Five People Who Lost Faith In The Idea Of A Benevolent God

“Please tell me which of Your enemies shall today be deprived of their life, fame, and friends by me. I am Your faithful servant, so please do instruct me as to how I shall go about bringing this whole earth under Your control.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 23.40)

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ब्रवीहि कोऽद्यैव मया वियुज्यताम्
तवा सुहृत्प्राणयशस्सुहृज्जनैः
यथा तवेयं वसुधा वशे भवे
त्तथैव मां शाधि तवास्मि किङ्करः

bravīhi koʼdyaiva mayā viyujyatām
tavā suhṛtprāṇayaśassuhṛjjanaiḥ
yathā taveyaṃ vasudhā vaśe bhave
ttathaiva māṃ śādhi tavāsmi kiṅkaraḥ

1. He grew up in poverty

“You think that God is nice? Try telling that to people who grew up in public housing. There are no supermarkets nearby. There are no restaurants. The only business is that which takes place through the gangs. They rule the streets. The police won’t dare to show up in this neighborhood. Is that any place for a civilized human being to live? Tell me again about this God and how wonderful He is, because I sure don’t see it.”

2. Wife left him

“You think that God is nice? Tell me, then, why am I suffering so much? What did I do wrong? I was faithful. I was attentive. I did everything she asked of me. That apparently wasn’t good enough. She left, and this time for good. She will get at least half of everything that I earned. What was it all for? If there is a God, how could He allow such things to happen?”

3. Children disavowed him

“You think that God is nice? Do you have any idea the number of sleepless nights I endured when these kids were young? I am still trying to recover. I became addicted to uppers and downers. I needed the uppers to stay awake in order to work during the day. I needed the downers to be able to fall asleep on time at night. What did that sacrifice get me? These kids are so ungrateful. They are adults now. They have severed all ties with me, just because of a political disagreement. I regret all the love I offered them. What a waste!”

4. Knows only sadness and heartache

“You think that God is nice? If He is, why am I never happy? Why am I always sad and depressed? Why am I so bewildered as to how this world works? Why am I never confident of the path forward? If God is so wonderful, why isn’t He helping me? I think He exists, for sure, but He takes pleasure in torturing people. That can be the only explanation.”

5. Prayed to no avail

“You think that God is nice? Well, I believed in Him. I prayed to Him. I was faithful. I did everything right. The outcome still went against me. I lost. I am now alone. I will never get that association back. What was the use of the prayer? What use is there in believing, if there is no guarantee of getting what we ask for?”

…

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada argues that a basic hint, a simple reminder, is all that is required to change a person’s outlook on life. It would be like coming upon a poor person and informing them that their parents are nearby and have considerable means. There is no reason to lament, to fear, or to live without hope. Everything is already accounted for. Just turn in the proper direction. In the same way, the living beings have forgotten that they are set to inherit the entire universe, since the proprietor is their original father. He is the original seed that sets in motion the birth of everything that we can see.

सर्व-योनिषु कौन्तेय
मूर्तयः सम्भवन्ति याः
तासां ब्रह्म महद् योनिर्
अहं बीज-प्रदः पिता

sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ
tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir
ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā

“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 14.4)

If all we need to do is remember our link to God, how to respond to the complaints offered above? There is legitimate sadness. There is heartbreak. There is despair. There is anguish. These do not live in illusion. Perhaps they are manifest only temporarily, but the experience is real. How can people undergoing such distress ever think that God is kind, benevolent, or wishing well?

पुरुषः प्रकृति-स्थो हि
भुङ्क्ते प्रकृति-जान् गुणान्
कारणं गुण-सङ्गो ऽस्य
सद्-असद्-योनि-जन्मसु

puruṣaḥ prakṛti-stho hi
bhuṅkte prakṛti-jān guṇān
kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ‘sya
sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

“The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil amongst various species.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 13.22)

The scientific explanation is that the trouble automatically accompanies the modes of nature. As soon as there is association with the modes of nature, in dealing with the energy known as prakriti, there will be all kinds of problems. There is no permanent fix. The association itself has to be rooted out. This is one way to understand genuine spiritual life.

Lost in the analysis is the impact of choice. My mother prepares a wonderful meal for dinner. I decide to indulge, against better judgment. Everyone tells me to eat only as much as I need. I let go of self-restraint. I go for excess, only to experience the pain the next day. I am in so much trouble. I can try to blame my mother, for feeding me, but the negative consequence is actually my fault. I am suffering for something I did in the past.

Actually, the Supreme Lord carries a kindness that is difficult to believe. We know this from the adventures of the avatara, and of Shri Rama, in particular. Rama is so kind that others feel compelled to force their way into service. Sometimes, even when Rama politely declines an offer, the devotee is so insistent that they overcome the opposition.

There is the proposal for a coup by Lakshmana, who is one of Rama’s younger brothers. He makes a wonderful, heartfelt, and intense presentation, advocating for the choice of violence. Lakshmana does not want Rama to accept the order to leave the kingdom for fourteen years. That order is illegal, in Lakshmana’s eyes. It is adharma to give way to the petty demands of those who are driven by kama, which is lust. Lakshmana is a warrior by birth and by training. It is his occupational duty to protect others from injury. He will protect Rama all by himself. The only question that remains is which of the enemies will be taken down first.

Lakshmana is the most amazing person. He thinks that Rama is the best. Lakshmana follows out of a sense of duty but also because of the transcendental qualities in Rama. This means that God is indeed nice. Only God the person could have so wonderful a brother. Rama still manages to decline the offer, as there are other considerations to take into account. The gesture is never denied, and so in God a person can find the best friend who will never leave their association.

In Closing:

The best friend to believe,
Always service to receive.

Even if sometimes to decline,
Spirit of devotion to shine.

Lakshmana following through,
From affection and qualities too.

That Rama grateful and polite,
For Him ready to fight.