Just like everything else that is genuinely true, there is a very simple answer to the issue of why evil/suffering exist if a merciful, loving God exists. This may be difficult for some of you to accept, but the plain truth of the matter is that evil/suffering exists because it MUST exist. The universe is one of dualities (things exist and can be perceived by our minds because of comparisons)- there is no such thing as warm if the concept of cool does not also co-exist, and there is no such thing as good if evil were not to exist. If everything were good you wouldn't call it good, and you certainly wouldn't appreciate it - you'd have no reason to! There would nothing to compare it to. If there were no evil/suffering, you could NOT appreciate/perceive good - it's that simple. And I have had enough with people (including priests and so-called Bible scholars) say things like "God doesn't do evil, man does." THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE, AND IT GOES AGAINST WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. LOOK THE FOLLOWING VERSE UP AND KNOW THE TRUTH. Evil / suffering is absolutely essential for God's plan, and in Isaiah Chapter 47 Verse 11 God clearly states that HE creates both good AND EVIL. Some versions of the good book say things like "God causes both the good and bad winds to blow" or whatever, but the point is the same. God does create evil because it is essential that he do so for his plans to become reality. Lastly, EVERYBODY thinks they have suffered more than everybody else because they themselves experienced it. TRUST ME - there is ALWAYS someone who has things worse than you. Suffering and enduring evil have a PURPOSE. Also, that whole "God only gives us what we can bear" thing, tell me, where does God say anything even REMOTELY like that in the Bible?

One more thing - this nonsense about how "no one can prove God...." Give me a break! There is ample scientific evidence which very strongly supports creation of the universe - do the research. Do you realize that all of these "facts" concerning macro and cosmic evolution are built on total ASSUMPTIONS which are NOT proven. Radiocarbon dating, for instance, is based on a pure ASSUMPTION which has NOT been scientifically proven! Also, macro and cosmic evolution go against previously established scientific laws such as the Law of Biogenesis and those of thermodynamics. The real kicker is when atheists try to convince us that the universe has always been, was not created and therefore needed no creator - um, hello, put the car in park, boy....why then do radioactive elements currently exist? These elements BREAK DOWN and form other entities after long enough periods of time - if the universe always existed there would be no such thing as uranium, for example, because it would be lead.

And if you guys think I know a lot about the Bible, just wait until I start giving y'all some of my insights on mercury! Things are about to get very exciting around here I assure you.

Signed,

Anonymous