How does the atheist understand suffering and evil? What is the source or cause?
Lets insert christian instead of atheist for the discussion...
When the Norse raided Lindisfarne 793 AD the Jesus crowd took such calamity to be God's punishment for their transgressions.
Alcuin of York Northumbrian scholar to > Higbald Abbot of Lindisfarne;
“What assurance can the churches of Britain have, if Saint Cuthbert and so great a company of saints do not defend their own? Is this the beginning of the great suffering, or the outcome of the sins of those who live there? It has not happened by chance, but is the sign of some great guilt”
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When black death hit Europe the Jesus crowd in their vivid imagination traced the cause of their grief and suffering to Jews and massacred their communities.
Some also put it down to God's wrath so the church implemented forced repentence and promoted their saints like a wacky cult, thinking it would cause God to back off.
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Julius Caesar stated [in his war diary] that success or disaster on military campaign was in part the 'will of the gods'.. and part how well you managed your own affairs in the process.
-Bulletproof and Waterproof don't mean Idiotproof.
