problem of evil and suffering for Christians

3 things to know
Any of the three papers

Overview

Omnipotence and benevolence, Psalm 103 on God's nature and why it sharpens the problem, moral and natural evil, why the second is the harder challenge, and how suffering can shake or end belief.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is the problem of evil?

Key term

What does omnipotent mean?

Key term

What does benevolent mean?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the problem of evil?
Model answer
The problem of evil asks why a loving and all-powerful God allows evil and suffering. Evil seems to contradict God's nature.
2
What does omnipotent mean?
Model answer
Omnipotent means all-powerful. An omnipotent God could prevent all suffering.
3
What does benevolent mean?
Model answer
Benevolent means all-loving and wanting only good. A benevolent God would want to prevent suffering.
4
How does the existence of suffering raise questions about God's power and love?
Model answer
A God who is all-powerful and all-loving would seem to stop suffering. Suffering exists, so some conclude that God lacks power, lacks love or does not exist.
5
What does Psalm 103 teach about God's nature?
Model answer
Psalm 103 describes God as compassionate, gracious and slow to anger. The psalm says God forgives sins and heals diseases.
6
Why does Psalm 103 make the problem of suffering sharper for Christians?
Model answer
Psalm 103 presents God as loving and healing. Believers then face the question of why such a God allows people to suffer.

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AOmnipotent means all-powerful.

BBenevolent means all-loving and wholly good.

CEternal means existing without beginning or end.

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