It typically fashions itself in a question such as this. How can a good God allow so much evil to take place if He loves us? This is often asked by but not limited to someone who has been hurt while serving God faithfully or by someone who has no significant knowledge of who God truly is. The problem of evil also presents itself as more of a statement rather than a question as well. If God is all powerful and in complete control why does he allow such evil things to take place?
Sam Harris uses this idea in one of his quotes saying that “Either God can do nothing to stop catastrophes or he doesn’t care to or he doesn’t exist. God is either: impotent, evil or imaginary. Take your pick and choose wisely.” This can speak to many of those who don’t believe in God as this shows how even with this earth God didn’t create it perfectly which leads to natural disasters and if he did create this earth then he must be evil to have created it imperfectly and if a perfect being wants to create something imperfect when he can create it perfectly how is this justifiable? Some people also say that if we are a
He also has some strong opinion on the solutions that the theists have on the resolution to the problem of evil. He states that "If we use the cosmological argument at all, all we are entitled to infer is the existence of a cause commensurate with the effect to be explained, the universe, and this does not entitle us to postulate an all powerful, all perfect, uncaused cause." He also states that theists come up with what he believes is "unintelligent" instances of how we find reasons to believe in God and how he can exist in a world that has evil involved in people's lives. These instances of how evil can exist while GOd can to at the same time include, being punishment for people's wrongs or the consequence of having free will. But here I would like to put in my own opinion much like McCloskey has throughout his article.
For example, there was a mini-bus crash where 12 children and a teacher were killed, and an atheist would say the mini-bus and lorry were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that it certainly did not have anything to do with God. Some Christians would say that God gave humans free will, and with this, humans can commit evil things. God did not just make us all good and without free will, because without it God would be forcing goodness on us, which would mean we would not be truly good people and it would be a fake goodness. Other Christians say that God permits evil because it is his way of testing our faith for him. An example of this is in the bible, when Abrahams’ faith is tested by God when God tells him to sacrifice his son.
But it seems as though Russell feels he can rule that Christianity is not only one of its kind and that it is not true. We will see that his epistemological basics as well as his good credentials are narrow and we are doubtful of both his arrogant rationalism and his spiritual ability to defeat the Biblical and historical testimony to Jesus Christ. In addition, we will see that most of his believed logical refutations of arguments for God do not work (Britannica). Bertrand Russell thought that religious belief came from culture and fantasy. He thought that people believe in God because they have been taught as a baby to believe.
This is the question absolutes ask before making any decisions. Although many think this theory Has its weaknesses. Many people think that did God write this theory because it is good merely or is it that the thought it would be good to him. Some also say that why should we follow everything God says, that if he said killing people was good, will that mean it was actually good. Also Absolute Laws are always interpreted the wrong way.
Reconciling the existence of Evil, in a world that was created by God The question of how can evil exist if an all powerful, all knowing, and morally perfect being, God, exists. He should know of the evil, and since he’s morally perfect and all powerful be able to stop it. Many moral philosophers have attempted to answer this question throughout our history. Some have used it to prove that God doesn’t exist, others to show the nature of evil. Plato discussed the question of God being good.
Freedom within itself as been widely abused and misinterpreted since the beginning of life on earth. God gave Adam and Eve freedom the only rule they had to follow was not to eat from one tree. Think how simple life would be on earth today if that was the only thing we needed to stay away from. Leaving one tree alone versus murder, rapists and thieves and not to mention high political figures that have wreaked havoc on the world today because of this misinterpretation of freedom. Adolph Hitler, Jim Jones and even Charles Manson all used the generic meaning of freedom to accomplish their goals that caused so much pain to masses of people.
Aisha Qadeer Due: January 15, 2011 Philosophy of Religion paper Stephen Laurence, in his written work titled “Does God Exist?”, explores the arguments both for and against believing in God. One argument stood out to me in particular, and it has been an age-old question which people have contemplated over for years. It is the “Argument from Evil”, asking how it is possible that an all-loving and omnipotent God could allow there to be evil in the world. Laurence presents the reader with five premises and a conclusion regarding this. The first premise states that “If there is evil, God either isn’t willing or isn’t able to prevent it.” The idea of a God who is neither willing nor able to do something is almost immediately equating to no God.
Augustine is quick to clarify that God did not make sin. If God is good and all things he created are good then sin can not be created by God, for sin is evil. Augustine believes that sin is humanity's responsibility. Augustine’s view of the original sin is very complex and does not discuss it completely in Confessions, for his point of writing the book is more of a personal reflection on his view of evil in his own life. Simply stated, original sin is the condition that inclines human beings to selfishness and disobedience, even when they may want to act otherwise.