[CottShop]

I know the issue of why God allows evil is a tough one to ponder, but the Glen Miller link I think can help quite a bit in understanding the issue more thoroughly

[clamper1797]

So we can know good ....

[2harddrive]

Why DOES God allow evil? For that matter, why does He allow Democrats?

[Vicki]

Saw an interview with Rev. Billy Graham some time again with David Frost and he was asked this question. He responded by saying that Satan and his demons are constantly at work here on earth. In fact, if I recall correctly he said that Satan currently had control over the earth.

People tend to forget the existence of Satan. I would imagine it's all about free will. All of us are tempted at times and we can either go with it or resist.

[proudofthesouth]

I have been seriously struggling with this ever since I became a Christian just over a year ago. Its something that is keeping me from totally trusting God.

IMO to say that its because of free will is an excuse because God created EVERYTHING and isn’t bound by rules or laws. Why does he allow Satan to run loose?

If anyone can enlighten me on this issue please do so. I’m so sick of thinking and struggling with this issue.

[metesky]

Because He can. Never heard of the concept of “free will”, eh?

[RobRoy]

C. S. Lewis’ books “Mere Christianity” and “The Problem of Pain” address this issue very nicely.

It is actually logically much simpler than one would think.

[P.O.E.]

Try some Boethius, pages 110 etc...

[Radix]

If you were unfamiliar with evil, and if you only knew good things, then you might be one mindless being living in a reality of ignorant bliss.

 

The fruit of "The tree of the knowledge of good and evil" is what the Bible in Genesis suggests that we all partake of.

 

It is very simple stuff.

[fr_freak]

There are actually a couple of logical inconsistencies which have always bothered me about this question. Maybe someone out there can provide an answer:

1) God could have made us to be exactly as He wants us to be, to think as He wants, and to behave as He wants. Instead, He chose to give us free will, yet at the end of all things, He will judge us on whether we thought as He wants and acted as He wants, and will then either cast the rest away, or send them to Hell. If the desired end result is to bring souls to Heaven who believe and act a certain way, why not simply make them that way to begin with?

2) Is there really a Hell? Because it seems rather wasteful and cruel to create a soul from nothing, and to deliberately create it as imperfect, just so you can see whether or not it will behave as it would if you had made it perfect, then take those that fail the test and cast them to a place of eternal torment. Wouldn't it be better to simply destroy the failed ones? Why create a being from nothing just so you can torture it for eternity?

3) If we each get only one life, how can we possibly be judged equitably, given the drastically unequal distribution of circumstances? For example, one person could be born into a godless family of thieves, while another born into a middle-class family of devout church-goers. Either person could choose the right or wrong path, but wouldn't the child born to thieves be at a much higher risk for choosing the wrong path? It is like having a contest between two people to see who can carry a glass of water to the finish line without spilling it, except that one person travels on foot and the other has to travel by pogo stick.

Anyone have any good answers?

[timm22]

God has allowed evil to exist, as some of you might know, so that grace can abound all the more. Without evil, there would be no free will, and without free will, there would be no occasion for true love to exist.

We assume that God is all-powerful and all-good. Why would God resort to any means that involved something "not good" if He is not bound by logic or the rules of this universe?

For example, it is said that God allows evil so that we'll have a point of comparison for appreciating the good. Or it is said that God allows evil so that we will be able to exercise free will. The underlying assumption is that if God did not order the universe this way, neither of these objectives (appreciation of the good or exercise of free will) would be possible.

But why wouldn't they be possible? Why couldn't an all-powerful God, who created the universe and all the rules governing it, make it so that we could simulataneously enjoy free will AND not have the ability to make the wrong choices? Why can't an all powerful God give us the ability to appreciate the good WITHOUT ever having to experience evil?

I know those questions seem illogical, but remember that God is the creator of logic and is not bound by logic. An all powerful God, by definition, can achieve any objective by any means. So why would He choose means that involved evil?

The only possible answers I can think of are

a). God is not all-poweful
b). There is no such thing as good or evil (or God is indifferent to good/evil)
c). God doesn't exist

Is there any other possible answer?

