Good God!!!

[naomi24]

I am currently watching someone, who has never harmed anyone, die a slow, distressing, and horrendously cruel death. How does that equate with a compassionate God?

[emmie]

it doesn't, where, what are you watching.

[naomi24]

Cancer of the oesophagus.

[emmie]

i am very sorry to hear that, is it someone you are close to. Cancer of any kind is horrible, i know from my o/h.

[naomi24]

Yes, it is someone close. I've watched others die from cancer - but this has to be the cruellest form of that bastard disease!

[tonyav]

Horrible disease cancer and like you naomi I have seen it parents at it's worse. And I must say that if I had any faith in God then I would question it.

[emmie]

i am aware how sensitive the subject is, not partner, husband, apologies if asking the wrong questions. If there was a God of any kind, why would they allow children to die before they have had a chance at life. It isn't the reason i don't believe in God, but it would be in the top 10.

[emmie]

cancer of the oesophagus is not curable from what i have read, ghastly whichever way you look at it.

[naomi24]

Em, it's cruel - really cruel.

[jackthehat]

Sorry to hear this, naomi.

It's at times like this that the usual religious platitudes of 'faith-testing', etc. and similar nonsense get trotted out. Small comfort, indeed, to anyone watching a loved one diminish daily. :o(

[naomi24]

I've already had some of that, Jack - but how any human being can in good conscience reconcile what I am witnessing with a compassionate God is simply beyond my comprehension.

[tonyav]

naomi, there is no God.

[naomi24]

Tony, well, I certainly don't believe that the God of Abraham is 'God', but my opinion isn't the issue.

[yogasun]

I agree naomi, I always ask the same question to friends of mine who have absolute faith. They say 'Well, it's tragic but I don't blame God' I always comment 'You thank him when someone recovers from an illness so he must be responsible when they don't'

[ummmm]

I'm sorry to hear this, Naomi :-(

[nailit]

I once read In God We Doubt by the broadcaster John Humphreys. In the book he talks about his astonishment when attending the funeral of a collegue who had died from cancer, the vicar talked about how God had to give cancer cells the same freedom that he had given man. John points out that cancer cells dont have a freedom because they dont have a choice.
Its this kind of desperate 'logic' that religionists have to turn to because they havnt got a satisfactory answer.

[Truthabounds]

Naomi
So sorry to hear of your distress. I can equate with that as I watched both my grandmother & my grandfather die of cancer. At that time there was no MacMillan homes or other places to go, they had to stay at home and there was no pain relief such as we have today.

However, being a person of faith I know I will see them both again free from any pain and suffering.

You say God brought this about, but actually it is not. If, as you say, you have studied the Bible, then you will know that it was Satan who brought pain, suffering and death into the world. God is only waiting until his time when he will bring an end to all pain etc. At the same time, for those who have died he has given us the resurrection hope.

[seadogg]

Nursed my mother for years and watched her shrivel and die horribly.
We are on our own kiddies!

[seadogg]

Truth abounds but your lot have the monopoly of it.
Enjoy!

[jackthehat]

<<.... it was Satan who brought pain, suffering and death into the world.>>

Why doesn't your omnipotent God use his awesome powers to counter-act the pain and suffering as he sees it unfold, instead of promising 'Jam tomorrow'?!

[LazyGun]

Very sorry to hear you have someone close to you going through such an experience Naomi. Thoughts are with you ,and most especially your friend.

As to your OP - it doesn't.Were there a creator at all, their handiwork is less than perfect to leave us open to such a hideous disease.Obviously not omniscient. Were the nonsense about Satan true, it would mean god is not omnipotent either, so hardly worth the bother of worshipping really.