Is the Problem of Evil Really About God — or About Us?

Why the Question of Suffering May Reveal More About Humanity Than Divinity

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We’ve all heard the question. If God exists and is good, why is there so much suffering in the world? It’s the classic “problem of evil” — a philosophical puzzle that has challenged theologians, atheists, and everyday thinkers for centuries. But what if the real problem isn’t evil… or even God?

What if the real issue lies in us?

Let me explain.

Pleasure and the Problem

From ancient philosophy to modern theology, pleasure and pain have been central to human experience. Pleasure, in particular, has become our compass — our hidden north star. We chase it in obvious and subtle ways: through food, love, beauty, status, safety, even through spirituality.

But here’s the catch: pleasure distorts perception.

The human tendency to seek pleasure — through our senses, our thoughts, our desires — shapes how we see everything, including how we see God. Our senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin), along with the mind as the internal organ of thought and feeling, are constantly seeking fulfilment. This conditioning isn’t neutral. It teaches us to equate “good” with “pleasant”…