• If you believe God(s) don’t exist what do you believe to be the causation of human suffering?

• If you believe God(s) exist what do you believe to be the cause of human suffering?

• Is it possible to believe God(s) exist without believing God(s) has anything to do with human suffering?

I personally don’t believe in the “god allows us to suffer so we can have faith” rhetoric. I don’t think we have any options other than to suffer.

From my humanist point of view I believe suffering is something amongst us that’s avoidable and unavoidable at the same time. We can’t avoid how other people’s decisions or natural forces around us will affect us. We can avoid making bad decisions but often we don’t know that the decision was bad until it’s too late. Often times whatever decision we make can cause suffering to ourselves or others.

From the religious perspective I think the role of god(s) is to aid us through the suffering that is going to happen. Maybe it’s to help us build character, maybe it’s to help us spread awareness, the list could go on and on depending on the scenarios.

Aside from my questions please feel free to share any other thoughts you have.