I am enrolled in a philosophy class this quarter at UCR. After a concentrated four year dose of Biology, Biochemistry, and Physics, it has been both extremely fun and challenging to take a step back and look at things through a much wider lens. The topic thus far has mainly been God. I have appreciated the professor’s way of handling the class. Though it is a public university (and Dr. Fischer has made it apparent that his views are basically not in favor of there being a God at all), he has taught the class in a way that has let us take our own point of view and will respect that. We have spent equal time looking at arguments on both sides of the spectrum.
Anyways, this week has mainly been on the problem of evil. The problem being: If there is an all perfect, omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent God how then could he allow create a world in which there is evil and suffering. We have discussed various arguments on both sides of this issue and it has been interesting just to think about this, not so much because I would doubt God’s existence but simply because I love to reflect on God’s character and think about who it is that we have given our lives to.
For some this type of thinking is of no interest. For example, I was so excited to tell Erin about some of the things we had been discussing and decided to read her a passage from the philosophy textbook that we are using. After about 20 minutes or so of reading it aloud her response was basically “Cool Ger but I lost you about 18 min ago”.
I digress. One of the ways of looking at it that I found very interesting was this: Maybe God allows suffering because of the virtues that it brings out in us. Virtues such as love, courage, compassion etc. Without suffering and trials there could be no courage, and without hardships and pain there could be no compassion. I had never thought of it that way before. As I was thinking about this I remembered a sermon that I heard a couple of weeks ago. (Erin and I attend Sandals Church in Riverside for their evening service at 7:00 pm). The message was from John 9. Here are verses 1-6:
“1As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.2“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
3“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.4We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.5But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.7He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!”
I appreciate so much the answer that Jesus gives! They ask Him why was the guy born blind, why do we suffer? We suffer so that the power of God can be seen! The suffering that we go through makes sense though a lens that is much wider than our own. I don’t pretend to understand how all the pieces fit together and I know that I never will. That is where faith comes in, and trust. God’s plan is so much larger than us and in many ways I find that to be very comforting.
These have been some of my thoughts.
-Gerrit
They got over 3 feet of snow! Hopefully Erin and I can scrounge up enough money for some lift tickets! 
