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August 4th, 2012
10:00 PM ET
My Faith: The danger of asking God ‘Why me?'
(CNN)–When I was diagnosed with cancer, the question “Why me?” was a natural one. Later, when I survived but others with the same kind of cancer died, I also had to ask, “Why me?” Suffering and death seem random, senseless. The recent Aurora, Colorado, shootings — in which some people were spared and others lost — is the latest, vivid example of this, but there are plenty of others every day: from casualties in the Syria uprising to victims of accidents on American roads. Tsunamis, tornadoes, household accidents - the list is long. As a minister, I’ve spent countless hours with suffering people crying: “Why did God let this happen?” In general I hear four answers to this question. Each is wrong, or at least inadequate. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories The first answer is “I guess this proves there is no God.” The problem with this thinking is that the problem of senseless suffering does not go away if you abandon belief in God. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said that if there was no higher divine law, there would be no way to tell if any particular human law was unjust. Likewise, if there is no God, then why do we have a sense of outrage and horror when suffering and tragedy occur? The strong eat the weak, there is no meaning, so why not? Friedrich Nietzsche exemplified that idea. When the atheist Nietzsche heard that a natural disaster had destroyed Java in 1883, he wrote a friend: “Two-hundred-thousand wiped out at a stroke—how magnificent!” Because there is no God, Nietzsche said, all value judgments are arbitrary. All definitions of justice are just the results of your culture or temperament. My Take: This is where God was in Aurora As different as they were, King and Nietzsche agreed on this point. If there is no God or higher divine law then violence is perfectly natural. So abandoning belief in God doesn’t help with the problem of suffering at all. The second response to suffering is: “While there is a God, he’s not completely in control of everything. He couldn’t stop this.” But that kind of God doesn’t really fit our definition of “God.” So that thinking hardly helps us with reconciling God and suffering. The third answer to the worst kind of suffering – seemingly senseless death – is: “God saves some people and lets others die because he favors and rewards good people.” But the Bible forcefully rejects the idea that people who suffer more are worse people than those who are spared suffering. This was the self-righteous premise of Job’s friends in that great Old Testament book. They sat around Job, who was experiencing one sorrow after another, and said “The reason this is happening to you and not us is because we are living right and you are not.” At the end of the book, God expresses his fury at Job’s ”miserable comforters.” The world is too fallen and deeply broken to fall into neat patterns of good people having good lives and bad people having bad lives. The fourth answer to suffering in the face of an all-powerful God is that God knows what he’s doing, so be quiet and trust him. This is partly right, but inadequate. It is inadequate because it is cold and because the Bible gives us more with which to face the terrors of life. God did not create a world with death and evil in it. It is the result of humankind turning away from him. We were put into this world to live wholly for him, and when instead we began to live for ourselves everything in our created reality began to fall apart, physically, socially and spiritually. Everything became subject to decay. But God did not abandon us. Only Christianity of all the world’s major religions teaches that God came to Earth in Jesus Christ and became subject to suffering and death himself, dying on the cross to take the punishment our sins deserved, so that someday he can return to Earth to end all suffering without ending us. Do you see what this means? We don’t know the reason God allows evil and suffering to continue, or why it is so random, but now at least we know what the reason isn’t, what it can’t be. It can’t be that he doesn’t love us. It can’t be that he doesn’t care. He is so committed to our ultimate happiness that he was willing to plunge into the greatest depths of suffering himself. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Someone might say, “But that’s only half an answer to the question ‘Why?'” Yes, but it is the half that we need. If God actually explained all the reasons why he allows things to happen as they do, it would be too much for our finite brains. What we truly need is what little children need. They can’t understand most of what their parents allow and disallow for them. They need to know their parents love them and can be trusted. We need to know the same thing about God. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Timothy Keller. |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor’s note: Timothy Keller is senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York and author of The New York Times best-selling book "
what if: There is no such thing evil.
