So, how does the religious establishment explain the inconvenient truth that bad things will still happen to good (righteous) people [people who have been told to believe that special blessings can be claimed by those who believe in God … as long as they live like it]?
Religious leaders literally ignore this contradiction.
They talk and teach as though the contradiction doesn't exist.
At the funeral of a believer who dies young, or of a respected believer who dies tragically, a religious preacher might say things like...
"Sometimes God's blessings are contained within suffering."
OR
"God had a different plan."
OR JUST
"God's will is a great mystery."
OR EVEN
Satan is sometimes blamed.
Whenever ANY uninvited bad thing happens in the life of a faithful follower, one or more of the above excuses are cited.
What about when something bad happens in the life of an unfaithful follower? Well, you know how religious leaders respond to that scenario: that is either explained as ...
"God is trying to bring you back."
OR
"You became susceptible to attack by the Devil through your disobedience."
What about the list of promises religion promotes as the benefits of living the "right" way?
Good question. What about those promises?
At the end of the day, the constant pressure to live a perfect life (or as close to it as possible) is what leads to the "side effects" listed above. This is what causes people to either grow very cynical and very angry...
OR
… to begin re-thinking religion.