Reasonable Faith Podcast Question of the Week #940: What Should One Say to Darwin about Animal Suffering?
May 27, 2025
Delve into the philosophical dilemmas sparked by Darwin's observations of animal suffering. Explore the clash between the existence of a benevolent creator and nature's brutal realities. Reflect on how ecological balance plays a crucial role in understanding suffering. Analyze the varying perceptions of pain across species and the dangers of projecting human emotions onto animals. The discussion dives deep into the moral implications of suffering within evolutionary perspectives, leaving listeners to ponder our place in nature.
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Darwin's Natural Suffering Dilemma
- Charles Darwin was deeply disturbed by the cruelty in nature, such as ichneumonid wasps feeding inside living caterpillars.
- He expressed doubt that a benevolent God would design such suffering intentionally.
Evolution Explains Animal Suffering
- Evolution avoids attributing nature's cruelties directly to God's design, explaining animal suffering without negating God's benevolence.
- A world with a genuine evolutionary past is preferable to a magically created one with only an appearance of age.
Wolves Needed for Caribou Health
- Canadian officials reintroduced wolves to control overpopulated caribou herds, preventing starvation and overgrazing.
- This shows predators are necessary for the health and balance of ecosystems.
