Dear Dr. Geraghty:

A writer asked:

Why is it pleasing to God for man to suffer? For example Jesus dying on the cross. Saints offering up their pain to God? Answer by Richard Geraghty on 04-08-2012: Dear Lee,

"God did not introduce pain and suffering into the world. The fallen angels and our first parents did by being disobedient to God. Christ came into the world to show that even the most terrible suffering is no reason not to obey and love God. When we follow Christ's example, we show that pain and suffering will not take us away from God."

I must disagree with this response. The angels and Adam and Eve were disobedient. God put the consequences in place. God could have chosen different consequences that had nothing to do with inflicting pain and suffering on Adam and Eve, and all their descendents who were guilty of nothing. God determined the nature of mankind, not mankind. God decreed in great detail how they will suffer, mankind did not do that.

The only indication that Eve knew what would happen when tempted by Satan was '...lest perhaps we die.' Since she had not yet eten of the tree of knowledge there is no reason to think she even understood what die meant.

Pain and suffering for all humanity (and animals for that matter) was God's choice. Adam and Eve chose one act of disobedience in virtual ignorance.

God stacked the deck against the entire animal kingdom.

Dear Kate,

It seems to me that you are neglecting to see that when a creature disobeys his Creator that the creature has to hurt himself. A child who disobeys his parents is going to come to harm because it is not ready to live and think on its own in the difficulties of life. All that looks good to a child is not good. All that looks good to a creature in rebellion is not good for him or anyone else.

Dr. Geraghty

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