The problem of evil is one of my favorite problems to wrestle with, even as an agnostic. I think it can be “solved,” but it requires some bullets to be bitten in order to maintain such a solution. For example, I think the skeptical theist response adequately solves the problem of evil. We just can’t know why (or ascertain the reasons/motivations for why) god would permit evil in our world. However, I do think a major issue arises for the person who defends this. P1 : We can’t know why god would permit suffering in our world. P2 : If we can’t know why god would permit evil in our world, then we equally can’t know why god would permit good in our world. C : We can’t know why god permits good in our world. Furthermore, P1 : If we can’t know why god permits good or evil in our world, then we can’t know why god would create a world at all. P2 : We can’t know why god permits good or evil in our world. C : We can’t know why god would create a world at all. Even further, P1 : If we can’t know why god would create a world at all, then we can’t know that god created our world. P2 : We can’t know why god created a world at all. C : We can’t know god created our world. There’s obviously a lot that could be (and has been) said regarding the problem of evil. I’m curious. Have either of y’all have read the book “God’s Problem” by Bart Ehrman. He gives an interesting perspective on the biblical portraits of god and the various lines of thought on the POE.
Absolutely, the problem of evil could be talked about for days! I (Cullen) have read several of Ehrman's books and have an appreciation for his work. But that isn't one that I have read yet.
The problem of evil is one of my favorite problems to wrestle with, even as an agnostic. I think it can be “solved,” but it requires some bullets to be bitten in order to maintain such a solution. For example, I think the skeptical theist response adequately solves the problem of evil. We just can’t know why (or ascertain the reasons/motivations for why) god would permit evil in our world. However, I do think a major issue arises for the person who defends this.
P1 : We can’t know why god would permit suffering in our world.
P2 : If we can’t know why god would permit evil in our world, then we equally can’t know why god would permit good in our world.
C : We can’t know why god permits good in our world.
Furthermore,
P1 : If we can’t know why god permits good or evil in our world, then we can’t know why god would create a world at all.
P2 : We can’t know why god permits good or evil in our world.
C : We can’t know why god would create a world at all.
Even further,
P1 : If we can’t know why god would create a world at all, then we can’t know that god created our world.
P2 : We can’t know why god created a world at all.
C : We can’t know god created our world.
There’s obviously a lot that could be (and has been) said regarding the problem of evil.
I’m curious. Have either of y’all have read the book “God’s Problem” by Bart Ehrman. He gives an interesting perspective on the biblical portraits of god and the various lines of thought on the POE.
Absolutely, the problem of evil could be talked about for days!
I (Cullen) have read several of Ehrman's books and have an appreciation for his work. But that isn't one that I have read yet.