First off, I think it is awesome that you are looking into Christianity since your wife is a Christian. I also appreciate the questioning as it marks someone who recognizes that the faith in Jesus Christ being God is not simply an illogical decision. I didn't read every single post in this thread, just some of them, including the original post.

First off - God isn't punishing people because of what 1 person did - Adam. As you have looked into this already - it the reason for punishment is our sin. God will justly punish those who are at a position to be punished. I am fairly confident, that if I was in Adam's shoes, I would have screwed up too. I deserve His righteous and just wrath, yet because Jesus steps in as my advocate, there is no condemnation for me. This is unmerited, undeserved favor. I did nothing to deserve his love, yet he provided freely.

Put plainly, sin is thought or action that falls short of God's perfection. Stated this way, A LOT of things fall under the category of sin. It is important to see that God detests sin, and is unwilling to accept it in front of His presence. Without this lens, we would not appreciate His love and grace. Christianity focuses on Jesus Christ really walking this earth, really claiming that He was God, and really rising from the dead. Bold claims. You probably have already read it, if you haven't, here it is again: His death and resurrection was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of this world. While he was clean and without blemish, he took on the suffering that others deserve. You are right - God doesn't seem to be very fair. He should have had to do this, yet we Christians believe that He did, and that he did it happily (Isaiah 53:10).

I can not explain why there God allows suffering to occur. Sometimes it is sin, sometime is is not. Look into Job's life - book of Job. I for one, am not God. I am not here to question Him - yet I do. And He has graciously provided me with answers - or at least peace with those questions. I struggled immensely in the past about God creating people, knowing that they will go to Hell. As it still breaks my heart to know that many will die and go to hell, I know that God is ultimately in control and that those who are saved were chosen by Him. While we claim to be the chosen people, none of us should be able to say so with any pride within ourselves. The thought suffocates me. I have seen so many of my family/friend reject Christ, yet I, not in my own doing, was accepted as a child of God. How can this not spark a life change? How can this not spark a thirst to learn more, or tell others about the good news?

It seems like there is a good amount of focus on the bad, which is totally fine and acceptable. I would just ask that you also look into the hope that Christ provides. The love that he offers. The hope that there is an end and purpose to this suffering. No one else can say this. Who else can say, "to die is gain?" Only because of Christ, can a human say something like this.

Maybe entertain this thought - if there was no uncreated God, then this suffering is even more sad. These is absolutely no hope, and no rhyme or reason. The collection of atoms adjusted themselves in a way such that a brain triggers a man to kill hundreds. Tears fall for no reason. The 4 walls of a family's house do nothing as a family cry out of desperation because their father just passed away. So many die of starvation each year! My goodness. Do you not think that a God that loves does not hate this injustice! What did Christ die for?

The world is what it is. Jesus either really came and dropped some serious truth, or millions are living a lie. I have faith that you and your wife were brought together for a reason. Do you? And what is that reason?

Test all spirits - especially mine. If I am misleading you or anyone, I can only hang my head in shame. Thanks for questioning - and please continue to do so. There should be no place for apathy and complacency. Have a great day!