The Problem of Pain Irony

The Problem of Pain Irony

Irony of God's Love

When many people think of God's love, they think of a benevolent cosmic butler who wants to make us happy out of a warm yet vague sense of emotional attachment. God's love, however, is nothing like this; being a deeper kind of love, it doesn't care about our present happiness, instead focusing on our eternal souls. If God is real, and his love is as powerful and all-consuming as Christians claim it is, then suffering would remain in this world, as suffering is the means by which transformation is achieved.

Irony of Human Moral Judgments

When debating the existence of God, a question that often comes up is whether God should have done something other than what he did. In posing this question, a person essentially makes a moral judgment against the actions of God. Lewis argues, however, that this concept is laughable; God's morality is so much greater and more comprehensive than ours that it makes ours look like a foolish child's drawing of a real object. Human moral judgments against God, therefore, are shown to be absurdities.

Irony of Omnipotence

Omnipotence is the quality of being all-powerful. Ironically, it does not mean that the agent can do everything: it does not include doing things that are nonsensical or contradictions in terms. For example, God could easily relocate Mt. Ranier to Kansas, but he could not make 2+2=5. This irony, however subtle, is important for understanding the concept of God's omnipotence.

Irony of Heaven

In Chapter X (Heaven), Lewis writes that Heaven is only available to you if you actively pursue it. However, Heaven is no place for a mercenary soul: if your only goal is to "get in" to Heaven, you will never be able to make it. This irony makes Heaven seem somewhat contradictory, but it actually illuminates a beautiful truth about God and Christianity: by putting yourself in the background of your life, you actually enable yourself to experience the utmost happiness for eternity.

Irony of Culpability

When considering the problem of pain in this world, many people blame God, saying that since he made creation in such a way, it's his fault that bad things keep happening to good people. Ironically, this accusation has no basis, and it is actually humanity's fault that creation has fallen; God made the world perfect, but sin (both of Lucifer and of Adam & Eve) corrupted it, resulting in pain and death for all its inhabitants. It isn't God's fault that bad things are happening; he does allow it, but he did not invent it, nor does he take pleasure in it.

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