It is not difficult to understand why Mr John Guillaumier (The Sunday Times, February 6) feels such anguish when he seems so much seemingly pointless suffering. Jesus Christ had the same dilemma in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26: 36-42) and on the cross (Matthew 27: 46). Is it at all possible to unravel an age-old question in a few lines?
Great philosophers have also tried to answer a seemingly innocent question - why does the human race have to bear such suffering? Can one believe in an omnipresent, omnipotent God who has the power to resolve all of mankind's problems but seemingly being so "unwilling to intervene"?
The same question must have been asked millions of times. But where does one start to look for answers?
In my humble opinion both science and Christian faith point in the same general direction, i.e. the existence of a supremely powerful Being who was responsible for Creation. In the Christian faith the Bible clearly indicates the existence of an all-powerful Creator. In science, there is the underlying order which reaches across the infinite Universe.
The laws of nature are 'obeyed' with mathematical precision to the extent that eclipses can be accurately predicted years in advance. Spectra reveal that distant galaxies and quasars are made of practically the same stuff found here on Earth. Modern science believes that all matter and energy were created in a colossal Big Bang.
Modern science cannot however explain where all that matter and energy came from in the first place. Neither can it explain why the laws of physics are so universally applicable. Albert Einstein, one of the greatest geniuses of all time, was quoted as saying that "the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible" and that "God is subtle but not malicious".
Other great scientists such as Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, and Descartes were recorded as being very religious as well as highly competent in their scientific endeavours. Some modern writers try to introduce the concept of the blind "Watchmaker". At least there is an acknowledgement of a "Watchmaker". But how can a blind watchmaker implement the intricate design of a watch? This merits more than a cursory explanation.
Would anybody in the right senses be believed when stating that a computer materialised out of statistical probability without the need for intelligent intervention? Everybody agrees that a computer requires a human agent to come into existence. Somehow, the same concept sometimes fails to be applied to the vastly more complex universe.
So is the Universe all a statistical coincidence? One scientist posited a dilemma. Shaking a box containing 17 marbles, how many trials would it take to get them perfectly aligned exactly in the shape of a cross around a central marble with all marbles equidistant from each other? Any guesses? But then, the vastly complex DNA molecule is assumed by some to have evolved out of pure statistical probability!
If one does not believe in the Holy Scriptures, the concept of a merciful Omnipotent Creator is more difficult to come to terms with. Matthew's Gospel clearly refers to the meaning of suffering and how suffering brings man closer to God (5, 24:1-14, 25:31-46). There is also the question of faith as highlighted in John 20:24-29.
But then, I ask, don't we mortal human beings apply the same concepts? When we were young, we often wondered why our parents put us through the misery of studying for exams when we should spend our childhood enjoying ourselves. We also experience the pain of the hypodermic needle which our parents "force" us to bear for no clearly evident reason. Do our parents love to see us hurt? Or to stand passive when the needle is inserted into our tender flesh?
When we grow up we do realise that the suffering was all for a good cause. It is difficult to appreciate when we are immature and "suffering", but when we grow up we all realise the wisdom of our parents and that it was all for our good. Who knows? I strongly suspect that the spiritual analogy applies.