John Lennon said it very well in his song "Imagine".
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
John is not singing it now... He is hearing it echoing over and over, being tormented by his own words which he wrote. It's no picnic in that place of the damned where weeping and mourning never ceases! Old John knows now! HE would give all his fame and fortune to the last penny just to have a chance to repent and come to Christ for cleansing, and saving of his soul. What a waste!
No proof, Prism. Just nasty, malicious wishful thinking on your part.
PRISM, " He is hearing it echoing over and over, being tormented by his own words which he wrote"
Dollars to donuts that's where John of Patmos is too - for making up such HUGE lies.
@
tallulah
I've got my proof. But you and such as yourself are going to get what you ask for also....
BTW, no malice here!. Just straight , undiluted, sobering reality.... Have no reason to be malicious!
Christian Terminal Cancer Victim: Why me???????
Baby Jesus: Why not? Lol!
"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
-Issac Asimov
great quote, Rick.
Thanks, Bob. I love this country, but it's sad to see that it could be doing much better things than having telepathic conversations with no one. Other countries are working on things like the Higgs Boson and yet our country is focused on teaching creationism. I support the right to believe anything you want to. But be more useful is all I'm saying.
A famous author wrote a book about the human condition. It was called "Letters from the Earth". Read it and see how this person struggled with this very theme.
"In time, the Deity perceived that death was a mistake; a mistake, in that it was insufficient; insufficient, for the reason that while it was an admirable agent for the inflicting of misery upon the survivor, it allowed the dead person himself to escape from all further persecution in the blessed refuge of the grave. This was not satisfactory. A way must be conceived to pursue the dead beyond the tomb." Mark Twain, "Letters from Earth"
Awesome.
Question" Who looks better in a thong, Jesus or Harvey Keitel?
Keitel is hung like a horse. His co.ck would knock Jesus out.
Science is not the opposite of God, God created science.
evidence??
Lol! That's such a stupid statement, I don't even know where to begin.
You are here.
Debatable, at best. We have no proof of God, so I think it wrong to assume.
Science is the complete opposite of religion, though, and you can take that to the bank.
RIGHT! Your "god" created science, but let man figure it out all on his own, leaving countless men, women and children to suffer from disease for thousands of years...... until man could figure out ON HIS OWN how to do advanced calculus, determine that microbes exist and are the cause of various diseases, that radiation exists and is one of many causes for cancer, etc., etc., etc., etc.??? PLEASE!
If there is a God, he gave us rational minds which a few are trying to steal from us. Religion does that very well. Because religion does it so very well, religion has long been a captive of politics. The Texas Republican party, for example, has a plank in its platform which forbids the teaching of critical thinking skills in the schools. Does that surprise anyone?
Really ? Did science exist before man? Did the dinosaurs practice science ?
Humans created God, 2780 of them of which you are an Atheist regarding 2779
The danger of asking God ‘Why me?' is that you will never get an answer back, because there is no personal god there that cares about you, to answer. All these centuries with no clear responses to requests to god and no clear evidence of god ought to make you think about that. No "god" should expect us to believe under such circumstances.
Christians, show some guts for a change: Take responsibility for your own problems and get over your pathetic, cowardly delusions already. Stop expecting a sky fairy to fix things for you. Do it yourself. You and our country will be better for it.
It amazes me that Jesus-haters spend so much energy on blogs like this. Their hate only validates the bible and makes our faith stronger.
You do realize how desperate that sounds?
Ah yes, the persecuted christian.
yawn
Oh boy, in lieu of any actual evidence, Christians must use our "hate" as validation. Come on now.
No evidence of real substance validates any of the outlandish and down right laughable claims and stories of the bible. Its a book of fairy tale.
Ever notice that the only religions that tend to irk people are those that claim that all others who don't believe in their way are going to be PUNISHED FOREVER?
