There is no doubt that God and the problem of evil contradict each other. In today’s blog, I am going to explore why the existence of evil and suffering in the world causes such a big problem for a belief in the Judeo-Christian God. With such evils happening in the world, such as the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide, how can God exist?
God and the Problem of Evil: The Epicurean Trilema
The traditional Judeo-Christian God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent. Omnipotent means that God is all powerful (remember ‘p’ in it for powerful!). Omnibenevolent means that God is all loving.
There is a trilema here (three possible options). Either God does not love us, so evil exists in the world. Or, God is not omnipotent – he does not have the power to stop evil, so evil exists. Or, God does not exist. This was originally asserted by Epicurus, hence the name Epicurean hypothesis. It is also sometimes known as the inconsistent triad, because of the inconsistencies surrounding God and his existence with reference to evil and suffering.
God and the Problem of Evil: Ways forward for Christians
Indeed, this is a big problem for the Christian believer, as it challenges the essence of God, or the existence of God himself. However, many Christians believe that there are reasons for evil existing in the world. Perhaps this is all part of God’s plan and beyond human understanding.
Indeed, if evil and suffering did not exist, we would not learn and develop as human beings. Nor would we have the opportunity to do good and help others. Another key argument is that it is man who causes evil and suffering, not God. If God did not give us freewill, we would not be individuals, but simply robots.
There are several theories have been put forward by Christian philosophers to try to overcome the problem of evil. If you are interested in finding out more, I recommend that you read about the Augustinian and Iranaean theodicies. Follow this link to find out more about God and Suffering: Augustine on Evil.
What do you think about God and the Problem of Evil?
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on God and the Problem of Evil, so please feel free to comment on this blog.
Plato describes a cave of shadows and forms, which in turn are interpreted by scholars whom name them, he further describes one who see the light revealing the source of the shadows and their forms as false, hence the logic of naming also to be misleading inturn, bring dispute with the one whom is explaining this new revelation with the erstablished rulers, why is this so?
In the material world logic is dictated by material things, fame, power, wealth being group orientated to support these ideals as learned people IE Vanity, power and wealth hence any interruption in that logic would expose the falseness ‘The lie’ yet they know is a probability though rather than acknowledge, they seek to kill or eradicate anything that will end the elusion which supports the theory keeping there elevated status above others built exposing there deceit todate.
To try to define Truth in a material world exposes one to ridicule even death for the system, represented by the chained captives is built around Fame, power and wealth yet these are divisive and the catalyse that cements it all together as one lie!
The Qestion must remain: If God is truth and the light or true Knowledge which is rejected because it offers only this, yet brings unity without consequences of disaster which comes only througth the lie, being you will not die! yet does lead to death proven through human history to be the case in all its forms makes truth or the light the correct choise!
Why does one blame truth for death and suffering when the lie was applied throughout? Did God not say, If you do this you will die? and you will know the truth, the truth will set you free? Yes even from death!
To be free, as in the cave, one must be removed from the confinement of this world of falseness with all its forms and shapes to be able to see the light as innocent of accused guilt of suffering and death, caused not by God, but by the lie, a choice given to be truly free, faith is believing all lies will end before the lie destroys all things, leaving those that are Free to choise, choise wisley.