1/25: Section 9, Group 5, Suffering and the Problem of Evil

Why suffering? Zoroastrians and the Problem of Evil

Zarathustra was the founder of Zoroastrianism and worshipped Ahura Mazda, the creator of the universe. He also recognized lesser deities who were concerned with “particular aspects of nature” (pg 16). We get the “problem of evil” from Zoroastrianism: why does suffering and pain occur in the world if God is good and powerful? It would be easy to understand this problem if God was not good or omnipotent. Many struggle with this problem: “Even Jesus asked, ‘Why have you forsaken me?’” (pg 17).

The book of Job in the bible tells the story of a man who God allows to be tortured by Satan in order to “test” him (pg 17). Eventually, God allows Job to live happily again, but he denies that Job needs to understand why he was put through such pain and suffering. But here is the question that the book (and I’m sure everyone else) keeps coming back to: “Why should man suffer for no reason?” (pg 17). 

An answer to the problem of evil can be explained through another evil being like the Devil. Zarathustra explained that suffering came from two opposing forces, one all-good and one all-evil. But doesn’t it stand to reason that if the all-good force (God, or Ahura Mazda etc.) was more powerful than the all-evil force, there would be no suffering? And wouldn’t it mean that if there was a being as powerful as “God,” then there would no longer be just one God? So, we are still stuck. 

This also begs the question, “what is our personal responsibility in the face of these overwhelming cosmic powers?” (pg 18). Zoroastrianism answers this question with the response of free will. 


Group discussion: We talked about the concept of God's power and his knowledge, the possibility of an opposing force like the devil. Maybe suffering occurs because humans are fallible and imperfect. But then why would God create us that way? Does free will have to exist for there to be suffering? Does the fact that suffering exists mean we have free will?

We also thought about what the purpose of suffering might be, regardless of religion. Maybe suffering exists for there to be a balance in the universe (i.e. it must be possible for suffering to occur, suffering must occur for there to be a such thing as happiness and goodness). 

Factual Questions: What do Zoroastrians believe about lesser Deities? What were their role? Why do Zoroastrians believe that evil exists? 

Open Questions: Are these questions of Evil and suffering unique to Zoroatrianism? Why are these such universal and fundamental questions? Why can’t there be a resolution within a religion that seems to satisfy the question of why suffering exists? Can we talk about suffering without the religion frame of reference?