Hardest Questions to Ask a Pastor
Challenging questions to help you explore faith, understand difficult theological concepts, and engage in meaningful spiritual discussions.
1Why does God allow suffering and evil in the world?
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Why does God allow suffering and evil in the world?
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Why this works
Understanding their perspective on the problem of evil helps you see how they reconcile faith with the reality of suffering.
2How do you explain the existence of different religions and their conflicting claims?
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How do you explain the existence of different religions and their conflicting claims?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to religious diversity helps you see how they handle the challenge of competing truth claims.
3What do you think happens to people who have never heard of Jesus?
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What do you think happens to people who have never heard of Jesus?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of salvation helps you see how they handle the challenge of exclusivity in Christian faith.
4How do you reconcile scientific discoveries with biblical accounts?
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How do you reconcile scientific discoveries with biblical accounts?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to science and faith helps you see how they handle apparent conflicts between science and religion.
5What do you think about the problem of unanswered prayers?
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What do you think about the problem of unanswered prayers?
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Why this works
Understanding their perspective on prayer helps you see how they handle the challenge of seemingly unanswered prayers.
6How do you explain the existence of hell and eternal punishment?
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How do you explain the existence of hell and eternal punishment?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of hell helps you see how they handle the challenge of eternal punishment and divine justice.
7What do you think about the problem of divine hiddenness?
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What do you think about the problem of divine hiddenness?
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Why this works
Understanding their perspective on God's presence helps you see how they handle the challenge of feeling God's absence.
8How do you approach the problem of biblical contradictions?
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How do you approach the problem of biblical contradictions?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to biblical difficulties helps you see how they handle apparent inconsistencies in scripture.
9What do you think about the problem of divine foreknowledge and free will?
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What do you think about the problem of divine foreknowledge and free will?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of predestination helps you see how they handle the challenge of divine sovereignty and human freedom.
10How do you explain the problem of divine command theory and moral objectivity?
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How do you explain the problem of divine command theory and moral objectivity?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to morality helps you see how they handle the challenge of moral objectivity and divine commands.
11What do you think about the problem of religious experience and its reliability?
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What do you think about the problem of religious experience and its reliability?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of religious experience helps you see how they handle the challenge of subjective religious claims.
12How do you approach the problem of religious pluralism and truth claims?
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How do you approach the problem of religious pluralism and truth claims?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to religious diversity helps you see how they handle the challenge of competing religious truth claims.
13What do you think about the problem of divine immutability and change?
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What do you think about the problem of divine immutability and change?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of divine nature helps you see how they handle the challenge of God's unchanging nature and apparent change.
14How do you explain the problem of divine simplicity and complexity?
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How do you explain the problem of divine simplicity and complexity?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to divine nature helps you see how they handle the challenge of God's simple yet complex nature.
15What do you think about the problem of religious language and its meaning?
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What do you think about the problem of religious language and its meaning?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of religious language helps you see how they handle the challenge of speaking about God and religious concepts.
16How do you approach the problem of religious authority and interpretation?
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How do you approach the problem of religious authority and interpretation?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to religious authority helps you see how they handle the challenge of interpreting religious texts and traditions.
17What do you think about the problem of religious diversity and salvation?
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What do you think about the problem of religious diversity and salvation?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of salvation helps you see how they handle the challenge of religious diversity and universal salvation.
18How do you explain the problem of divine providence and human responsibility?
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How do you explain the problem of divine providence and human responsibility?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to providence helps you see how they handle the challenge of divine control and human responsibility.
19What do you think about the problem of religious experience and its interpretation?
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What do you think about the problem of religious experience and its interpretation?
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Why this works
Understanding their view of religious experience helps you see how they handle the challenge of interpreting and validating religious experiences.
20How do you approach the problem of religious truth and its accessibility?
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How do you approach the problem of religious truth and its accessibility?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to religious truth helps you see how they handle the challenge of making religious truth accessible and understandable.
Engaging in Deep Theological Discussions
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Having Respectful Conversations
Ask with Genuine Curiosity
Approach these questions with genuine curiosity and a desire to understand, not to challenge or undermine their faith.
Listen with Respect
Listen carefully to their responses and ask follow-up questions to deepen your understanding of their perspective.
Respect Their Limits
Remember that some questions may not have clear answers, and respect their honesty about the limits of human understanding.