Why does the problem of evil challenge belief in an all-powerful and perfectly good God?
In the philosophy of religion, the problem of evil challenges theistic belief by highlighting a perceived contradiction between three propositions: God is almighty, God is perfectly good, and evil exists.1
This challenge, famously articulated by Epicurus and later David Hume, suggests that if God were both willing and able to prevent evil, it would not exist. If God is unable, he is not omnipotent; if he is unwilling, he is not perfectly good. Consequently, critics argue that the presence of moral and natural evil renders the existence of such a deity unlikely or impossible.12
To address this, theologians and philosophers employ theodicy or "defenses," which attempt to reconcile these attributes with the reality of suffering. Common strategies include:
- Free Will Defense: Arguing that moral evil is a necessary consequence of human freedom, which is a greater good than a world of automata.12
- Soul-Making: Suggesting that natural evils provide the necessary environment for developing virtues like courage and compassion.12
- Cognitive Distance: Positing that human understanding is too limited to grasp Godās ultimate purposes for permitting evil.2
Ultimately, these responses seek to show that the existence of evil is logically compatible with divine goodness and power.13