Suffering is a natural occurrence. Without it, we would not be able to appreciate goodness and happiness. Where does suffering come from? There is no concrete answer to this question. Those who believe in God say it comes from Him. They say that God is the giver of both suffering and goodness. What is unforgivable? Those who believe in God may answer this question by their beliefs. These are two key points in my reasons for rejecting any God.

If anyone has read Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, then you will probably remember the great debates between the brothers on religion. The nature of God and suffering is one of these. For a moment let us all accept that God exists. He punishes us for our sins by causing suffering. This is also the same man we pray to and put our lives into. Those of us who do not believe in God may say that suffering comes from natural occurrences. Cancer is caused by mutations and radioactive ions. The earthquake that killed hundreds was caused by a shift in the ground and nothing more. We are simply playing pieces in the game of life. We may also believe that some people deserve to suffer. People who murder and rape deserve to suffer. Do the innocent also deserve to suffer? Think back to Dostoevsky for a moment. A key question in the argument is: Why must children suffer? One of the brothers lists several examples of suffering children. We do not need a fictional novel to find these examples. Everyday innocent children and people in general must suffer for unknown reasons. A question then for those who believe God causes suffering: How can you morally accept a God who causes needless suffering? This is not a question to be justified by whatever is written in the Bible. To answer it you must look inside yourself and at your moral values.

The Bible condemns sinners. All forms of Christianity condemn sinners. Not all forms of Christianity forgive sinners in the same way. In some cases if one is truly repentant, they will be forgiven and may go to Heaven. If this is the case, any criminal can be forgiven. In other cases, some crimes (e.g. murder) are deemed unforgivable no matter what. Christianity condemns other religions. If this is the case, many good people would be sent to Hell for that reason if they were not repentant. However, Heaven may contain repentant criminals. Those who stand up for what they believe will not be repentant because their beliefs clash with those of God. They will be sent to Hell. Ask yourself then: Would you not stand up for what you believe?

All I can say for myself is that I do not like to consider myself an Atheist. I cannot prove their is no God, but if there is a God, then "I most respectfully return him the ticket" (The Brothers Karamazov).