A question for Christians who accept evolution.

[Peter44]

@Peter44- I'm a Christian and I see no problemswith evolution. Since when have Christians ever seen, as a whole, the suffering of organisms as the means of enabling progress and survival to be a bad thing. The suffering of the self for the betterment of the whole is what Christianity teaches. It also promotes gaining in knowledge through suffering in many parables.

Two things on that:

1. Organisms include mankind causing suffering to those you love is not an act of love.
As mentioned most Christians who have had to adopt evolution as a reality either don't agree that it applies to mankind (which was the attitude of Wallace not Darwin) or ignore it. I think your ignoring it.

2. Choosing to suffer (a very Christian concept, but one that makes my feel very uneasy as its a bit masochistic) is one thing but being made to suffer is another.
The suffering of children for instance who are basically 'not up to it' because of physical deformity, disease, malnutrition, poor parenting etc. That sort of suffering is not acceptable under the umbrella of 'love'.
The world was and is full of suffering pain etc Not all of it by a long way the fault of man kind, natural disasters, climate change etc. These have been present and active through evolutionary time.
Its likely more humans died (and suffered doing it) throughthe climate changing over the last 300,000 years than live today, by many millions.
I chose 300,000 years as that was 'around the time' evidence points to the use of fire by humans.
Although it could be earlier. Its a really good indication of the basics of being human.

Choosing to live by iron age parables is not something we should be teaching children otherwise they become confused about the reality of today. What was acceptable then is to many of us not acceptable now. We know better. They didn't. I have explained why.

I don't think Jesus even suffered much through crucifiction it was in fact his choice. He was well prepared for it. It was also a very quick event by all accounts of crucifictions. Not to mention the administration of possible analgesics whilst on the cross. Of course the real pain behind such suffering is not the pain of the nails or the body being stretched etc. Its the knowledge that you are going to die. That is real suffering knowing your life is being ended. This is the truth of many accounts of those who have escaped execution and torture.

Jesus never ever had that pain ., He knew(thought) he was going to be OK. He would rise again. He would go to be with his father. etc etc. Because of that belief it was a non event.
The only knowledge you gain through real suffering is the knowledge not to put yourself through it again. Unless your a masochist.

But in the case of evolution we are not talking about suffering through choice .
Thats your problem.