Does Suffering Prove There is No God_ - Ralph Gilmore
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with Ralph Gilmore acknowledging the two main groups of skeptics who cite suffering as proof that God does not exist: those traumatized by personal loss or illness, and those who have been influenced by philosophical arguments. He recounted a personal anecdote about a Jewish man whose mother’s loss in the Holocaust had led him to reject the synagogue, illustrating how personal tragedy can fuel doubt. Gilmore then reviewed previous lessons on God’s omnipotence and human free moral agency, and moved to examine why suffering occurs. He argued that the only intrinsic evil is sin, defined as missing the mark (hamartano), which constantly interferes with a person’s relationship with God, unlike natural events such as earthquakes or heart attacks. Continuing, Gilmore used examples of illness and natural disasters to show that these are not evil in themselves but can become spiritually harmful when they lead people away from God. He emphasized that Christ died for sin—the ultimate evil—and that addressing sin restores the broken relationship with God. The class concluded with practical advice for helping those in pain, encouraging direct, compassionate action rooted in Scripture.