Does the Existence of Evil Prove or Disprove God?

I have written before on evil and God. this post by my friend Glenn is a good dissection of the most common argument to refute God by the existence of evil.

Thomistic Bent

Many have used the existence of evil in the world to try to argue that an all-powerful, all-good God does not exist. The line of reasoning usually goes something like this:

1. If there is an all-powerful and all-good God then no evil exists.
2. Evil exists.
3. Therefore an all-powerful and wholly good God does not exist.

Sometimes another conclusion is added:

4. If a God does exist that allows evil, he would not be worthy of worship.

Few people will actually deny premise 2. Although such atheists as Richard Dawkins tell us that the universe has no evil nor good, they turn right around and call religion evil. The focus is instead on premise one, arguing that an all-powerful and all-good God would not allow evil such as we witness regularly in the world. The practical, everyday conclusion by many is:

1a. Since evil exists, God must not…

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About dwwork

The name of this blog is taken from 1 Peter 3:13 - “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience. This verse became special to me over ten years ago when I was asked to teach an adult Sunday school class on Christian apologetics. This interest grew over the years to the point that I took some graduate level classes in apologetics. I think the best way to be prepared to give and answer to everyone who asks is to know scripture. It is my hope that through these short devotionals the reader will become more familiar with each verse. I have tried when possible to make them personal hoping in some small way to show that God’s word written over two thousand years ago is still relevant today. In the writing of these short devotionals I have been able to better understand how God’s word impacts my life. It is my hope that you too will come closer to our Lord Jesus and develop a closer relationship with Him. Finally, if the reader finds anything in conflict with scripture please let me know. God’s word is the final authority always overrules anything I might write. David

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