As Ivan and Alyosha discuss suffering, Ivan raises deep questions of the injustice of God’s plan. The central question of their dialogue comes from Ivan: “if everyone must suffer, in order to buy eternal harmony with their suffering, pray tell me what have children got to do with it?” (244). In Ivan’s eyes, it is impossible to reconcile the love of a great God with the unrequited tears of the tortured little girl. However, I don’t think that Ivan has effectively proved the injustice of God’s plan.
Ivan asks why there is so much suffering in the world and if suffering comes from the decisions of humanity or from the very nature of humanity itself? After laying out several dreadful stories of torturing children, Ivan asserts that he understands there is some evil in the world due to the fact that adults “ate the apple” and are suffering the consequences of sin. Nevertheless, Ivan can’t get past the torture and suffering of children who have not made that choice between right and wrong.
Ivan’s conclusion is that if the purpose of suffering is to bring about harmony through some sort of redemption of the suffering, he doesn’t buy the ticket. “Is there in the whole world a being who could and would have the right to forgive? I don’t want harmony, for the love of mankind I don’t want it. I want to remain with unrequited suffering. I’d rather remain with my unrequited suffering and my unquenched indignation, even if I’m wrong. Besides, they have put too high a price on harmony; we can’t afford to pay so much for admission” (245).
In Jesus there is redemption for the little girl’s unredeemed tears, so there can be harmony. As Alyosha asserts, I believe in Jesus there is redemption of suffering. Jesus Christ is the one being who “could and would have the right to forgive.” He has built the “edifice of the human destiny” upon his own blood and sacrifice.
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Blog 01-23-08
As Ivan and Alyosha discuss suffering, Ivan raises deep questions of the injustice of God’s plan. The central question of their dialogue comes from Ivan: “if everyone must suffer, in order to buy eternal harmony with their suffering, pray tell me what have children got to do with it?” (244). In Ivan’s eyes, it is impossible to reconcile the love of a great God with the unrequited tears of the tortured little girl. However, I don’t think that Ivan has effectively proved the injustice of God’s plan.
Ivan asks why there is so much suffering in the world and if suffering comes from the decisions of humanity or from the very nature of humanity itself? After laying out several dreadful stories of torturing children, Ivan asserts that he understands there is some evil in the world due to the fact that adults “ate the apple” and are suffering the consequences of sin. Nevertheless, Ivan can’t get past the torture and suffering of children who have not made that choice between right and wrong.
Ivan’s conclusion is that if the purpose of suffering is to bring about harmony through some sort of redemption of the suffering, he doesn’t buy the ticket. “Is there in the whole world a being who could and would have the right to forgive? I don’t want harmony, for the love of mankind I don’t want it. I want to remain with unrequited suffering. I’d rather remain with my unrequited suffering and my unquenched indignation, even if I’m wrong. Besides, they have put too high a price on harmony; we can’t afford to pay so much for admission” (245).
In Jesus there is redemption for the little girl’s unredeemed tears, so there can be harmony. As Alyosha asserts, I believe in Jesus there is redemption of suffering. Jesus Christ is the one being who “could and would have the right to forgive.” He has built the “edifice of the human destiny” upon his own blood and sacrifice.
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