A Response to the Problem of Animal Suffering
Introduction
The problem of animal suffering, an extension of the problem of evil, has been named by some as ‘Christianity's biggest problem’. I sincerely emphasise with the person holding this objection, and it is one in which logic and exegesis only goes so far to resolve. The aim of this article is not to outright put this issue to silence in the mind of the critic, it is to convey where animal suffering fits into the biblical story of redemptive history, and why it makes sense given the truth of the fallen creation.
Objection framing
If God is real, and he is all loving and all good, then why do animals suffer? It is often particularly queried, why do animals suffer all alone, in the middle of the wilderness, when no one is there to even observe it? Commentators argue that this animal suffering is pointless, achieves no moral purpose, and therefore an all loving, all powerful God can not exist, as he would have prevented this.
Effectively, this objection targets the Christian doctrine of divine goodness.
This issue is an extension of the famous problem of evil. Answers that aim to reconcile the problem of evil are known as theodicies.
Quotes of Historical and Public Figures
Public intellectual Alex O’Connor previously released a video titled “Christianity’s biggest problem”, where he makes the claim that the sheer scale and character of animal suffering leads him to conclude that an all-loving God is unlikely to exist. He has referenced this objection in future videos as well. [^1]
Alex also has stated he believes this to be a bigger issue for Christians, than fine tuning is for atheists. It is a roadblock that to him makes Christianity untenable. Popular Christian defendant Gavin Ortlund has released a video outlining the dialogue and comparison between these issues and provides a great treatment. [^2]
Additionally, Charles Darwin, in a famous letter of his, wrote: “I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of caterpillars.”[^3]
Response
I would put forward that this objection is tackled at the very beginning of the bible, and handled over the course of redemptive history.
An overarching theme of the bible can be described as ‘The garden of eden lost, the garden of eden restored’ (Genesis 3:23-24, Revelation 22:1-3).
God did not create a world in which animals suffered (Genesis 1:30).
Traditionally, Christians have held that death and suffering did not exist before the fall.
However even those who hold to theistic evolution, still simultaneously understand death as being a result of Sin. To clarify, even if some form of death existed before the fall, which some Christians hold to, they still believe death is a result of the fall.
Theistic evolutionists might argue that in the same way Christ’s death can be applied to propitiate Abraham before him, so can Adam’s sin can be applied to the creation before him.
Regardless of how you interpret the creation story, the entire biblical corpus teaches that death and suffering are a result of Sin. “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin.” (Romans 5:12)
In other words, God’s purpose and mission in history is to glorify himself by solving this very issue. God is working through history to end death and suffering forever.
The bible explicitly teaches that God is not pleased with the world as it exists now. God agrees with your objection to animal suffering. This is a temporary problem.
Objectors may respond “Well why did God allow the fall then?”. This is the only way this objection becomes interesting. To give an answer to this next question, would require delving into the inner workings of free will and God’s sovereignty, and his eternal plan to glorify his Son. That is a subject for another time.
My biggest gripe with this objection is that it is framed not as “The biggest objection to God”, it is aimed directly at Christianity, even though the bible has a clear explanation for it. Even if someone doesn't accept the biblical answer, and is philosophically stuck on this issue, it is intellectually dishonest to call this Christianity's biggest problem, when the bible gives Christians a satisfying answer to it.
Key Passages
Below are some passages that give light on how a Christian ought to understand this objection.
“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:20-22)
All of creation has been subjected to frustration. The world is currently not in its ideal state.
“For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26 )
The bible teaches that God’s goal is to destroy Death through Jesus.
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)
In the final redeemed creation, animal suffering will be put to an end.
Historical or Public Responses
“Man, by his rebellion, has brought about a radical perversion of the whole universe.” [^4] C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain. CS Lewis confirms that the issues we find in creation are not meant to be, and are the result of Sin.
Tim Keller has a great excerpt titled ‘Creation’s Groans Are Not Meaningless’, where he outlines the present and future states of creation. He says “In this creation, no experience is untainted by pain, even if it’s only the pain of knowing the experience cannot last.”. The full article outlines how these frustrations will be redeemed. [^5]
Preempting the Objection
As previously mentioned, the critic might argue something approximating “But why did an omnipotent, all loving God allow the fall?” Or “Could God not have set up a different system that includes less suffering?”.
This is a question I am not aiming to satisfy in this article. I merely aim to outline the best, biblical explanation for why animals suffer seemingly unnecessarily, and to make it clear that this state of the universe is not desirable to God.
I worry that this objection is a pleasing philosophical justification for the skeptic to reject God, even though the objection does not disprove the central claims of Christianity and the bible. It does not aim to tackle the reasons we have for our faith.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (1 Colossians 2:8)
Conclusion
This objection can come from a sincere, loving perspective. The problem of evil is a fair and reasonable question to ask. Thankfully, the bible teaches that the God of the universe is working to end such suffering and corruption. Therefore, the claim that animal suffering is ‘Christianity’s biggest problem’ is lacking, because Christians have a satisfactory answer derived from the bible.
[^1]: Alex O’Connor, “Christianity’s Biggest Problem,” YouTube video, published March 9, 2021, https://youtu.be/5KDnnp0sDkI?si=pF1-NVgquBzP3QvM
[^2]: Gavin Ortlund, “Alex O'Connor on Animal Suffering: Christian Response” YouTube video, published December 24, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxUu4ncP-JM
[^3]: Charles Darwin, letter to Asa Gray, 22 May 1860, in The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, ed. Francis Darwin, vol. 2 (London: John Murray, 1887).
[^4]: C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain (London: Geoffrey Bles, 1940), chap. 9, “Animal Pain.”
[^5]: Keller, Timothy. “Creation’s Groans Are Not Meaningless.” *The Gospel Coalition*, July 15, 2015. Accessed February 1, 2026.