What Jesus haters? Do you mean people who look at the evidence and can easily see that Jesus, if he did indeed exist, was simply a man. Do you mean people who look for evidence for your god, but discover that there really isn't any? Do you mean people who refuse to believe in something for which there is no logical reason to believe?
I get that you call it hate because is serves to vilify those who don't believe what you do, but atheists don't hate Jesus. We simply don't believe in your concept of Jesus, god or faith.
Actually, GMJ, either you aren't being honest with yourself, or you haven't read the bible. Your bible is a prime source of hate. Consider hateful acts and demands purportedly from your god like these, from your Christian book of nasty AKA the bible:
Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.
Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”
Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.
Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.
And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.
So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
*There are NO Atheists so why even discuss the subject with people who are LIARS about who they are?
Everyone knows there is a God although some try to suppress the thought.
If they don't, they realize they will have to answer to their Creator and have NO Excuse.for their sin... Read Romans ONE.
Everyone knows there is a God although some try to suppress the thought.
If they don't, they realize they will have to answer to their Creator and have NO Excuse.for their sin... Read Romans 1..
Sanctus, everyone is born with no knowledge of any god.
Try again
God doesn't want you to perish. While you are still alive there is still a chance to repent and believe in Jesus and you will be saved.
word god is hinduism, corruption of Sanskrit word Goad, the belly, hindu's, ignorant s prayed to as their deity like a hindu hungry dog.
Can't say I share your disdain for Hindus. The devotees of Krishna can do some absolutely amazing things with chickpeas. Just delicious.
P|$$ off Muslim!
accdefghib
Hindu of hindu hinduism hindu hindu jew hinduism god jew hindu hinduism. blah blah blah.
Fu@$ god!
This is tha same old crap which is always fed to the lemmings by the narcissists who hold power over the masses. It is the final excuse for willful neglect by those in authority. Those in power always accuse the oppressed and repressed for their impoverished lives. Mr. Romney knows the game very well. Last week he accused the Palesintians for their plight. He truly believes that the problem of the Palestinians is their fault. He tells us that it is a "cultural" problem. Hey, a....hole, if God does exist, he is responsible. He created the crap, the narcissists and the enablers who keep eating their crap. It is his problem, in the same way that the Palestinians' problem is the oppression and repression in the Middle East. God, if he does exists, is more like an absent father and I accuse him (YOU) again, just as Job accused him (YOU). And you need a constant reminder. Do not forget it – YOU – GOD. Hope you are enoying the Meditarranean – Heaven, whever it is that you reside.
Man's futile attempts to justify the existence of his creator. Give it up already!
Prayer changes things .
Come on, justsayinHeavenSent, answer the question: does your Jesus wear a thong? It's totally on the thread.
Does your Jesus wear a thong?
Tina for the last time you are on the wrong thread, there is no heaven sent here, never has been, and I will not dignify your ignorance with a reply. God bless
Yeah, prayer changes a sane, rational human being into a person who needs to believe in fairy tales, because he can't face death, control his own destiny, and to relieve himself of questionable decisions he's made. "It was God's will" is easier than "I screwed up"
HeavenSent, answer up. Yes or no or you lack courage. Does your Jesus wear a thong?
look for cigarman it will be one of those with the oh sh it look on its face
Since there is no logical reason to believe in any god, much less the christian god, any supernatural suffering predicted for non-christians is simply wishful thinking on the part of believers. Not very nice people, are they?
No such thing as judgment day or the rapture. Both made up and never mentioned in the bible you tard.
Once the children are brainwashed it is very difficult to reprogram them.
Other living things are sacrificed as required.
Preying on children is sick.
Such important people, that they think a real god would even notice they exist, let alone value them personally. Humans have living cells, but they still cut their nails and hair without thinking about the losses.
tony, you do know that believing what you wrote makes you a sociopath.
No, he is simply pointing out your vanity and myopia.
