Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
*Does the existence of suffering make belief in God irrational?*
Alex O'Connor argues that suffering presents one of the strongest challenges to traditional theism, while also examining skeptical theism, free will, soul-making, heaven, and whether animal suffering poses the deepest problem of all.
0:00 The Problem of Suffering
2:54 Does Consciousness Change the Argument?
4:11 Skeptical Theism and God's Reasons
6:31 Can Suffering Build Character?
10:04 The Evil God Challenge
14:21 Why Animal Suffering Is Different
18:14 Does the Afterlife Solve the Problem?
22:18 Is a World Without Suffering Possible?
27:03 Does Suffering Really Count Against God?
Alex O'Connor, also known as CosmicSkeptic, is an English podcaster and YouTuber known for his long-form explorations of ethics, religion, and secularism. He hosts the _Within Reason_ podcast.
*Alex is going on tour in North America this November — get your tickets:* alexoconnor.com/p/tour
* YouTube: youtube.com/cosmicskeptic
* Instagram: instagram.com/cosmicskeptic
* Facebook: facebook.com/CosmicSkeptic
*More from Alex O'Connor on Closer To Truth:*
* Alex O'Connor | Closer To Truth: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfV4-HeDDzZw
* Understanding Consciousness playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pJKWEUWv9X56y_ut3xwFDv1
* Closer To Truth contributors: closertotruth.com/contributor/alex-oconnor
*Landscape of Consciousness website:* loc.closertotruth.com
*Every Theory of Consciousness* — Robert Lawrence Kuhn interviewed by Alex O'Connor: youtube.com/watch?v=xHeT466-hxY
*Subscribe to Closer To Truth:* youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV
*Join the Community:*
* Membership (5,000+ videos): closertotruth.com/register
* Audio Podcast: closertotruth.podbean.com
* Support the Show: closertotruth.com/donate
* Official Merchandise: bonfire.com/store/closertotruth
*Follow Us:*
* Facebook: facebook.com/CloserToTruthTV
* Instagram: instagram.com/closertotruth
* X: twitter.com/CloserToTruth
Closer To Truth, created and hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn, presents the world's greatest thinkers exploring humanity's deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence and sentience. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.
#CloserToTruth #Reality #AlexOConnor #ProblemOfEvil #God
*Does the existence of suffering make belief in God irrational?*
Alex O'Connor argues that suffering presents one of the strongest challenges to traditional theism, while also examining skeptical theism, free will, soul-making, heaven, and whether animal suffering poses the deepest problem of all.
0:00 The Problem of Suffering
2:54 Does Consciousness Change the Argument?
4:11 Skeptical Theism and God's Reasons
6:31 Can Suffering Build Character?
10:04 The Evil God Challenge
14:21 Why Animal Suffering Is Different
18:14 Does the Afterlife Solve the Problem?
22:18 Is a World Without Suffering Possible?
27:03 Does Suffering Really Count Against God?
Alex O'Connor, also known as CosmicSkeptic, is an English podcaster and YouTuber known for his long-form explorations of ethics, religion, and secularism. He hosts the _Within Reason_ podcast.
*Alex is going on tour in North America this November — get your tickets:* alexoconnor.com/p/tour
* YouTube: youtube.com/cosmicskeptic
* Instagram: instagram.com/cosmicskeptic
* Facebook: facebook.com/CosmicSkeptic
*More from Alex O'Connor on Closer To Truth:*
* Alex O'Connor | Closer To Truth: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfV4-HeDDzZw
* Understanding Consciousness playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pJKWEUWv9X56y_ut3xwFDv1
* Closer To Truth contributors: closertotruth.com/contributor/alex-oconnor
*Landscape of Consciousness website:* loc.closertotruth.com
*Every Theory of Consciousness* — Robert Lawrence Kuhn interviewed by Alex O'Connor: youtube.com/watch?v=xHeT466-hxY
*Subscribe to Closer To Truth:* youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV
*Join the Community:*
* Membership (5,000+ videos): closertotruth.com/register
* Audio Podcast: closertotruth.podbean.com
* Support the Show: closertotruth.com/donate
* Official Merchandise: bonfire.com/store/closertotruth
*Follow Us:*
* Facebook: facebook.com/CloserToTruthTV
* Instagram: instagram.com/closertotruth
* X: twitter.com/CloserToTruth
Closer To Truth, created and hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn, presents the world's greatest thinkers exploring humanity's deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence and sentience. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.
#CloserToTruth #Reality #AlexOConnor #ProblemOfEvil #God
