{"id":5406,"date":"2021-11-19T13:34:08","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T18:34:08","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-09-10T12:14:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:14:20","slug":"in-their-own-words-how-americans-explain-why-bad-things-happen","status":"publish","type":"feature","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/feature\/in-their-own-words-how-americans-explain-why-bad-things-happen\/","title":{"rendered":"In their own words, how Americans explain why bad things happen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3b5177cb wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links has-small-icon-size has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-b507c051 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=5406&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In their own words, how Americans explain why bad things happen&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? This question can be particularly confounding for those who believe in a good and all-powerful God, as is often described in the Abrahamic religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For centuries, philosophers and theologians have grappled with this \\u201cproblem of evil.\\u201d&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;facebook&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#2a2a2a\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook has-text-color-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=5406&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In their own words, how Americans explain why bad things happen&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? This question can be particularly confounding for those who believe in a good and all-powerful God, as is often described in the Abrahamic religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For centuries, philosophers and theologians have grappled with this \\u201cproblem of evil.\\u201d&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;twitter&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#2a2a2a\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-twitter has-text-color-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M22.23,5.924c-0.736,0.326-1.527,0.547-2.357,0.646c0.847-0.508,1.498-1.312,1.804-2.27 c-0.793,0.47-1.671,0.812-2.606,0.996C18.324,4.498,17.257,4,16.077,4c-2.266,0-4.103,1.837-4.103,4.103 c0,0.322,0.036,0.635,0.106,0.935C8.67,8.867,5.647,7.234,3.623,4.751C3.27,5.357,3.067,6.062,3.067,6.814 c0,1.424,0.724,2.679,1.825,3.415c-0.673-0.021-1.305-0.206-1.859-0.513c0,0.017,0,0.034,0,0.052c0,1.988,1.414,3.647,3.292,4.023 c-0.344,0.094-0.707,0.144-1.081,0.144c-0.264,0-0.521-0.026-0.772-0.074c0.522,1.63,2.038,2.816,3.833,2.85 c-1.404,1.1-3.174,1.756-5.096,1.756c-0.331,0-0.658-0.019-0.979-0.057c1.816,1.164,3.973,1.843,6.29,1.843 c7.547,0,11.675-6.252,11.675-11.675c0-0.178-0.004-0.355-0.012-0.531C20.985,7.47,21.68,6.747,22.23,5.924z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li data-wp-context=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/?p=5406&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In their own words, how Americans explain why bad things happen&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? This question can be particularly confounding for those who believe in a good and all-powerful God, as is often described in the Abrahamic religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For centuries, philosophers and theologians have grappled with this \\u201cproblem of evil.\\u201d&quot;,&quot;platform&quot;:&quot;linkedin&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/social-links\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" style=\"color:#2a2a2a\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin has-text-color-color wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-dynamic-wide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-036af449 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><h1 aria-level=\"1\" data-post-type=\"feature\" class=\"is-style-default wp-block-post-title has-h-1-font-size\">In their own words, how Americans explain why bad things happen<\/h1>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display is-layout-flex wp-container-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-7b1574cb wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display-is-layout-flex\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__bylines\"><span class=\"wp-block-prc-block-bylines-display__prefix\">By<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/benjamin-wormald\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Benjamin Wormald\">Benjamin Wormald<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/bill-webster\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Bill Webster\">Bill Webster<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/joshua-alvarado\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Joshua Alvarado\">Joshua Alvarado<\/a><span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__separator\">, <\/span><a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/becka-alper\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Becka A. Alper\">Becka A. Alper<\/a> <span class=\"prc-platform-staff-bylines__and-separator\">and<\/span> <a rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/staff\/justin-nortey\/\" aria-label=\"View author archive for Justin Nortey\">Justin Nortey<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full is-style-default\"><img data-dominant-color=\"9f8b79\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #9f8b79;\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_featured.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5643 not-transparent\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(PeopleImages\/GettyImages)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph\">A global pandemic that has killed millions and disrupted lives and livelihoods around the world. A changing climate that has been linked with powerful hurricanes and raging wildfires. And countless individuals coping with other struggles big and small, personal and societal. These events have brought renewed relevance to an age-old question: Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? This question can be particularly confounding for those who believe in a good and all-powerful God, as is often described in the Abrahamic religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For centuries, philosophers and theologians have grappled with this \u201cproblem of evil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide is-style-default\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e5eef2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e5eef2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_summary-2.png?resize=480,597 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_summary-2.png?resize=782,972 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_summary-2.png?resize=840,1044 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"522\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_summary-2.png?w=420\" alt=\"Many Americans say terrible experiences are just an inevitable part of life\" class=\"wp-image-5636 not-transparent\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, Pew Research Center has <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2021\/11\/23\/few-americans-blame-god-or-say-faith-has-been-shaken-amid-pandemic-other-tragedies\">asked everyday Americans for their thoughts<\/a>. The survey asked a nationally representative sample of 6,485 people: \u201cIn your own words, why do you think terrible things happen to people through no apparent fault of their own?\u201d In response, 5,280 offered written responses, short and long, simple and complex. We then sorted the responses into several categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among U.S. adults, 35% see suffering as random and nearly inescapable; many wrote that life (or another four-letter word) just \u201chappens.\u201d More than one-in-ten attributed human misfortune to God\u2019s will. Smaller shares touched on the themes of free will, sin and evil, Satan, fate, or people and social systems. Still others saw a silver lining to hardship, describing it as an opportunity for growth and perspective. And some responses addressed multiple themes. We\u2019ve compiled a small selection of these responses below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-prc-platform-feature-loader\" id=\"js-human-suffering\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? This question can be particularly confounding for those who believe in a good and all-powerful God, as is often described in the Abrahamic religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For centuries, philosophers and theologians have grappled with this \u201cproblem of evil.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5638,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"layout-essay-no-breadcrumbs","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","_feature_data_attachment_id":0,"_feature_rewrites":[],"_feature_embed_referenced_in":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0},"categories":[161,369],"bylines":[975,921,916,649,744],"datasets":[],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[460],"_fund_pool":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[],"class_list":["post-5406","feature","type-feature","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beliefs-practices","category-happiness-life-satisfaction","bylines-becka-alper","bylines-benjamin-wormald","bylines-bill-webster","bylines-joshua-alvarado","bylines-justin-nortey","formats-feature","regions-countries-united-states"],"label":false,"post_parent":0,"word_count":275,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/feature\/in-their-own-words-how-americans-explain-why-bad-things-happen\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":5638,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"chartArt":false},"A2":{"id":5638,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":5638,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":5638,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":5638,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"chartArt":false},"social":{"id":5638,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/PF_20.11.23_evilSuffering_interactive_featured.png?w=1200&h=628&crop=1","width":1200,"height":628,"chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"table_of_contents":[],"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"How Americans explain why bad things happen","description":"Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? 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