The Problem Of Evil Essay, Research Paper

The Problem of Evil

Evil exists, a plain and simple fact. The argument for the problem of

evil (and suffering) proves that fact. The argument for the problem of evil

states that there is a all-good, all-powerful God. It states that God being

all-good means that he only wants good to exist. But, look at all the bad and

evil in the world. A total contradiction of a all-good God. God being all-

powerful means that he can make whatever he wants. So, if God can make whatever

he wants then why did he not make all people and things good? This all boils

down too the fact that evil does exist and with evil existing there could not be

an all-good, all powerful God.

I feel that the argument for the problem of evil is a good argument.

The first solution to the problem of evil states that good cannot exist without

evil. Not a bad argument, but faulty. With evil existing you have something

to compare it to, which is good. But, If God was really all-good the word evil

would not exist because everything would just be good. If God is so good and so

powerful than why does he let so much evil exist? I could understand a little

bit of bad people and things to make the good stand out, but there is so much.

All the time in the news you hear about someone being murdered, children being

molested, a natural disaster striking a area and many people suffering and

dying, etc… This also shows that God cannot be all-powerful if lets all this

evil exist in the universe that he supposedly created.

The second solution to the problem of evil states that God allows evil

to exist in order to bring out a greater good. Or that the universe is better

with some evil in it. Better? Why would God being so good and concerned about

humans want us to suffer? This solution is much like the first, saying that

evil creates or brings good. Yet, if there was only good we would not have to

worry about bringing out a greater good if everything was already good. Some

would argue that evil brings out human virtues, and thus in a all-good world

they would be lost. Yet human virtues would not be needed(or exist) in a all-

good world. Also with human virtues you get the human vices, more bad or evil

beliefs. God allowing so much evil to exist, again shows that there cannot be a

all-good all-powerful God.

The third solution states that God gave humans free will. Yes, that it

good that God gave us the freedom to chose. God being all-good and all-

powerful should have gave us free will in the sense that we can choose among

only things that are good. This would seem to restrict the definition of free

will since your options of what to chose would be limited. Yet, if everything

was good the definition of free will would not be restricted either because

there would only be good to choose from. With God allowing evil and free will

to exist this creates a personal evil because you can choose evil. Also there

are evils such as natural disasters and diseases that exist but man did not

freely choose. A all-good and all-powerful God would not let such things exist.

People die and suffer from these things that exist with a so-called all good and

powerful God.

The forth solution by John Hicks states that God allows evil to exist in

order to test us. Hicks states that evil is a test to see who will choose that

path. I don’t understand why he would need to test us. With him being all-

powerful that would make him all-knowing. Therefore, why would he need to test

us if he knows what we are going to do, and what we are doing? There would be

no reason to test us if God was really all powerful. If evil did not exist

there would be not be a need for a test either, because God would not need to

test the good people do. Also, if good is using evil as a test, and someone

does not pass his test then I would assume that person would not make it to

heaven. The person would be stuck in hell after they died. A all-good and all-

powerful God would not want people to suffer, thus no need to test the person

because that could lead to hell(suffering) which God would not want. Innocent

people also would suffer from the wrong doings of others. Why would God want

the innocent good people to suffer because others chose evil? This also shows

that the test of evil is a bad solution because even the people that chose to be

good can suffer along the way.

The problem of evil holds to be a good argument. The solutions did not

prove that God was all-good or all-powerful, with evil existing as it does such

a God could not exist. I feel that there is a God, but he does not have total

control. He is more off a overseer of what happens here on earth. Someone that

does not have the power to make everything good, yet he keeps us in line when

things get out of hand. I think it’s all a matter of faith and what you truly

believe in.