Suffering - an overarching view

To listen to any news programme is to be faced with the reality that many people are suffering. At no point in history have people not experienced suffering. How can the suffering of so many be reconciled with the concept that this world was created by a loving father?

We propose that the current suffering is the unavoidable consequence of this stage of the plan. We believe the overarching plan has the following stages:

Establishment of an environment suitable for mortal beings

Start of the age in which each species multiplies

Declaration and demonstration of the creator's character to humans

Development of those who are willing to follow Eternal Love

Creation of a new environment suitable for immortal beings

Progressive acceptance by humans of the true character of Eternal Love

Eventual establishment of a world where all sentient beings live an abundant life.

The different stages of this plan are described in more detail here. We are currently living in the fourth stage, which is part of the age of multiplication. In this age it is essential that humans have the desires to procreate, protect and prosper. Without these desires the human race would become extinct.

While being essential, these desires are easily distorted if not properly constrained. The desire to procreate can lead to sexual abuse and rape. The desire to protect can lead to disputes, fighting and ultimately wars. The desire to prosper can lead to the abuse and even enslavement of others. A good deal of the suffering experienced in the world today can be understood as resulting from the distortion of the essential desires needed to ensure the human race multiplies.

Some suffering is caused by sickness and genetic defects. This is also unavoidable in this age. The eventual aim of God is to establish a great multitude of sentient beings that are in a good relationship with him and their neighbours. If everyone had similar personalities, the society they would create would be boring. An element of random change is essential to create a society composed of many different types of people. These changes could not be directly influenced by Eternal Love, otherwise the range of characters produced would be restricted and lack the diversity created by random multiplication.

Thus the current world has been deliberately created to include an element of randomness when new beings are formed. This process also allows viruses and bacteria to mutate, which is the cause of much of the sickness in the world. It is also the reason for the genetic defects and other ailments experienced by many at this time.

Eternal Love has designed our bodies to fight sickness and to heal from injury, but this cannot be guaranteed while we are in our mortal bodies. Our mortality is essential at the current time to ensure that the world does not become over populated. Overpopulation would reduce the desire to procreate and constrain the process of multiplication.

Any system created in a physical environment is limited by design constraints. For example, it is not possible to design a water cycle without the possibility of flooding. Whilst the Earth's environment is very good, some of the design compromises have caused much suffering, and this problem is exacerbated when humans interfere with the balance of nature.

Within the overall plan every sentient being created on this earth will be resurrected, healed and reconciled on the new earth. We are experiencing the birth pains of the eventual society that awaits everyone. While currently unpleasant for many (even most), the pain and suffering will be forgotten when we come to enjoy the abundant life promised to all.