The Problem Of Evil

The existence of evil is not compatible with the existence of an all‚powerful, all-good god. Why would such a god allow us to be victims of horrible diseases, predators, poisonous plants, or natural disasters (conditions this god is believed to have created) or victims of evil perpetrated by other humans (why are innocent people allowed to be hurt)?

The problem of evil can be reconciled with the existence of a weak or evil god. However, most people choose not to believe in such a god.

Following is a general examination of the problem of evil, including attempts to reconcile it with the existence of an all‚powerful, all-good god. Then, four specific religions are also examined to see if they can provide an answer to this problem of evil.


THE NATURE OF A GOD

If it is in the nature of a god to be all-powerful and all-good, then why does evil exist? If any of us, being the kind persons we are, had the power and knowledge of a god, we would certainly eliminate the evils of this world. In fact, given the opportunity, we would never have created them in the first place.

It may be said that hospitals are monuments to godžs incompetence, indifference, or cruelty.


"MYSTERIOUS WAYS"

Some religious people believe a god allows evil for reasons that are beyond human comprehension. But couldnžt an all-powerful, all-good god have designed a master plan that didnžt involve torturing innocent people?

If evil is the will of a god, then isnžt any attempt to overcome evil, such as by medicine or defending ourselves, violating godžs will? And if whatever we do to help ourselves is also godžs will, and if we have free will, that means we are god! We must do "godžs work" because he isnžt doing it himself.

Any god that causes, allows, or exploits the suffering of innocent people is not worthy of praise and worship.


THE DEVIL

Some religious people claim there is a devil that causes evil. But this is not a satisfactory answer. Who created this devil? Who has more power than this devil? Who allows this devil to commit evil? If god is all-powerful, then this god is ultimately responsible for evil.


THE "FALL" OF HUMANITY

There are those who believe life was originally perfect, but the first humans somehow messed things up and humanity has suffered ever since. This is known as "blaming the victim." (The best-known version of this scenario is the Biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.)

However, if the first humans were imperfect, who created them that way? Who set them on the path to failure? Who knows everything and knew the Fall would occur? This all-powerful, all-good god.

Since the Fall of these first humans was pre-ordained, why punish them? Furthermore, why punish future generations of innocent people? Civilized countries have laws against such injustice. Doesnžt this make us more fair-minded than god? Again, god is responsible for evil.


"ROBOTS"

Some religious people argue that, without evil, humans would be "robots." However, there are always a few lucky people who are born healthy, never have a significant illness, never experience a natural disaster, never have a crime committed against them, and die peacefully in their sleep at a very old age. No one would say these people are "robots." So why can't a god arrange this for everyone?

Many people believe a god created a heaven in which there is no evil. Does this mean the occupants of heaven are "robots"? If not, why canžt Earth be free from evil?


HELL

Many religious people believe in an all-powerful, all-good god who condemns certain people to an eternal hell after death. (Sometimes this punishment is merely for disbelief.) But why would an all-knowing god allow the birth of people destined for hell? And, no earthly crime, no matter how terrible, warrants eternal punishment. How can this god be all-good?


JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY & THE BIBLE

God Creates Everything.
Since This Includes Evil, He Cannot Be All-Good.

"For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them" (Exodus 20:11)

". . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)

"Who has known the mind of the Lord? For from him and through him and to him are all things." (Romans 11:34,36)

God Admits He Creates Evil, So He Cannot Be All-Good.

"I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)

"Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" (Lamentations 3:38)

"When disaster comes to a city, has the Lord not caused it?" (Amos 3:6)

(The Bible also contains many specific examples of this god condoning, ordering, and committing evil himself!)


ISLAM & THE QURAN

God Is All-Powerful.
Since He Does Not Eliminate Evil, Then He Is Not All-Good.

". . . for Allah has power over all things." (Surah 2:20)

God Ordains Evil Against Unbelievers Of Islam,
So He Cannot Be All-Good.

"I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: (so) strike off their heads and cut off their fingertips." (Surah 8:12)

". . . slay the pagans wherever you find them." (Surah 9:5)

". . . when you meet the unbelievers, cut off their heads." (Surah 47:4)

"But those who reject Allah ‚ for them is destruction, and Allah will bring their deeds to naught." (Surah 47:8)

HINDUISM

A God Creates Everything. By Definition, This Includes Evil.

". . . I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being ã moving or nonmoving ã that can exist without Me." (Bhagavad-Gita 10.39)
"He encircles all things, radiant and bodiless, unharmed and untouched by evil. All-seeing, all-wise, all-present, self-existent, he has made all things for well for ever and ever." (Isa Upanishad 8)

Most Hindu gods, demi-gods, and demons are viewed as imperfect and detached from human affairs. However, any gods that are all-powerful must not be all-good; any that are all-good must not be all-powerful. Otherwise, evil would not exist. Any purposeful detachment or indifference to human suffering should be viewed as not being all-good.

The Hindu caste system, which assigns social value, can bring misery to those considered to be in a low caste. Hinduism also encourages some widows to be burned alive on their husbandsž funeral pyres.


SUMMARY

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam claim their gods are all-powerful creators who actually cause evil themselves. This means they cannot be all-good gods. Neither is any Hindu god shown to be both all-powerful and all-good. We are left with the same questions and contradictions with which we began. Neither the god idea in general, nor the gods of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism in particular, give us a satisfactory answer to the problem of evil.

THE ATHEIST VIEWPOINT

Good and evil happen to people in an impartial manner. This is what we would expect to occur in a universe without a god. Since there is no evidence of a god who is helping us, we must help each other. Through science and compassion, we can try to create a heaven here on Earth.



edited by August Berkshire.   © 1999-2000 August Berkshire
August Berkshire is the Associate President of Minnesota Atheists and a member of the board of directors of the Atheist Alliance.