I had a conversation last week with a friend about the problem of evil. Specifically, the conversation revolved around the fact that the reality of evil represents an authentic challenge to belief in God. The short version of the problem, with which most people are familiar already, is that the existence of evil is incompatible with the existence of an all good, all power, all knowing God; such a God would know evil exists, would want evil not to exist, and would have the ability to eliminate it, and therefore, since evil does exist, such a God must not.
"The problem of evil exists within faith." Yes. This is why I have often had such a difficult time writing about the PoE--something, as you know, I am very interested in!--for a mostly secular audience...appreciate this post -- thanks for sharing!
Asking why there is evil when there is God is like asking why there are saplings when God must desire full grown trees or why there are children when God intends us to be complete and mature.
Evil is a lack. Sin is a deficiency(of faith not of moral virtue). Faith, the one true opposite of evil/sin, does not come forth fully grown any more than a tree does, and yet we don't find the existence of seeds to be an argument for atheism. Men are simply not born able to believe in the full and complete goodness of God and His love for us, that takes living in the shadow of the Cross. Ultimately the Problem of Evil is the Problem of Time, why does God piddle around with this growth and change business when surely He must desire the consummation of all things? I don't agree with Aquinas about a lot of things but 'Every existence as such is a good.' and once we see evil as a lack of faith, an inability to trust, I think that it sorta falls into place.
I’m an atheist. I didn’t lose my faith due to the problem of evil, but it did play a part. I appreciate this article because of its honesty: the problem of evil *is* a cross to carry, and is insurmountable/unresolvable for believers. Admission of that fact opens a door to genuine dialogue between the faithful and the faithless.
"The problem of evil exists within faith." Yes. This is why I have often had such a difficult time writing about the PoE--something, as you know, I am very interested in!--for a mostly secular audience...appreciate this post -- thanks for sharing!
Asking why there is evil when there is God is like asking why there are saplings when God must desire full grown trees or why there are children when God intends us to be complete and mature.
Evil is a lack. Sin is a deficiency(of faith not of moral virtue). Faith, the one true opposite of evil/sin, does not come forth fully grown any more than a tree does, and yet we don't find the existence of seeds to be an argument for atheism. Men are simply not born able to believe in the full and complete goodness of God and His love for us, that takes living in the shadow of the Cross. Ultimately the Problem of Evil is the Problem of Time, why does God piddle around with this growth and change business when surely He must desire the consummation of all things? I don't agree with Aquinas about a lot of things but 'Every existence as such is a good.' and once we see evil as a lack of faith, an inability to trust, I think that it sorta falls into place.
Interesting article, thanks for sharing.
I’m an atheist. I didn’t lose my faith due to the problem of evil, but it did play a part. I appreciate this article because of its honesty: the problem of evil *is* a cross to carry, and is insurmountable/unresolvable for believers. Admission of that fact opens a door to genuine dialogue between the faithful and the faithless.