The Problem of Evil

[Sif]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

I have certainly wrestled with the concept from a philosophical standpoint. I am interested in how some Christians wrestle with it.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

I have certainly wrestled with the concept from a philosophical standpoint. I am interested in how some Christians wrestle with it.

Love overcomes all evil.

 

[d taylor]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

I have certainly wrestled with the concept from a philosophical standpoint. I am interested in how some Christians wrestle with it.

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Lock satan away and things will improve greatly, not perfect as man and sin will still exist. But life will improve.

 

[d taylor]

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Fifteen Characteristics of Life in the Millennium According to Isaiah – Grace Evangelical Society

 

[JEBofChristTheLord]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

What is the problem?

 

[public hermit]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

I have certainly wrestled with the concept from a philosophical standpoint. I am interested in how some Christians wrestle with it.

For Christians, I think the problem is intractable if we are asking about the origin of evil. When it comes to the POE, my favorite approach is Marilyn McCord Adams in her Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God. She also thinks the problem is intractable if we are talking about origins. She says, "The Bible is short on explanations of why God permits evils and relatively long on how God makes good on them." I think that's right. It's not a very satisfactory answer if we want to know "Why?," but it's not wrong. The gospel of Jesus Christ is primarily concerned with what God does in the face of evil. If that's the case, then the question becomes: Is the solution on offer through Christ sufficient for its purpose?

Adams argues that the POE can only be addressed sufficiently if goodness and meaning are addressed for every single person. The POE is a problem for everyone. Whereas most philosophers at this time approached the POE in fairly general, analytic terms, she approached it as an existential problem for every creature created in the divine image (I think she argues for all creatures, too, but can't remember). She believes the gospel of Jesus Christ works, but it has to meet the criteria of ensuring that the meaning and goodness of each person's existence outweighs and overcomes the evil they experience/witness. I can't argue her conclusion here since it is not the proper forum, but it's an interesting read. John Hick's theodicy Evil and the God of Love is also good. Both Adams and Hick have been helpful to me in this regard.

If we accept what Christianity has on offer, I think it can be seen in such a way as to adequately defeat evil, which is all it really promises. If we go back to the problem of origins, I think Christians have a much more difficult argument to make. But that would take us to the philosophical arguments, mostly established over the last forty or fifty years, which you already know.

Personally, I do assume (as so many have) that goodness is real (ontologically real) and evil is a tendency towards nothing (a negation of goodness/being). Goodness needs evil like health needs a sick person (to twist a similar quote by Meister Eckhart). I agree with the ancients that existence, goodness, beauty, truth are all one thing (God). Evil is a parasite that tries to undo that one thing, but its host does not need it and can discard it. Whether it will be so discarded remains to be seen and remains an act of faith until it is seen, imo. But again, that assumption doesn't really explain evil's origin.

 

[zippy2006]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

I have certainly wrestled with the concept from a philosophical standpoint. I am interested in how some Christians wrestle with it.

What is the problem that you have in mind? A lot of different ideas go under that heading, "problem of evil."

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

I have certainly wrestled with the concept from a philosophical standpoint. I am interested in how some Christians wrestle with it.

Holy (good, without any evil) created the whole creation. The whole creation was good when God created it.

Evil is just absence of good, like darkness is absence of light. You can say, evil is absence of God.

When God has created us, He gave us a free will to obey or reject Him. He told us the consequences of both obedience and disobedience. Humanity chose sin. Sin is absence of goodness and it separates us from the Holy God. Through sin, all the evil we see today, entered the world.

Because God is good, He must punish every evil, every sin. He can chose to punish it all immediately, or later, either way, all evil will be punished.

When we sinned, we died spiritually (separated from God) and began to die physically. Hell is a place where sinners go to suffer God's punishment for their sins. Eternal hell is the hardest part of the Bible for me, but it is just, sin must be punished.

God however does not desire us to go to hell, so He sent His Son who suffered and died on the cross, and was risen on the third day that who ever believes in Him should not perish, but have an everlasting life in Heaven. That does not mean the sins of believers will go unpunished, but every sin of every believer was punished on Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ dealt with every sin of every believer on the cross. He atoned, He fully paid for, and He reconciles you to God. This is where Christianity is different from every religion, because only in Christianity every sin gets punished. Only in Christianity you have a Saviour who pays the penalty for your sins, and atones for them. You do not have that anywhere else.

Jesus Christ is the only one who can forgive your sins, because He is the one who dealt with sin on the cross.

But one day, He will come back, and God will justly judge every human that ever existed, and every sin will be punished. Today, God in His love and mercy calls to you His Son. But this time of grace is coming to an end, because good God must punish every evil.

 

[PloverWing]

Marilyn McCord Adams in her Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God

Thanks for the book recommendation! I'm off to the library...

 

[timothyu]

Evil, aka sin, is simply according to God, our putting our will ahead of God's will, the same as the rebellious elohim and Eve and Adam did. That is selfishness, in other words focusing on self. As a result we have self interest, self justification, self serving ways, self righteousness, being self absorbed, self centred, self obsessed, etc.. All of which lead to selfishness usually at the expense of others, as we see in examples given of theft, murder, adultery, vanity etc..

God gives us two simple solutions by way of Jesus' two commandments. Put His wil first ahead of our own and look out for the best interests of others instead of simply self. Not rocket science. Even a child can understand.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I am curious how Christianity as a whole, but more specifically, how do Christians, as individuals, view and solve (if possible) the Problem of Evil.

I have certainly wrestled with the concept from a philosophical standpoint. I am interested in how some Christians wrestle with it.

... I just hold out for a Superlative Hope over and against the pain, suffering and mortality we all have to grapple with. It's either that or break down into Camus' absurdism.

 

[timothyu]

This world is one of pain and death which we all bring on ourselves. This is why the Adversary rules here. Fortunately after paying the price some have been given the option of rebirth in a new Kingdom free of our shortcomings and their reward. Some, being those who reject the traditional ways of mankind.

 

[HARK!]

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