Is there any doubt that there’s much evil in the world? Most would say that evil is every bit as widespread today as at any time in world history. Although frequently referred to as terrorism, it’s often deeply rooted in abstract religious differences, namely, “My God’s better than your God.”

Daily, our various news media report numerous evil events great and small, intended and unintended. Such happenings are particularly troubling when the circumstances are random and/or the casualties are deemed to be innocent victims. Even death-dealing natural events seem evil in their treatment of sinner and innocent alike.

Philosophers and theologians have wrestled with and debated the deeper meaning of the subject for millenniums. The latter have been hard pressed to explain why an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God allows evil to exist when, presumably, He has the power of prevention. While theologians have offered various and sundry explanations, none can be said to be fully satisfying. Ultimately, their final fallback justification is God acts in mysterious ways — rationally, an unacceptable explication as evidenced by the following.

Some 2,500 years ago, the philosopher Epicurus made the following observation: “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is not omnipotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both willing and able? Then whence cometh evil? Is He neither willing nor able? Then why call him God?”

Consider carefully: How say you?

Thomas M Harrison


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