Divine Frustrations: Exploring the Most Challenging Complaints about God

By Jason L. Moore

The Bible encourages believers to love God with all their hearts. Interestingly enough, there is no command to "like" God. Is the admonition to "like" God conspicuously absent due to its inherent difficulty?
If we are honest, we can safely affirm that there are unlikable realities about our world that critics allege reflect poorly on the perceived nature of God. However, there is a lack of awareness regarding alternative ways to understand such realities. Divine Frustrations is an attempt to bridge that gap by providing a balanced, engaging approach to revisiting the unpleasant aspects of God's dealings with humanity.
Drawing on decades of interactions with students, atheists, critics, inmates, and church members, as well as people from all walks of life, Moore offers reflections on both sides of the most common complaints leveled against God. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, your approach to various topics will be challenged. If you are open to considering alternatives to what you believe, as well as new insights into your own views, read on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Release date: Nov 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385202447

Jason L. Moore

Jason L. Moore is a visiting instructor in theology at Notre Dame College, as well as a lecturer in philosophy at Cuyahoga Community College. When not teaching, he also works as a mental health counselor.

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Introduction

One of the most meaningful compliments I ever received from a student came on the last day of class. Before she left, she came up to me, shook my hand, and thanked me for an enjoyable semester. Then, she shared that although she began the course as a skeptic, she was now considering a minor in theology. To my astonishment, she was apparently so moved by the course content that it piqued her interest to go even deeper. For this student, learning about religious answers to the ultimate questions of life was truly a worthwhile endeavor.

As noteworthy as her response to the course was, not every student concludes a theology or world religions course with the same appreciation. Indeed, some leave the course with a mixture of emotions, including angst, confusion, even anger. Why? Perhaps they have discovered things about the divine that they have not been previously taught within their religious communities. Maybe they encountered teachings, practices, or historical evidence that have challenged their faith, or lack thereof, in a new way. Still, others do not see the value of embracing any belief system, especially after learning about the controversial aspects of theological teachings. Students in these categories may finish the course without giving these spiritual insights a second thought.

Can we blame them? On the one hand, most modern religious teachings seek to offer the world a better path for daily living, sometimes with implications for eternity. Yet, the deeper one goes into learning about the various expressions of God, the more troubling some of the revelations might become. No doubt, there are many things to appreciate about the religions of the world. That said, modern belief systems are not without their examples of less-than-desirable teachings about the divine. In fact, the more people learn about the ways of God, the more likely it is that they will eventually discover something that they do not like about him.

That response is okay; even the most ardent believer should understand such a reaction. The opposite is also true; hardened nonbelievers who expand their theological education could potentially develop a greater appreciation for the perceived ways of God in the world.

These considerations should never lead to undermining the views of members from the other side. In other words, both believers and nonbelievers should come to appreciate the reasons for both faith and doubt, respectively. Unfortunately, this understanding is not always embraced, let alone valued. Sometimes, Christians are too hasty in criticizing those who are antagonistic to their faith. Take for example, an apologetics book entitled You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can’t Make Him Think: Answers to Questions from Angry Skeptics, written by Ray Comfort. Surely, Comfort may write from a place of love and desire to see nonbelievers become believers. Yet, a cursory reading of the title suggests that atheistic intelligence can be both rationally insulted and demeaned. Wording such as this is not likely to facilitate empathic communication with those who have genuine doubts about theistic beliefs.

Unbelievers can be guilty of using the same kind of belittling rhetoric. For instance, in his book The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins likens religion to a virus that infects a gullible child with nonsense.¹ Similar to Comfort’s critique of atheism, Dawkins is clearly not a fan of religious convictions. Indeed, most believers who read Dawkins’s book may respond to it with defensiveness and hostility. A more balanced approach is needed that allows for both sides to be neutrally represented. There is no need for insulting anyone’s intellectual capacity for either belief or the lack thereof. In the chapters that follow, such a balanced approach is pursued.

Going Forward

The first topic of reflection is centered on what can be called divine hiddenness. The question associated with this chapter is If God wants everyone to believe in and know the truth about him, why hasn’t he shown himself to the world? While this apparent hiddenness could easily be countered by a divine manifestation, for whatever reasons, it has not happened. As such, people wonder why something that could have a universal impact has been neglected throughout human history.

After a careful reflection on God’s hiddenness, we explore the doctrine of divine sovereignty and its relationship to vulnerable populations. In simple terms, sovereignty refers to God’s power to do whatever he wants; he is in control of everything. Yet, there are everyday human realities that would make life so much better if they were different. Some of these realities do not seem to have any known purposes or benefits. For these reasons, many people question whether God is in ultimate control, and if he is, what can we know about his plans for our lives.

Under consideration are various atrocities and misfortunes that befall seemingly innocent victims. This is not a section on the more general problem of evil and suffering, but rather a specific discussion on the occurrences of otherwise preventable tragedies. These events may devastate families, terrify communities, and leave lifelong trauma and its effects in the minds of those who remain to cope with their grief. All the while, people perceive God as sitting back and watching as these seemingly unnecessary, traumatic experiences unfold; an unlikable response indeed.

The Bible claims to be a divine revelation, informing the masses of both the will and nature of God. The text is regarded as unique, insightful, and demonstrably accurate. Yet, these adjectives are not convincing for some, particularly because of some of the Bible’s contents. In chapter three, we explore several examples of modern moral controversies based on passages from the Scriptures which are held in the highest esteem by billions of people the world over.

Another claim within the pages of the New Testament is that all those who believe in Jesus will receive the gift of eternal life. One aspect of this gift is a changed life, marked by an irrevocable, spiritual transformation. Despite this claim, it is common knowledge that many people who describe themselves as Christians do not exhibit lifestyles characterized by any evidence of transformation. How can we regard the ‘gift of eternal life’ with any meaning when God’s supposed representatives experience the exact same problems, sins, and struggles as the rest of the world? Perspectives on this question will be addressed in chapter four.

Related to the problem of divine inactivity is the concern over the lack of miraculous demonstrations occurring in response to prayers. Although many people who pray have claimed to experience the miraculous, documented, incontrovertible examples remain conspicuously absent. Certainly, the kinds of miracles reported in the Bible are not being repeated, despite their compelling nature if they were. For those who desire tangible evidence for religious faith, a lack of visible encounters of the divine can be discouraging, disappointing, and unlikable. Thus, God’s supposed ‘hands off’ approach is carefully considered in chapter five.

In both Old and New Testaments, humanity is regarded as the most precious component of God’s creation. The pinnacle of God’s creativity, people have a unique sense of rationality, even said to have been made in God’s image.² With an understanding of our status in the world, how can we reconcile this with concerning teachings and questionable practices pertaining to children, slaves, and women? Is reconciliation even possible, or must we simply accept several harsh realities with humble submission? These questions form the basis of the explorations in chapter six.

Not every religion contains unpleasant beliefs about what happens to some people in the afterlife, but some do. For those whose teachings are more palatable, venturing into the afterlife may simply allow for a second chance to return and do better; others view the afterlife as the long-awaited universal utopia. Yet, there are some belief systems affirming that divine justice will be enacted in the eternal state among those who resisted God’s will during their lifetime. For people in this category, the only thing they can anticipate is anguish; there will be neither hope nor mercy for them.

In modern thinking, it is understandable that a temporary offense would yield a temporary punishment. Yet, when we contemplate the notion of eternal suffering, this is deeply unsettling for many people. For them, it is an extremely unpleasant, divine quality to impose such a punishment on any member of God’s beloved creation. For that reason, this is the subject of chapter seven.

Further into the topic of the afterlife, there is the reality of death’s permanence. Even considering the belief in reincarnation, our natural human experience suggests that our physical existence is permanently fixed, never to return. Graveyards remain filled with the remains of our loved ones, albeit we may hope to be reunited with them. The fact is, we will never know the truth until we cross over. Why do we have to wait until the end to discover the truth? some critics wonder. This question, along with relevant insights on it, is considered in chapter eight.

The conclusion offers a message of hope for anyone who is interested in continuing in their reflections on the nature of God and his dealings with humanity. Exploring these challenging topics can be daunting, but it can also bring enlightenment, as well as insightful relief and renewed interest in spiritual considerations.

Each chapter has four components. First, I open with a discussion on why the topic in question is deemed a legitimate, divine complaint. This portion