The ‘problem of evil’.
For this discussion board please share your thoughts on the ‘problem of evil’. In our textbook Louise Antony’s work on “No Good Reason – Exploring the Problem of Evil” should give us a starting point to tackle this these.
What is the problem of evil?
Why do we suffer?
How might we ‘answer’ the problem of evil? (be creative in your thinking here – but please keep in mind that this is a sensitive topic and should be approached with kindness and open minded thinking).
Sample Answer
The problem of evil is a philosophical question that asks how the existence of evil can be reconciled with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient God. The problem was first articulated by the Greek philosopher Epicurus in the 3rd century BC, but it has been debated by philosophers and theologians ever since.
There are many different ways to formulate the problem of evil, but one common formulation is as follows:
- If God is all-powerful (omnipotent), he can prevent any evil from happening.
- If God is all-good (omnibenevolent), he wants to prevent all evil from happening.
- If God knows everything (omniscient), he knows about all the evil that is happening in the world.
- But evil does happen in the world.
- Therefore, God is not omnipotent, omnibenevolent, or omniscient.