10.14.20 - Problem of Evil #1

The Problem of Evil #1

Atheist say the Christian God created everything which means he created evil, which makes him complicit in every evil act – particularly since he allows it to go on. Or, if this is not true, then God is weak because he must not be able to stop evil. All false.

Let’s discuss what evil is.

Q: What is evil?

A: Evil is not a thing or force. It has no existence in and of itself. It is like darkness. Darkness is not a thing. Darkness is the absence of light. Or coldness. Coldness is not a thing. Coldness is the absence of heat. Absolute zero is the complete absence of heat.

Likewise, evil is the absence of good. For free will beings, good and evil describe the choices we make.

Since evil isn’t a “thing,” the question was asked if good was a thing?

Love and good originate with God. So they either are God, or they are attributes of God. In 1 John 4:8, John says, “God is love.” This means love is his essence, which can also suggest his primary attribute. We don’t know exactly because God is not a finite being. God also has the attributes of perfect justice and perfect mercy, which are paradoxical and only solved by love.

Speaking of perfection, humans desire perfect everything. We desire perfect justice, perfect love, etc. Because of our spiritual nature, we know what the end game is. Perfect implies permanence (because temporary anything is imperfect). Therefore, perfect anything is by definition unchanging or infinite. As we know, such perfect, infinite love, goodness, etc. only exists in the realm of the Trinity.

Q: If infinite/perfect good only exists in heaven, does that mean that all finite reality is full of evil?

A: No. Love and good exist in our finite world, just not perfectly. Using the analogy of heat and light, there are many degrees of good or love; consequently, there are many degrees of evil when love and good are absent. For example, cursing because you stubbed your toe is not on the same level or degree of screaming profanities at someone; and screaming profanities at someone is not on the same level as murdering them.

Q: Once again, how does all this affect the challenge atheist's claim about God creating evil?

A: Easy, God didn’t create evil because evil is not a thing or a force. Like cold and darkness, it is simply the absence of a thing. It is the absence of love and, for humans, it happens through the choices people make.

Q: This understanding of evil - that it is not a thing in and of itself - would also eliminate certain religions. Which ones?

A: Dualistic religions, which tend to be polytheistic. It is believing evil is its own life force, with the gods of good and evil doing battle. The Gnosticism heresy was a form of dualism: the spirit world is good and the material world is evil and therefore Christ couldn’t have become a man (it was an illusion). Hinduism is polytheistic, with good and bad gods. Christianity is monotheistic – there is only one God.

Q: What kind of evil have we been describing?

A: What we described earlier on our good-evil thermometer is called “moral evil.” Moral evil is defined as any free-will act that causes pain and suffering to others. Only free-will beings can cause this.

Q: Given that humans cause evil against other humans, why couldn’t God have prevented that?

A: God allows human’s to commit evil because He gave them freedom. Freedom means the freedom to choose (“free will”). The reason God gave humans this freedom was because the highest form of love requires the freedom to choose.

Yes, God could prevent human evil but only if he took away our freedom to choose. That would also mean we would lose the freedom to love. Obviously, God placed a higher value on freedom and love.

Q: What about the natural world/universe?

A: The universe is moving towards something. Since it is constantly moving and changing, it doesn’t qualify as being perfect, right? The only question is: is it moving towards chaos or towards greater order.

When stars exploded into supernovas, the elements for lifeforms were released. The cataclysm that killed the dinosaurs made the rise of mammals and humans possible. Hurricanes help to balance global heat and replenish barrier islands. There are many other examples but these seem to suggest that nature may be moving towards greater order. If the universe is moving towards greater order, then logically speaking, it is moving towards greater perfection. If so, it doesn’t take a genius to conclude that perhaps the universe is moving towards God’s intended purpose.

Q: Doesn’t the creation story in the bible speak of the same thing (In the beginning, God brought order out of chaos…)?

A: Indeed, it does (Genesis 1:1-3).

Q: Does Genesis explain how humans fit into this “order” thing?

A: Yes, it says God breathed his spirit into humans. Is it any surprise, then, that the very nature of humans is to bring about more order in all that we do? Not only science, but in our jobs, our homes, and our relationships?

Q: Isn’t this the very reason for science?

A: Yes, the studying, testing, and categorizing of everything in the material universe is an attempt to bring order about the universe into our minds; so that we can use it that knowledge to bring more order (control).

Q: Are we not trying to do the same even as we seek to advance our understanding of God? Is perhaps our human nature/behavior following the same direction, or progression, of the universe – moving towards greater perfection?

A: Yes, as long as we remember that we have free will. That’s a game-changer. We can also choose to disrupt order.

Here are some biblical references to the idea of perfection. Nothing significant but interesting:

“…the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10

“It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become perfect. But I keep pursuing it…” Philippians 3:12

“And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.” James 1:4

“In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world.” 1 John 4:17-18

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3

CCC 310: “With infinite wisdom and goodness God freely willed to create the universe ‘in a state of journeying towards ultimate perfection.’”

Conclusion

The point of all this is to provide the framework for our next discussion. Humans are perhaps not alone in trying to move towards perfection; all creation seems to be on a similar path. The big difference is that we have a spiritual component, which enables us to be aware of ourselves, God, good and evil, and our own freedom (free will).

Now, how do we apply this knowledge to the next form of evil: innocent suffering via natural causes?

A: See you next week!