Apologetics 13: Problem of Evil (Objection 1)
Now that we’ve established the existence of God, the historicity of Christ’s resurrection, and the bible’s veracity, we come to objections commonly brought against Christianity. The chief classical question posed to Christians throughout the eons is, “How can you believe in God when there is so much pain and suffering in the world?” Thankfully, the bible provides a range of answers to that question though, it’s not always clear which answer applies to a given situation. In what follows I address the logical argument against God’s existence before going on to cover 6 major reasons why God allows suffering, including: (1) the Fall, (2) the devil, (3) God’s judgments, (4) using suffering for good, (5) lack of faith, and (6) time and chance. Lastly, I explore some of what the scriptures teach us about dealing with suffering.
If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.
Notes:
The Problem of Evil
This is a serious problem
- I don’t have the problem of evil totally figured out, however this is the way I understand it right now. Your thoughts, doubts, and comments are appreciated.
- “The problem of evil is the most serious problem in the world. It is also the one serious objection to the existence of God. More people have abandoned their faith because of the problem of evil than for any other reason. It is certainly the greatest test of faith, the greatest temptation to unbelief. And it’s not just an intellectual objection. We feel it. We live it.” –Peter Kreeft[1]
outline
- show how this objection fails to disprove God’s existence
- explore reasons why God allows evil
- consider how to deal with suffering
1. How the POE Fails to Disprove God’s Existence
The problem stated and some possible solutions
- the problem of evil is “If there is a God then why is there so much pain and suffering?”
- Proof against God’s existence
- God is all-loving
- God is all-powerful
- Evil exists
- \There is no God
Some suggested solutions
- God is not all loving: He really can stop all evil but he doesn’t care enough about our puny lives to put forth the effort.
- he is distant (deists)
- hard predestination (you’re a worthless maggot to whom God owes nothing)
- molinism (God’s arranged the proper amount of suffering to maximize the number who would freely choose him)
- his focus is not on individual but the group (utilitarian)
- God is not all-powerful:
- Harold Kuschner: “God does not reach down to interrupt the workings of laws of nature to protect the righteous from harm. This is a second area of our world which causes bad things to happen to good people, and God does not cause it and cannot stop it”[2]
reformulating the proof
- proof
- God is all-loving
- God is all-powerful
- evil (still) exists
- God has not eliminated evil yet
- can’t prove God doesn’t have some reason(s) for allowing evil
- a world w/ minimal suffering might not be best from God’s perspective
- a world w/ constant gratuitous evil would probably crush people’s faith
- a world w/ lots of suffering, lots of beauty, lots of kindness would probably maximize the number of people who turn to God and freely choose to put their faith in him
evil points to a source of evil
- shouldn’t presume the absence of a source of good<
