Examine the problem of suffering and the key characteristics of one or more solutions

According to Hume , the problem of suffering is viewed as the “rock of Atheism” and poses questions to Theists on the characteristics of God and even His existence. Aquinas in his book Summa Theological postulated there are two problems which question the existence of God, one of which is the problem of evil and suffering. Aquinas states “ if God existed there would be no evil discoverable, yet there is evil in the world so God doesn’t exist”, this was later rejected by Aquinas. Moreover, Saint Augustine also asserted in his book Confessions : “either God cannot abolish evil or he won't ; if He cannot then he is not all powerful, if we will not then he is not all loving”. Antony Flew also contributed stating the existence of suffering is the biggest challenge to a believer, suffering faced by monotheists questions the rational justification of God’s right to allow suffering to continue despite his ability to stop it. Thus, demonstrating that the problem of suffering raises doubt in Theists as God’s attributes are questioned with the presence of suffering such as murder and rape occur on a day to day basis.

The problem of suffering is summarised in J.L Mackie’s Inconsistent Triad where he suggests the existence of suffering in the world does not correlate to God’s characteristics of omnibenevolence and omnipotence. Mackie articulates if God was omnipotent, He could do anything logically possible and therefore abolish suffer, additionally if God was omnibenevolent He wouldn’t let his creation in pain  and therefore abolish evil. As both moral and naturals evils occur throughout the world such as tornadoes and gang rape, this indicates that God could not possibility attain such characteristics with so much suffering occurring. In his book , Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion David Hume there is three possibilities to the problem of suffering , summarising the triad, either : God is not omnipotent, God is not omnibenevolent or God doesn’t exist.