The Problem of Evil in Philosophy of Religion

Philosophical and/or theological theory which attempts to explain how a good God could create a world containing so much evil.

The problem of evil is one of the most enduring and challenging issues in the philosophy of religion. It questions the existence of God by pointing to the presence of evil and suffering in the world. This unit will delve into the various aspects of this problem and the attempts to reconcile the existence of God with the existence of evil.

Introduction to the Problem of Evil

The problem of evil arises from the apparent contradiction between the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God and the presence of evil and suffering in the world. If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good, why does evil exist? This question forms the crux of the problem of evil.

The Logical Problem of Evil

The logical problem of evil argues that the existence of God and evil are logically incompatible. If God is omnipotent, He could prevent all evil. If He is omniscient, He would know about all evil. And if He is omnibenevolent, He would want to prevent all evil. Yet, evil exists. Therefore, the argument concludes, God as traditionally defined, does not exist.

The Evidential Problem of Evil

The evidential problem of evil, on the other hand, does not claim that God and evil are logically incompatible. Instead, it argues that the amount and types of evil we see in the world make it unlikely that an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God exists. The evidential problem of evil does not rule out the existence of God outright but suggests that the world as we know it is not the kind of world we would expect if such a God exists.

Theodicy: Justifying God in the Face of Evil

Theodicy is the attempt to justify God's goodness and omnipotence in spite of the existence of evil. There are several types of theodicy, each offering a different explanation for why God allows evil.

• Process Theodicy argues that God is not omnipotent in the traditional sense and cannot unilaterally prevent evil. Instead, God is working within the processes of the universe to maximize good and minimize evil.

• Soul-Making Theodicy, proposed by John Hick, suggests that God allows evil to exist as a means for human beings to develop virtues such as courage, empathy, and generosity. In this view, the world is a "vale of soul-making," and suffering and evil are necessary for moral and spiritual growth.

• Free Will Defense posits that God values human freedom so highly that He allows evil to result from human free choices. In this view, much of the evil in the world results from human misuse of free will.

The problem of evil continues to be a central issue in the philosophy of religion, with ongoing debates about the nature of God, the nature of good and evil, and the relationship between them. Understanding these arguments and counterarguments is crucial for anyone seeking to engage deeply with the big questions of philosophy and religion.