(March 11, 2016 at 6:48 pm)IATIA Wrote:(March 11, 2016 at 5:57 pm)Tiberius Wrote: Well my point was that without suffering, we have nothing to compare happiness with, so happiness would become a meaningless emotion.
I do not see that. One could be happy to hear the first words of their child or see the first steps. I cannot fathom where the non-existence of rape, murder and pillaging would affect that happiness.
Would it be the same kind of happiness though? I'm not necessarily saying happiness wouldn't exist, but without the opposite emotion to compare it to, its scope is reduced.
This relates back to something I said earlier. If God did prevent rape from happening in some way, this conversation would be "why doesn't God prevent murder", and if he prevented murder, it would be "why doesn't God prevent X, Y, Z", and at some point you'll be asking "why doesn't God prevent me from stubbing my toe?".
The reason suffering happens is due to the fall of mankind. The reason God does not prevent suffering is because it gives us perspective on what we have lost, and what we could hope to achieve in the afterlife.
