In this episode, I tackle a tough but necessary question: Why do bad things happen to good people? I’ve wrestled with this question personally, especially after losing my son and witnessing deep suffering in people I love.
I explore what two early Church Fathers—St. Augustine and St. Gregory of Nyssa had to say about the nature of evil, suffering, and God’s role in allowing it. Their views on theodicy are profound, but they also raise questions for me. What if the purpose of suffering is soul refinement? And what if, unlike their one-lifetime view, we experience multiple lifetimes to reach that refinement?
This is a personal reflection on:
🔹The problem of evil through a personal and theological perspective
🔹 Saint Augustine and Saint Gregory’s views on suffering and spiritual growth
🔹 The role of Satan and whether evil is a force or simply the absence of good
🔹 Why I lean toward a multi-lifetime spiritual journey based on modern spiritual insights
This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying curious, asking the hard questions, and being open to perspectives that stretch our understanding. Whether you agree or not, I invite you into this conversation—because in the end, we’re all just trying to make sense of this human experience.
My podcasts target left-brained types like me, whose rigid view of life restricts us from considering things outside the tightly organized spiritual paradigm we either grew up with or built for ourselves.
Follow my podcasts to discuss serious topics like grief, human suffering, prayer, religion, and spiritual practices. I also cover things that I used to consider craziness or “woo-woo” such as: meditation, manifestation, spiritualism, spiritual awakening, reincarnation, past-life regression, the channeling of spirits and aliens (seriously…), soul groups, astrology, and even Chinese fortune cookies!
Mike
Website: https://mikenicholas.com
Email: mike@mikenicholas.com
YouTube Channel: @mikenicholas-unleashed
YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeNicholas-unleashed/podcasts
All Links: bit.ly/m/MikeNicholas-links
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