Countless thoughtful, compassionate people cite high levels of undeserved suffering as a basic obstacle to belief in a benign creator. Anyone arguing in response that a grave challenge need not necessarily amount to an insuperable stumbling block will face further questions about tactics as well as substance.
For example, a Christian whose first recourse is to piety may naturally draw cheers from fellow believers who share a broad cluster of assumptions. But sceptics could be forgiven for responding with a volley of queries.
