The Problem of Evil: Intellect and Emotion

The Problem of Evil and the Existence of God

Atheists will argue that the evidence for the existence of God we’ve been discussing over the last several months is insufficient. However, if an atheist makes the statement that God does not exist, and I disagree, they need arguments to prove their point as well.  It’s not enough to say the arguments against your position are insufficient…you must have something to say to prove your own point as well.  Most atheists would prefer to sit back and say they are unconvinced by the deist’s arguments, but there are some who develop arguments of their own.  One such argument involves The Problem of Evil.

This is one of the best arguments for the non-existence of God.  It deals with the co-existence of a loving God and the horrific evils we see in the world around us.  Philosophers and theologians often use the term: The Problem of Evil…and it can not be denied that we live in a world where seemingly gratuitous and senseless evil occurs all the time.

Two Problems of Evil

In addressing this question, there are two main problems we have to consider.  Each of them must be approached in different ways.

1. The intellectual problem of evil.
2. The emotional problem of evil.

The intellectual problem of evil can be further broken down into two main areas:

1. Coexistence of God and evil is illogical.
2. Coexistence of God and evil is improbable.

The intellectual problem of evil is about whether or not it makes logical sense that God and suffering can and do coexist. Proving it’s illogical is very difficult.  Arguments to show it’s improbable are much easier for atheists to formulate.

The emotional problem of evil, however, is likely to be the real issue with most people.  Rather than a discussion about the logical co-existence of God and evil, this is about not wanting anything to do with a God who would permit the seemingly senseless suffering that occurs in the world.

The intellectual problem of evil and emotional problem of evil are different questions and can not be approached the same way.  One is about philosophical and logical arguments, and the other is about disliking a God who would let them suffer…and make no mistake, if God exists (as I believe He does) he does let people suffer.

The intellectual question addresses whether it is logical that he He has sufficient reason to allow suffering and still maintain His omnibenevolent (all-loving) and omnipotent (all-powerful) characteristics.  Even if someone believes that He does have sufficient moral reason, it doesn’t follow that they will necessarily come to accept Him.

Practical Responses to Suffering

The practical day to day response to someone who is suffering is not to show them dry textbook answers as to why it’s plausible that God would allow them to suffer…unless you want to appear to be a complete jerk.  There may be the odd person that finds comfort in intellectual conversations about evil in times of suffering, but they are rare.  More often than not, all you can do is be there and offer a shoulder to cry on.

If someone is suffering, answers to the intellectual problem of evil may give some comfort had they already studied the material before the event…but during a time of suffering is very poor timing to introduce the subject.  Knowledge of the doctrine of God and of Christ will also be very helpful to the suffering believer…Christian doctrine clearly teaches that God cares when we suffer and is there to comfort us…and that Christ can also relate to us in our suffering because we can experience nothing that Christ hasn’t already experienced as well.

So…in order for someone to come to grips with accepting a God who would let you suffer, first we have to discuss the logicality and plausibility of a loving God who still allows suffering to exist.

You may have heard the problem of evil put this way:

• If God is all-loving (omnibenevolent), He would want to eliminate the problem of evil.
• If God is all-powerful (omnipotent), He would be able to eliminate the problem of  evil.
• Evil exists.

Therefore God either:

• Does not exist
• Is not all-loving because he allows evil to exist when he could stop it.
• Is not all-powerful and can not stop evil even if He wants to.

The dilemma attempts to show that the loving, powerful Christian God cannot logically exist.  However, this is a false dilemma.  The existence of evil does not require a God who doesn’t care or who can’t do anything about the presence of evil.

There’s a third option:

A God who cares and can (and will) put an end to evil, but has good reasons to allow evil and suffering to exist for a time.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be discussing these issues surrounding the problem of evil.  It should be interesting…and it will not be an exhaustive conversation by any means, so take a look at some of the sites in the resources section of Rational Faith Online and you’ll find lots of material on the subject.

Tagged as: Existence of God, suffering, the problem of evil