God's Relation To The Evil In This World

During the month of Ramadan, many individuals naturally turn their thoughts to spiritual matters. Those who are uncertain about God and his attributes may ask: “If God is great and God is good, then why does He allow evil to exist?” The accusations of Ivan Karamazov, to his brother Aloysha, in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel are common.

I am surprised by the number of Turkish university students who have read Russian literary works such as Leo Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. The average American university student would not be familiar with these masterpieces. As explained on Wikipedia, “Dostoyevsky’s literary works explore human psychology in the context of the troubled political, social and spiritual atmosphere 19th-century Russia.” Since the Ottoman Empire and the early days of the Republic of Turkey experienced similar turmoil and domestic violence, Turks seem to have an understanding of the Russian mentality.

Here is a quote from Dostoevsky taken from “The Brothers Karamazov”:

“Tell me yourself. I challenge you -- answer. Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last, but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature -- the baby beating its breast with its fists, for instance -- and to found that edifice on its unavenged tears, would you consent to be the architect of these conditions?”

Both domestic violence and political turmoil continue to exist among us. Often people blame God, but interestingly enough, much of the violence in this part of the world is being blamed on the idea and practice of democracy where it is in its infant stage. İhsan Daği, in his piece “Who is ‘questioning democracy’?”(Aug. 18, 2014), writes that the Egyptian people are not suffering because of democracy, but due to an absence of democracy. He raises this question for other nations in the region.

Sadly, we observe in the news once again that violence has exploded between Gaza and Israel and in Iraq. It continues in Syria and is crossing over the borders into Lebanon and Jordon. We are faced with the reality of human suffering and evil. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to watch or to experience.

Ivan’s question is still frequently asked: Is massive suffering in this world, which affects so many helpless and innocent people, a fair price to be paid for the virtues that may be gained by the sufferers or others?

We may seek to find a pat answer to this question. In the chapter “God’s Relation to the Evil in this World” in my book, “Lord, Why?” I explore these ideas. Some purport that God has arranged the world so that suffering is never too great to be borne. Some argue that the promise of everlasting happiness in heaven is the reason for the problem of suffering in this life. Some seek a reason for the suffering they are experiencing, such as a sin that has brought God’s judgment on them. However, I wonder if you would agree with me that it may not be so black and white.

God gives mankind the free will to choose good or evil. Suffering and mortality can be weighed in balance when, out of the evil which has caused us grief and pain, we entrust our grief to God. These days on the news we observe an increasing elevation of violence as societies become more polarized and people vow to get revenge.

Where peace, reconciliation and tolerance do not exist, there will inevitably be pain and suffering. The evil and wrong in the world causes us grief and pain, which we can trust in God to help us bear. It provides us with opportunities to choose how to deal with it in our own lives. Because we have been given a free will, we can choose to reject or accept God’s help. Some readers may not agree with me, but I do not think God is the author or cause of the sin and evil and suffering we experience in the world. We humans are! Let’s not forget that man and woman made the choice in the Biblical story of Adam and Eve found in the Old Testament, Genesis 2:9 (New International version):

“And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground -- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for the food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey” 2005. Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com

CHARLOTTE MCPHERSON (Cihan/Today's Zaman)