Are there philosophical explanations for why God would allow animals to suffer due to non-human causes?
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I just finished watching CosmicSkeptic's video titled [Christianity's Biggest Problem](https://youtu.be/5KDnnp0sDkI) , in which Alex O'Connor, the owner of the channel, presents the problem of animal suffering as the biggest objection to the belief in a loving God. In particular, he refers to the kind of animal suffering which cannot be attributed to a human cause, and therefore, cannot be "explained away" as the consequences of humans freely choosing to do evil against animals. The following are examples of non-human caused animal suffering:
- An animal agonizing for hours before dying because a tree unexpectedly fell and broke one of its legs.
- An animal burning alive due to a natural wildfire.
- Animals causing suffering to each other due to predator-prey dynamics.
- Animals suffering due to natural disasters in general.
Are there Christian philosophers who have attempted to reconcile the belief in a loving God with the existence of non-human caused animal suffering? What would be some examples of these attempts of reconciliation?
Asked by user50422
Mar 10, 2021, 02:47 AM
Last activity: Jul 13, 2024, 04:38 AM
Last activity: Jul 13, 2024, 04:38 AM