Problem of Evil
The greatest objection to theism—and the powerful responses that address it.
Theodicies and Defenses
Responses to the problem of evil. A theodicy explains why God permits evil; a defense shows that God's existence is compatible with evil.
Multiple theodicies may work together—free will, soul-making, greater good, and more. We need not know God's specific reasons to know that He has sufficient reasons.
- Free Will Defense: God allows evil because free will is a great good—and free creatures can choose evil. Love requires freedom; freedom makes evil possible.
- Soul-Making: Suffering enables growth in virtue—character development requires challenges. Courage requires danger; compassion requires suffering.
- Greater Good: God permits evil for the sake of greater goods we may not fully understand. Our cognitive limitations prevent us from seeing the full picture.
- Skeptical Theism: We should not expect to understand all of God's reasons. A child cannot understand a parent's reasons; how much less can we understand God's?
The Christian Response
Christianity offers unique resources for addressing evil. God does not merely explain evil—He enters into it, defeats it, and redeems it.
The cross is the center of the Christian response. God Himself suffered the worst evil—and transformed it into the greatest good. This is not abstract theodicy but incarnate love.
- The Cross: God entered into suffering—the cross shows God is not distant from our pain. He knows suffering from the inside.
- Redemption: God brings good from evil—the greatest evil (the cross) brought the greatest good (salvation). He redeems, not just permits.
- Eschatological Hope: Evil will be defeated—God will wipe away every tear. The story is not over; the ending is good.
- Participation in Christ: Our suffering can be united with Christ's—it becomes meaningful, redemptive. 'I fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions' (Col 1:24).