Lets assume there is a God of some sort....a powerful energy that holds great knowledge...all the knowledge ever accumulated over billions of years. So, an ever growing energy, like the ever growing universe. A God which is for ever expanding and creating. According the Bible we are created in God's image. We are God's children. So, that would make us the physical extension of that God (this non-physical energy). Making us powerful beings in our own right. According to the Bible we were also given free will; freedom of choice to use that power as we see fit. As we live life with all its contrast we continually make new choices, we grow, we create, we change, we invent, we learn, etc... We can only do that because of that contrast. Only that contrast makes us grow, makes us able to create new ideas, find new solutions, invent new things to help our lives being more meaningful, easier, happier, healthier, etc... Some people would call that contrast the Devil or Satan. Without darkness there can't be any light....How would you know the difference.... Maybe it was never God's intention to give us a paradise on earth, maybe we're suppose to figure it out for ourselves, so we can be part of the expansion, of that creation, of that God, of that knowledge that is forever growing. As parents we give our children responsibility over their own lives....Why would God be any different? We want our children to grow and learn, to explore, to be inspired by life itself. To put all the responsibility at the feet of the parent seems pretty unfair. We are all responsible for our own actions, our own choices. If those backfire, it's not the Devil at work and it's not God's job to make it all better again....it's our job to make new choices. Assuming that there is a God, I feel we were given all the tools we need to create new solutions for any problems we have to face. We can make lists of all the terrible things that are happening on this planet, but, although seldom done, we can also make lists of the great things that are happening, because they do, day in day out.... So instead of focussing on the problems we should always focus on the solutions. Embrace that contrast instead of blaming a God and seek out the best thing you can to deal with whatever life throws at you. We do not need a God to solve it for us. All we have to do is reach for the best within ourselves. Maybe that was meant by Jesus when he said that the Kingdom of God is within us...... Disclaimer: I have never read the Bible, so for those who are religious, don't come back to me with hundreds of Bible quotes.