Evil and suffering

Faith is shaken if we experience evils (wickedness, natural disasters, tragic accidents etc.) Some say the occurrence of evil and suffering stops them believing in God: how can a good God let these sorts of things happen?

Philosophers distinguish 'natural evils' (accidents, disasters etc.) and 'moral evils' (wicked human acts). The main difference here is wickedness is deliberate and so morally wrong. Why does God allow natural evils? God chose to create a natural Universe 'natural' just means that creatures survive and flourish at the expense of others (lions eat lambs, plants feed from soil, fire destroys trees). God could have made a non-natural world, but in the world we know and love, natural evils are unavoidable.

Why does God allow moral evil? Moral evil is not inevitable. However, God made us free, thus moral evil is always possible. Wickedness is never a real contribution to anyone's happiness not even the evil-doer's so in 'allowing' people to be wicked God accepts we may choose to do nothing about our ultimate happiness. Why anyone should choose this has puzzled philosophers since Socrates' day.