With reference to John Guillaumier’s letter ‘Nature and God’ (December 22), let me add some more complainants against God: Job, many Old Testament inspired writers, an endless list of others, climaxing in Jesus on the cross crying: “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.”

This is because, as the correspondent repeats (the age-old mystery), ultimately it is God who is responsible for whatever happens. Most Christians have not changed this attitude, especially those with a strong faith.

Atheists do not have this problem. Anyway, they should not because some find themselves ranting against God in spite of their faith in atheism.

What does Jesus say by way of diluting the mystery? To my knowledge: nothing.

As a baby He would flee from Herod, as a man He would join Lazarus’s mourners, weep when foreseeing the fall of Jerusalem, be moved to pity when He meets the widow who lost her only son, implore His Father to remove the bitter chalice that He drinks to the dregs and then rises from death to eternal bliss.

Saying nothing, He joined us in the suffering that we may join Him in the resurrection. This is His ultimate answer.

Of course, He spent His life relieving suffering, even miraculously during His public life. He promises heaven (the glorious resurrection) only to those who relieved suffering (Mt 25;31ff). But He left heaven up there, never promising it down here. He did, however, promise the next best: His peace and His joy even in the worst of misfortunes and suffering.

Why believe in such a God? Because I find the mystery of good immeasurably more impressive than the mystery of evil and that the final victory is for the former.

For an excellent, history-based letter about not believing in God I refer the readers to Jacqueline Calleja’s ‘“Fools” in history” (December 20).

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