[gate2wire]

Not my place to judge GOD or question GOD.
If this debate makes y’all happy, have at it.
It is what it is.

[Hot Tabasco]

Why does God allow the torture of children who in their young lives have no conception of a supreme being and have no means to either accept or reject Jesus?

And as for animals, pets are routinely beaten, maimed, tortured and killed by cruel individuals. Why does God allow that to happen?

[DouglasKC]

Interesting article and topic. Some other perspectives:

The Origin of Evil and Suffering

Why Does Evil Exist?

Did a Good God Create an Evil World?

Did God Create People Evil?

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

[bmwcyle]

Because it is hard to pull off a big flood every year.

[Texas Songwriter]

This has been an interesting question. Perhaps this might help. I have never come across a complete and understandable explaination, but I will say this.

I agree with your statement that God is sovereign over all and all of the universe.He is in control He cannot do wrong. I other words if God can do no wrong why am I responsible for anything which occurs. It might seem his sovereignty eliminates any responsibility.

So, did the Devil make us do it, or did the devil make me do it? Or did God make me do it? Remember God did not create anything which was not good. He cannot even look with approval upon sin (Heb 6"8). God does not tempt (James 1:13). So if God did not make me or the Devil do it, then who did?

Remember God (creator of all) did not make the Devil. He created Lucifer who decided per his free will to disobey God). Freedom is a good thing, if properly asserted. However, to exert ones will against God is to offend infinite justice. (God is just. God is merciful. God is kind. God is love.)

Remember in the Garden as each day closed, God asserted that 'it was good'. So as Adam, created innocent and perfect, but with the attribute of free will, God told Adam in Genesis 1:4, 10. 12, 18,21, 25.) After the last day God stated, "It was very good."(Gen. 1:31).

One thing God gave creatures was a good power called 'free will'. In Gen.2"16, God said, "....You are free.....". We, men, intuitively understand that freedom is a wonderful thing. Only those who usurp the will unto their own desires see freedom as bad. People do not stage marches against freedom.

However, the power of moral free choice entails the ability either to choose good (the will of God) or reject the will of God. Freedom makes evil possible.

If God made creatures free, and if it is good to be free, then the origin of evil is freedom misapplied. God is morally accountable for giving the good thing called free will, but He is not morally responsible for all the evil we do with our freedom. In brief, God made the fact of freedom; we are responsible for the acts of freedom. The fact of freedom is good. The acts of freedom, when it violates Gods will, is what we call evil.

Because of sin (a violation of Gods' infinite justice) must be dealt with consistent with the nature of God, only an infinit penalty could provide remediation. You and I, finite creatures, could never pay for our transgressions against a Holy God.

So, Sin, and our specific sins, were ordered remediated from before the foundation of the world, that God should become a man, live the Law, die, according to the scriptures, and resurrected, according to the scriptures, to pay a penalty you and I could never pay.

So, Adam and his wife were driven from perfect Eden, and a Cherubium placed at its entrance with a flaming sword which revolved all around (Gen. 3:24). The Bible says because of this act, the entire universe groans, it is so objectionable to God.

And the story goes on to the Revelation of Jesus Christ and you and I (believers) are back in the Garden, our offenses reconsiled, despite what we have done. Back to the Garden where we may eat freely of every fruit, and yes, even from the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowlege of Good and Evil (Rev.22). The wages of sin had been paid, and the gift of God realized by an Omipotent, Sovereign, Loving, Merciful, Longsuffering, Just God, who provided the only way to life eternal.

Gen.21:4...And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall ther be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

[Elsie]

Damned if I know!

I’m just some old clay myself.

[csense]

...God must not be perfect

Perfection is the fulfillment of the designers intent. Absent knowledge of the latter, the former can never be a coherent concept.

[jwalsh07]

I don't know why God does what He does.

But I do know this. I can build a voice activated doll who will obey my commands unquestionably until it dies a natural death. But that doll will never love me or have faith in me like my grandchildren do. Or not.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth.