Contemporary and Historical Examples:
Holocaust – 6 million Jews – See Moltmann (Peter Vardy reading on this and other
reading)
Rwanda - The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi,[2]
was a genocidal mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority
government. An estimated 500,000–1,000,000 Rwandans were killed during the 100-
day period from April 7 to mid-July 1994,[1] constituting as many as 70% of the Tutsi
population.
Syrian Conflict – chemical weapons used on innocent civilians and children -Syrian
opposition activists, rescue workers and medics say more than 40 people were killed
on 7 April in a suspected chemical attack on Douma – see link in this document:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43697084
Dostoevsky – The Brothers Karamazov and Camus in the Plague, Myth of Sisyphus,
etc.
An earthquake in Nepal in April 2015 killed almost 9,000 people and injured another
20,000
White supremacist Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people at two different mosques in New
Zealand in March 2019.
Counterclaim – many Christian thinkers point to the life of Jesus as a clear reason
why evil and suffering are not necessarily a problem for belief in God for out of
Jesus’s apparent defeat in crucifixion, the penalty of sin which is death was defeated,
making good the rescue plan of “crushing the serpents head.” The Apostle Paul also
affirms the benefit of suffering: Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has
poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” This is
also found in the Book of Job who testifies to the belief that God is worthy of honour
and praise.
Counterclaim – despite nearly 200 years of intense persecution of the Early Christian
Church – the gospel spread and the church grew. The historian Tertullian comments:
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. This is the case also today for
the Persecuted Churches across the world in places such as Saudi Arabia, China,
Yemen, etc. Even under communism (a period of enforced cultural atheism) the
church grew.
, With reference to OAHE consider the problem of evil and suffering and its
impact:
Introduction: Recognise the reality of evil and suffering by citing examples with impacts.
E.G
Hopelessness: mental ill health- depression and suicide
Secularism provides no answers – no cure, seek self-help or a medical fix
Breakdown and marring of relationships
Dictatorship in North Korea
Syrian Refugee Crisis
Impact of natural disasters
Historical Paedophilia
Domestic Violence and alcoholism
Moltmann recognised that there is no easy answer: “Philosophers and theologians
must fall silent.”
Dostoevsky – experience of unconditional love, healing despite the pain, empathy
and sympathy
Brokenness in a fallen world – rescue plan of God experienced by Christ
Holocaust – 6 million Jews – See Moltmann (Peter Vardy reading on this and other
reading)
Rwanda - The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi,[2]
was a genocidal mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority
government. An estimated 500,000–1,000,000 Rwandans were killed during the 100-
day period from April 7 to mid-July 1994,[1] constituting as many as 70% of the Tutsi
population.
Syrian Conflict – chemical weapons used on innocent civilians and children -Syrian
opposition activists, rescue workers and medics say more than 40 people were killed
on 7 April in a suspected chemical attack on Douma – see link in this document:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43697084
Dostoevsky – The Brothers Karamazov and Camus in the Plague, Myth of Sisyphus,
etc.
An earthquake in Nepal in April 2015 killed almost 9,000 people and injured another
20,000
White supremacist Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people at two different mosques in New
Zealand in March 2019.
Counterclaim – many Christian thinkers point to the life of Jesus as a clear reason
why evil and suffering are not necessarily a problem for belief in God for out of
Jesus’s apparent defeat in crucifixion, the penalty of sin which is death was defeated,
making good the rescue plan of “crushing the serpents head.” The Apostle Paul also
affirms the benefit of suffering: Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has
poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” This is
also found in the Book of Job who testifies to the belief that God is worthy of honour
and praise.
Counterclaim – despite nearly 200 years of intense persecution of the Early Christian
Church – the gospel spread and the church grew. The historian Tertullian comments:
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. This is the case also today for
the Persecuted Churches across the world in places such as Saudi Arabia, China,
Yemen, etc. Even under communism (a period of enforced cultural atheism) the
church grew.
, With reference to OAHE consider the problem of evil and suffering and its
impact:
Introduction: Recognise the reality of evil and suffering by citing examples with impacts.
E.G
Hopelessness: mental ill health- depression and suicide
Secularism provides no answers – no cure, seek self-help or a medical fix
Breakdown and marring of relationships
Dictatorship in North Korea
Syrian Refugee Crisis
Impact of natural disasters
Historical Paedophilia
Domestic Violence and alcoholism
Moltmann recognised that there is no easy answer: “Philosophers and theologians
must fall silent.”
Dostoevsky – experience of unconditional love, healing despite the pain, empathy
and sympathy
Brokenness in a fallen world – rescue plan of God experienced by Christ
