Why bad things happen to good people

I want to write an article today that I have trouble believing. Not because it’s hard to believe, but because I don’t like believing it. I guess that’s part of the trouble, there are things that we don’t want to be true, but truth exists despite our desires… sigh.

Anyway, the article is basically surrounding this statement: I know why bad things happen to good people.

I’ll bet several of you are going to guess that I’m going to say something like…

  • To develop them, strengthen them and grow them up
  • For the betterment of those around them
  • For some unseen reason known only to God

Actually, those are all pretty good theological/philosophical positions. My answer won’t be nearly that clever, or popular.

So, why do bad things happen to good people? Well, I don’t really think there are good people.

Told you that wouldn’t be a popular answer.

The anguish over the question of why bad things happen to good people is one of injustice. How can someone good suffer loss? How can pain be justified in a good person’s life? Where is the logic in bad things happening to someone who only does good?

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