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The Problem of Evil and Suffering

• The problem of evil and suffering: An introduction
• The problem of evil and suffering: Christian Responses
• Black theodicy: Evil and suffering in Black Theology
• The freewill defence (St. Augustine of Hippo)
• An Irenaean Theodicy (John Hick)
• Jehovah Witnesses on the problem of evil and suffering
• The 'crimes of nature' (John Stuart Mill on the problem of evil and suffering)
• Process theodicy (David Ray Griffin)
• A Protest Theodicy (John K Roth)

Philosophy of Religion

• Arguments for the Existence of God
• The Problem of Evil and Suffering
• Atheism and Agnosticism
• Immortality and Life after Death
• Miracles
• Religious Pluralism

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Jehovah Witnesses on the problem of evil and suffering (Part 2)

Information: This is Part 2 of an article looking at what Jehovah Witnesses believe and teach about the matter of evil and suffering. This information is based on a series of articles from the official Jehovah's Witness website. This article assumes the reader is familiar with the traditional analysis of the problem of evil and suffering in western philosophy. To read Part 1 of this article click here.

A new world order

As we have seen, Jehovah Witnesses believe that God permits suffering in order for people to learn that they cannot live happy and successful lives without God. However, it is unlikely (due to freewill) that everyone will eventually agree to being ruled by God. So in the end God will have to deal with these people (and also rebellious spirit creatures), in order for God to bring about a new world order where there is no more suffering (and evil) due to the mis-actions of rebellious creatures in it.

Jehovah Witnesses believe that God's final 'cleansing' of this present world from evil. will occur at the battle of Armageddon. This is said to be a cosmic war between the agents of good (followers of God) and agents of evil (followers of Satan), which will also bring about the end of this present age.

Jehovah Witnesses also believe that Jesus provided a glimpse into the sort of world God wants to bring about in the future, when he showed compassion to people, healed the sick, fed the hungry, welcomed social outcasts and raised the dead. They also take literally a prophesy in the Book of Revelation, which they believe speaks about this new world order of things:

'And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."' (Revelation 21:3-4)

Some issues

The view of God being suggested here is one who seems willing to 'stand by' tut-tutting, whilst people in the world suffer. In human terms, it seems akin to that of a parent standing by the side of a river yelling, "Well I told you not to go swimming without me!", whilst their children struggles in the water. Of course, their response would naturally be that God is entitled to 'step back' and watch us struggle, as we were the ones who chose to reject God (and not vice versa). God also has to leave us alone so that we realise what life is like without God's persistent interference, and also to allow us enough time to learn that trying to 'go it alone' was a big mistake on our part.

However, at what stage should God be 'stepping in' to say enough is enough. I mean, is any parent actually going to allow their child to drown, in order to teach them that they should have listened, should have done what they were told, and should not have tried to 'go it alone'. On a purely human level, such behaviour would be deemed morally reprehensible. Also, when we consider the number of people who have suffered and died throughout human history, is it not time for God to say enough is enough?

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Let's also consider the type of experience required, in order that a child might learn that they should do what their parent advises. For instance, does a child actually need to drown (or almost drown) to learn that it better for them to listen to their parents? Would not this same lesson be learnt if the child simply lost their favourite toy because they did not put it away (as their parents told them to), or if they fell off their bike because they did not take the advise of their parents to ride it using stabilisers? I mean, does it require the death of 6 million people during the Holocaust, thousands of people at the Word Trade Center on 11th September 2001, and thousands more in Iraq in the present day, for us to learn that we cannot (and should not) live without God?

In her book Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God, Marilyn McCord Adams argues that some people are put through such dreadful experiences (such as rape, torture, pedophilia and on a larger scale the Holocaust) that their character is irrevocably damaged and they cannot develop as a result. Her point is that the extremity of some evils in the world is not needed, and considers whether we can still have faith in God in light of these (seemingly) pointless and purposeless horrors.

Let's consider this from another point-of-view. Jehovah Witnesses believe the story of our disobedience in Genesis 2-3, literally occurred. They also believe that up to now, God has been letting us get on with living our lives in order to learn that it is better to be obedient, no matter how much suffering occurs as a result. However, let me ask you this; taking the story literally (as some do), do we honestly believe that Adam and Eve never once thought of the time they spent in the garden and wished that they had never done what they did, wished that they had listened to God and also wished that they could be forgiven and start again.

If it was God's intention to teach humanity a lesson, then all manner of human suffering could have been prevented the moment Adam and Eve admitted they were wrong, and realised that it would have been better to live according to God's decrees. Furthermore, seeing as it was only they who actively disobeyed God at that time, why should any one else have to suffer for their mistake?

The Jehovah Witnesses response to the problem of evil and suffering also has to address the same issues which plague the freewill defense and Irenaean theodicy. In particular, they have to explain why God gave us freewill in the first place, why this was capable of leading humanity to reject God, and also why everyone does not experience the same degree and type of suffering. They also need to explain why those who will never turn to God should suffer, and why they should be allowed to possibly contribute/cause the suffering of others.

The irony in the view being presented here is that it is believed that God gave us freewill because, '[God] knew that we would be happiest with freedom.' (The wonderful gift of freewill, www.watchtower.org [Bracket mine]), yet the fact of the matter is that we are said to actually be better off when we do not make our own decisions, but instead submit ourselves to God's way of doing things.

Finally, Jehovah Witnesses believe that in the end all things will be worked out, and that God will right all the wrongs (at the 'end time'). Of course, such an optimistic view of things will only really satisfy those who believe in this specific teaching, whereas for those who do not, this view of things offers little hope in the midst of trying times.

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