Answers by Sarah Turner

a) Describe Christian teachings about the Devil.

Some Christians believe that the Devil is an angel gone bad. They believe that all the evil in the world is caused by the devil, for example when somebody is murdered, people say that the devil has possessed the murderer. Some Christian associate the Devil with hell, believing that if a person has been bad in life they will be sent to hell to suffer torture at the hands of the Devil. Some Christians think of the devil as an actual force in the shape of a person. They may think of him as possessing people or putting evil ideas into them. Other Christians think of the Devil as a personification of evil. Christians believe God gave us a choice about how we behave and the Devil is a force that pushes and pushes people until we fall.

b) Explain how Christians might respond to the idea that a loving God allows evil into the world.

One way Christians might respond to the idea that God allows evil in the world is explained by the concept of free will. Everyone has choices about how they behave. A good example of this is Adam and Eve and how they chose to eat the fruit that God had forbidden them from eating. By eating the Apple they disobeyed God and spoilt the perfection of the Garden of Eden. When people turn away from God and do bad things they sin; this is one way of letting evil into the world. In a way it is not God that allows evil into the world but rather people who bring evil in through disobedience. Sometimes Christians think of evil as a test to test their faith and love in God. Christians also believe that suffering gives people opportunities to set an example to others. Sometimes Christians can use suffering to make the world a better place.

c) 'Suffering is good for people'. Discuss.

I agree that suffering can bring out some good. Take Roy Castle for example. He played his trumpet in pubs and got smokers cancer, but he didn't smoke. He used his illness and the suffering it caused to make other people aware of the dangers of passive smoking. In this way good did came out of suffering. However it isn't always the case that good things come out of suffering. Earthquakes and other natural disasters caused lot of suffering and it is hard to see how that is good.