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Region: England, Wales and Northern Ireland

RE:QUEST

A space for resources to help RE teachers and their students explore the Christian faith
“A huge resource to treasure.”
Lat Blaylock, Editor, RE Today

We are delighted to share with you our library of resources. You can use the filter feature below to find topics most relevant to your curriculum.

Activity Idea: Suffering

Is God to blame?

In 2008, an American man, state senator Ernie Chambers, decided to sue God. He said God had threatened him and the people of Nebraska and had inflicted “widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants”.

A US judge threw out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant (God) has no address, legal papers cannot be served.

Ernie blamed God for all the suffering in the world. But is God to blame? If not, then who is?

Read more about the case here or watch an interview with him here.

Activity suggestion:
Use this article as the basis for a court case in the classroom, with half the class supporting the side of the plaintiff (Ernie Chambers) and the other half supporting the defendant (God).

Encourage each side to think through the following questions to help them plan arguments and counter-arguments.

  • What will be the arguments against God?
  • What might God say in return? How would he defend himself?
  Related media resources Why does a good God allow suffering? Find out how Christians respond to this big question.