Good Questions: The Unknown God, the Inspiration Behind the Bible, and Why God Creates Cancer

Relating to the Unknown God

Dear Dr. Tom: In the Book of Acts, the apostle Paul spoke of the unknown God. What is your personal relationship with God? Is there any evidence that God loves and supports everyone?—Kathleen, Beijing, China

Dear Kathleen: I could write a book in reply to your questions. A lot of people are comfortable with the religious tradition in which they are raised. Others explore different paths. Some are frankly disinterested in God, spirituality, meditation, and prayer. I used to think they were missing a huge slice of life, but as I grow older, I am thinking whatever works for you, well, that’s your path.

God or no god, organized religion or private quest, the question is whether you have found harmony with your world and with the people whom you encounter.

The evidence I have discovered about divine love in my life may not convince anyone else of the existence of God, but the unknown God St. Paul described to the Athenians in the Book of Acts is a known presence and power for me.

Is the Bible “Inspired” or “Inerrant”?

Dear Dr. Tom: Is the Bible “inspired” or “inerrant,” and what does that distinction mean?—N.C., online submission

Dear N.C.: People who say the Bible is “inerrant” usually mean the Judeo-Christian scripture contains no factual, ethical, historical, or scientific mistakes. Every verse is God’s word and therefore must be correct in all aspects.

However, the inerrancy position does not survive close scrutiny. For example, multiple passages make historical blunders, the ethics of a slaveholding culture are never challenged by prophets who speak in the Name of God, and the biblical cosmology is based upon a three-story universe (earth sandwiched beneath heaven in the clouds and Hades beneath). Also, there is no single text of the scripture that survived from antiquity. All the manuscripts contain variations on every page. So, which “Bible” is inerrant?

Mainstream Jewish and Christian scholarship today starts with the assumption that humans wrote the Bible. Many scholars believe the ancients were “inspired” by God, just like great artists are moved to express something greater than themselves. This allows for artistic freedom in the writers and historical drift in texts that continue to inspire millions today.

Why Did God Create Cancer?

Dear Grandpa: Why did God create cancer?—Dante, Tucson, Arizona

Dear Grandson: For a 10-year-old, you sure came up with a metaphysically deep question. (Normally, I’d tell you to ask your mom what “metaphysical” means, but you’ll probably google it.)

The question you’ve asked raises the ancient problem of theodicy. Almost all religions struggle with this one. Theodicy asks, “If God is good, why do bad things happen?” Your specific example, cancer, perfectly frames the issue.

Most people know about cancer, how it strikes young and old alike. A kid with a bald head due to chemotherapy has become a poster image of cancer in modern life. Sometimes, life can be hard. But you asked about God’s part in the tragedy of cancer. Here’s my reply.

God doesn’t send cancer or any disease to strike people. God has created a Universe where evolution operates by trial and error. Sometimes diseases emerge. Sometimes wildflowers.

The Universe follows scientific principles; it doesn’t work by magic. Life is learning, growing, and struggling to exist, just like you and me. Zillions of possibilities mean that both “good” and “bad” happen constantly.

If God kept intervening in the mechanism of life, chaos would result. Think about your lacrosse coach running onto the field and pushing the opposing players out of your way.

So, yeah. It isn’t fair when Aunt Mary Ann dies of a heart attack or somebody’s little brother gets cancer. But there are cures out there, waiting to be discovered by free-thinking, free-acting people. God is the creative energy to make this a better world.

I have no idea what marvels you will behold during your life. You’ll be 88 years old when the 22nd century rolls around. But I am certain God will be with you all the way.

This article appeared in Unity Magazine®.