Beheading of Nick Berg Begs Question: Why Suffering?

Mr. Berg's heartbroken family and many others are struggling to make sense of this unspeakable tragedy. Why did this gruesome event happen? Why is there so much suffering in the world?

CINCINNATI, OH (PRWEB) May 15, 2004---A video posted Tuesday, May 11 on an al Qaeda-linked Web site showed the beheading of Nick Berg, 26, of West Chester, Pennsylvania. In a statement read before cutting off Mr. Berg's head with a knife, five masked militants claimed they were killing the self-employed telecommunications engineer in revenge for abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison.

Mr. Berg's heartbroken family and many others are now struggling to make sense of this unspeakable tragedy. Why did this gruesome event happen? Beyond that, just why is there so much suffering and grief in the world? If there is a God, why does he allow human distress and anguish? Is he perhaps indifferent or powerless to do anything about it? Why isn't suffering imposed only on those who deserve it and why are innocent people, including helpless children, often the tragic victims?

Many people are justifiably bewildered and confused when facing these hard questions-especially when dealing with a family emergency or calamity. Just what are the answers? People deserve a satisfying and convincing explanation. To help provide answers, the United Church of God is now offering a compelling free booklet that examines and explains, from a biblical perspective, the underlying causes and cures of human suffering. It describes the reasons why so much pain, adversity and heartache afflict humanity today. This booklet is titled: Why Does God Allow Suffering?

A copy of this booklet, along with a subscription to The Good News magazine, is available free of charge at www.ucg.org/whysuffering or by writing to P.O. Box 541069, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45254-1069.

The world headquarters of the United Church of God is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The nondenominational Christian church has members and full-time ministers in more than 350 congregations in 46 countries around the globe. Its flagship publication, The Good News, has a current circulation of 413,000. The church also publishes a host of other booklets and publications, all free for the asking.

Press Contact:

Peter Eddington, Media & Communications Services

United Church of God, an International Association

P.O. Box 541069

Cincinnati, OH 45254-1069

(513) 576-9796 voice

(513) 576-9795 fax

www.ucg.org/whysuffering