The Problem of Evil This problem, sometimes referred to as theodicy's problem, consists of how to justify the evil and suffering in the world with the traditional theistic religious understanding that there is a morally perfect God who posesses all power and all knowledge. In theism, God is morally perfect, omnipotent and omniscient. The meaning behind the idea that theism's God is morally perfect is that God wants to eliminate all evil and suffering. The fact that theism's God is omnipotent implies that he can eliminate evil and suffering. The fact that theism's God is also omniscient implies that he knows how to eliminate evil and suffering. If God is morally perfect, omnipotent and omniscient, how can it be possible that evil exists in our world? Due to the problem of evil, theism's perception of God is inconsistent with the fact that our past and present have witnessed and continue to witness dreadful suffering in the world. Can one expect that a morally perfect, omnipotent and omniscient God would create a world with so much suffering? The problem with evil deepens with the fact that man has a difficult time understanding and accepting that suffering could have a profound and, for us, hidden meaning and with that be completely justified. One may ask what could possibly justify all the suffering that mankind has experienced throughout history? Can a morally good and rationally sound person expect that theism's loving God can justify all the horrible suffering and thereby make suffering meaningful? Many attempts have been made by theologians to solve this problem of evil. The proposal which is usually viewed as being the most sound is the idea that God gave man free will and it is up to each person to choose between good and evil. One objection to this idea is why would God give man free will when He knew ahead of time all the suffering that would be caused by man. How could a morally perfect, omnipotent and omniscient God in good conscience create man in that fashion? |