In regards to the problem of evil, I was listening to an atheist saying that the issue of evil would be problematic to the existence of God because it directly attacks the being and conception of God itself. Essentially, they say that if God is truly all-good, then it would be highly implausible for Him to permit evil, since it would be a contradiction in His very nature of being good. But I see a way how this argument can actually be turned on its table. I would dare propose that if God is truly good, then evil must exist on earth. The reason I say this is because of what we think of as “good”. Think about it this way, if God is truly good then He must be just. If God is truly good and just, then He must of necessity hate and punish that which is contrary to goodness. Now since man as a whole have subjected themselves to the slavery of sin then it is perfectly logical to conclude that God must allow them to suffer evil as due punishment for their iniquity. In other words, if God did not let evil befall them, then that would be contrary to His justice, and if it be contrary to His justice then it would be contrary to His goodness. To me, it is precisely this reason why the problem of evil isn’t a problem for me, because it must occur if God would be consistent to His holiness and justice. Now of course, He also is merciful and that is why He sent His Son to die for our sins. Has anyone ever thought of that? And is there any problems with the argument?
Discussion
16 comments
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I like to deal with this issue of evil very simply.
In the beginning all was good. Man disobeyed God and brought death by sin.
Evil is man’s doing of disobeying God who is good. Man done evil, and then finds himself in a world of death and evil.
Evil exists when we disobey God who is good. It’s an automatic reaction to disobeying goodness. For true freedom, evil must exist. It won’t always be this way however. -
Tgere isa deep reality in spiritual truth the the atheists refuses to.see plus he is ignoring the account of the fall. If scripture is rejected as truth the atheiest is never going to see the truth.
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I really like your explanation, Alain. Evil is the ABSENCE of good, as darkness is the absence of light. When people willingly choose their paths away from the good God, they find themselves surrounded by evil. I head someone respond this way once: we have so many dentists in the world, why are there still so many people with bad teeth? Or same with doctors, and yet there are so many sick.
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If God did not exist, would there be good or evil? Would morals and ethics even exist? If so, why?
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God also wants His inheritance from us. And he will get it. And He will try us all in the fire to refine the gold.
These debates of good and evil, ultimately fall flat, when you are confronted to explain God killing the firtborns of Egypt. Because to our human minds that is completely evil and wrong. Good luck explaining that to a tree hugging hippy with love glasses on lol.
God is real, and he even kills…. -
Prob need an angle of truth and holiness, rather than an angle/debate of good evil.
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Good and evil debates doesn’t work… We have to transcend good and evil to truth and holiness or we will never reach ppl and save them.
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without the possibility to disobey, what is obedience? without the possibility of being evil, what is good?
without darkness, will there be light?
without the possibility to be imperfect, will perfection exist? everything will become meaningless without its vice.
so the question is, where can we find the scale or the standard to measure it? So, without God, everything in existence becomes meaningless. -
No problem of evil. Just a human misunderstanding of holiness, mercy, and Gods plan to save us after disobeying.
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I like Ravi Zacharias answer on this topic… if God, why evil. check it in you tube
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I recommend that you listen to Frank Turek and what he just posted on Cross Examine about this subject
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If god didn’t exist nothing would exist. Since evil exists god exists
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Isaiah 54:17
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I think you lessen God by saying he is good. God is Holy which to some is just a word. His holiness is what made it impossible for Moses to gaze upon Him. It is His holiness that makes it impossible for Him to be in the presence of sin. That is what separates man from God. Just as blood of a sacrifice allowed the high priest to enter into His presence so the blood of Christ allows us to enter into His presence
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Those are other attributes but Jesus told the rich man only god is good.
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