Beth,
Not exactly. Nothing there evidences sociopathy. But, if you will tell me more about what you believe, and I assume that you will spew the same crap which today's "Christians" regurgitate, then it is more likley that I will conclude that you are deluded, You are not able to see the delusion because it was so widely poured into your head from the time that you were dropped into your society from your mother's womb. The crap poured into your head crowds out everything else. Your "belief" is entirely dependent, not upon objective reason, but upon where you were dropped.
"When I was diagnosed with cancer, the question 'Why me?' was a natural one."
And the answer could be provided by determining if you had a genetic predisposition to that type of cancer, or had been exposed to any carcinogens.
God only tests the righteous. You should have remembered that this world is the illusion and being with God is the reality.
You god is a evil narcissistic as.shole if you honestly believe that. Your fvcking delusional.
That makes no sense, Beth. This life is tangible. There is no proof to support the existence of your god. Therefore, it seems that you are trying to divorce yourself from reality. You should probably see a mental health professional.
Christians love to quote Nietsche, as though he is the epitome of all atheists, which he is not, because he makes a good straw man. There are many atheists who find meaning and value in life that have nothing to do with God. If most religious people were honest, they too would acknowledge that what they find valuable in life is not because God says its valuable, but because they experience it as valuable. In fact, if they were to find something valuable just because "God says so", that would make it a hollow sense of value indeed.
Let's see them take on Schopenhauer.
He allowed (perhaps "TOLD"?) someone to go into a Sikh temple this morning and begin killing them. Let's hear it for that loving God.
Yes, that WAS sarcastic, for those of you not bright enough to figure that out on your own.
It was kind of dumb too.
"Why me" and blaming God? Let me see, you don't pray every day. (definitely not 7 times a day) You don't glorify God. You don't follow His commandments. (do you love your neighbor as yourself?) What happened to the talents He has given to you. (It's all wasted or did you do something good, I mean good in God's eyes) You don't take care of your body which was gift from God as well. Why should He care? Oh wait, but He does care...maybe you should take this as a wake up call. Maybe you'll have a chance to be saved. Maybe there is an opportunity for repentance Or you can waste your time blaming God and others and perish. Do you believe the life after death? If you don't believe in God, you don't have life after death either, then you are hopeless. But there is a hope.... until you die. Try repenting seriously – fast, pray, and plead. If there is no God, well, you lost nothing anyway. Our life is only for a moment and if there is no God, it just is meaningless.
The fact that gods are not real means that every moment of your life has far more meaning. This is it, this is all you get, so stop wasting time praising a fictional character.
damo, scientists have figured out that atheists don't use their frontal lobe. Therefore, you are not working on all cylinders.
Isn't science great!
Here's a link to the entire article. Beth was simply cherry-picking, something that christians do a lot so they can pretend that lies of omission aren't really lies.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=is-there-a-difference-between-the-brain
This study might even suggest that junkies would have larger frontal lobes since that is an area associated with REWARD.
Hey, John, did you pray to your God to make me go away? I'm still here! I guess prayer doesn't work after all, does it? Either that or you didn't have enuf confidence in it to try. Either way:
*NOTHING FAILS LIKE PRAYER!*
Same here!
Just because you are not too tightly wrapped does not negate the experience of the rest of the world. Sorry about you two
Truth be told:
Isn't it rather a problem that you are too tightly wrapped? Rigid, that is. And, what is it about the experience of the rest of the world that you are saying? Complete your thought. Are you saying that the rest of the world lives in some eternal bliss, like you. Well, it is true that "ignorance is bliss".
The overwhelming majority recognize that there is a God. Bliss is your word not mine why don't you complete a thought?
truth be told:
If the majority of the world believes in some kind of god, then it is better proof of the existence of ignorance at a very large scale rather than the existence of god.
Post by 'truth be told' is an instance of the ad populum fallacy.
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/glossary.html
You wouldn't know a fallacy if one bit you on the ass