[exmarine]

But this matter of God allowing suffering is a meaty issue, exmarine. How could God have let this happen, for instance?: "Dozens Dead..."

In order for suffering to have meaning, God must exist. If God doesn't exist, then suffering is merely part of the overall machine and is neither good nor bad nor profound, it just is.

Secondly, Jesus Christ suffered more excruciating pain than we will ever suffer, and He is God. Therefore, we do not go through anything that God Himself has not been through. And it is thru Jesus' suffering that we attain eternal life! If God himself suffered, how can I say that I should not?

[stuartcr]

Who says that suffering must have meaning? What is wrong with something being...just the way God made it?

[unspun]

I agree (but of course, "if God didn't exist," is an impossible subject). But did you enjoy the link (or I should say, "links")?