How do you reconcile the existance of evil in the world with the omnipotence and benevolence of God?

Question

Sunshine-- lol, good answer...

Answer 1

God has all the time in the world.

He chose to let men do what they want.

In His time, He will separate the sheep from the goats.

I plan to "be in that number" when the saints come marching in.

Answer 2

Assuming that Noah's ark actually happened, God DID destroy evil once.  When people say that they want God to come destroy evil, they don't really know what they're asking for.  In order to do that, God would have to destroy humankind.  And then what?  Would we call Him evil?  Some already do, assuming that He did flood the Earth once, but then they'll quote Epicurus.

We don't know what we want.  That's the conclusion I've come to.  Good thing God knows better.

The time is coming when God IS going to destroy evil.  I don't know when, but it's coming.  But for now, God wants as many of us to come to repentance as possible.  So one could say that God allows evil to exist, because to not do so would include destroying everyone.

Answer 3

The basic problem of pain question posed by philosophers neglects one very important fact. We are assuming that suffering is not for our betterment. While this may seem a little absurd in the light of things like rape and pillage, it does raise a serious question about the assumptions of the argument posited. Let us look at a wild dog. Now, if we try to domesticate that dog, it will go through some suffering (no, and a LIGHT swat to correct bad behavior) which it would perceive as pain. However, this pain is for the betterment of the dog, it will live longer and healthier with our care.

Christianity (and Judaism) creates the problem of pain. If it didn't posit the idea of an omnipotent God who loves us, we wouldn't have a problem. Other religions also address the problem the same way. Atheist say we are evolving beings with rational choice. Buddhists say it is our nonacceptance of the actual nature of things that causes pain. Both are about our free will. Because we chose something other that God we have pain.

Evil stems from us choosing anything other than God (Augustine). God cannot give us what he does not have. That means God could not give us imperfection because he didn't posses it. However, being made in the image of God means we can choose one thing or the other. Hence, the basic laws of causality mean that we must suffer consequences for our actions and choices (or inaction).

This pre-judgment you speak of is another choice placed before you. You would agree you are imperfect, but why then insist on you not being accountable for your actions? If you are "good enough" have you ever actually considered the standard? No one can meet the standard. Our own logic judges us. Atheistic philosophy gives me no reason to be nice to another person except for the purpose of obtaining what I want. Yet millions of people do nice things for others without expecting any reward or recompense in the name of religion? Why? Why are people nice?

Justice and mercy are where you should begin your philosophical studies.

Answer 4

Prepare to get answers like "God doesn't do that! Humans do that out of sin!" or "People use their gift of free will to commit evil" or something like that.

Regardless, read up on "The Problem of Evil" and "The Problem of Goodness" for at least a different insight to your question.

In response to your question, I'd say that either God allows it, because we'll all be given salvation in the end eventually, or God doesn't exist.

Answer 5

One word:  SIN.

Answer 6

God in His love does not force us to act but respects our free will.  If He forced us we would be robots or slaves.

Evil is not good.  But we say that since something exists it is by nature good since the uncreated energy of God is the essence of creation, even though the goodness of a created thing or being may be limited to the fact that it exists.

God has will and power, but is not a tyrant.  He has will and power but exists in a transcendent state of humility.  He has will and power but is in His own essence a divinely transcendent love which we have yet to enter into fully, though we can enter into this love in this life (The kingdom of heaven is with in you as Jesus said).

The providence of God, which is the act of God pouring forth of His energry, working it in creation, and returning His energy and creation together to Himself, is a process that spans from before time began to the beginning of time, to the summation of every age, and this divine cycle of return takes into account every person, animal, and created thing that will affect the greatest return of creation to the Creator.

Answer 7

To get rid of all evil is to get rid of free will.

The definition in the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines evil as-

1 a: morally reprehensible : sinful, wicked <an evil impulse> b: arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct <a person of evil reputation>

By this definition, evil is the result of man's actions (contrary to the belief of most atheists, even though they wouldn't refute the definition since they use the same dictionary). And for God to stop evil is to take away free will, which while I believe that He is able to do, chooses not to.

In my opinion, and keep in mind, that is all it is, is that God chooses to let us have free will which means that there will be evil in the world. I personally think God gives us free will so that we can decide whether or not to follow Him.

Now, if you ask, "Why doesn't God just force us to follow Him?" consider this.

If you loved someone, and wanted them to love you back, would it mean nearly as much, or anything, if you had to force that person to love you?

Just my take on it. And it is a very brief take since it is 4am and I am starting to drift off to sleep. If you'd like to discuss it more, I'd be happy to, just send me an email.

Answer 8

To remove the choice or consequences of evil would make us less than human which would be unloving and since God is love he allows the consequences of our actions to exist.

Less because it removes choice.

Answer 9

Evil is such a big idea. And God is a bigger idea. Certainly, we finite minds cannot fathom such issues. But rest assured that God had set is plan in action, it is just not obvious. We just have to believe.                                                                                                                        

Answer 10

"As stated by the Greek Philosopher, Epicurus"  

I'm not sure if you've read the Bible (God's autobiography) but He's not limited by what any philosopher figures He "should be."   He is not limited at all.

Evil exists in the world because Adam gave dominion of the Earth to Satan which makes it our territory.  Jesus came to Earth as a man and showed us, believers/disciples, how to handle this world and the evil in it. It's a matter of whether Christians have enough faith in Jesus name to use it.

Yes, evil does exist in the world but not for long.  Jesus will return and and do away with evil and the master of evil for eternity.

Answer 11

I don't.

Answer 12

You were onto it towards the end. In the beginning, all things were made by God and called very good. It is only our view point that sometimes deems things to be evil. We must accept that things are not evil just because we don't like them. As Jethro Tull put it, "He who made kittens put snakes in the grass" (Bungle in the Jungle).

True evil, the kind that is not subject to our whims, is the result of a good thing that is out of place, or being improperly used. A quick example is fire. In the stove it cooks the food that keeps you alive. In the internal combustion engine it gets you where you need to go. These are very good uses of a very good thing that has driven human cultural evolution throughout history. However, on you, fire is pure evil, destructive, homicidal, painful and more than a little frightening.

Answer 13

Theodicy is centuries old. I am mostly familiar with Christian theodicy, and it is fascinating. You might check out Can God Intervene? by Gary Stern. It contains perspectives of Catholics, evangelicals, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and even the nonreligious for why bad things happen (specifically the tsunami).