Problem of Evil

Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes, eh? Well, what do you expect me to do about them?

Bad things sometimes happen to good people and good things to bad people. An all-powerful deity that allows bad things to happen to good people is indifferent to human suffering.

Some claim that the Creator allows evil in the world in order not to interfere with the free choices of his creations. However, this allows the free choices of a small minority of bad guys to inhibit the free choices of the vast majority of good guys. A benevolent, omnipotent Creator could easily allow the freedom of most people by finding ways to prevent the few bad apples from having their way.

God does not protect even devout worshippers from catastrophe. On Palm Sunday, in Piedmont, Alabama, the congregation was singing Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) when the Lord provided a tornado that struck the church, injuring 90 worshippers and killing 20, including the pastor's 4-year-old daughter and 5 other children waiting to present a crucifixion pageant [Associated Press, 29 Mar 1994].

C. S. Lewis tried to excuse the Creator by blaming Satan for evil. He claimed that the Creator gave all his creatures free will, including Satan, but gave all a conscience, except Satan [The Case for Christianity, 1943, p.39,40,44]. This claim makes the Creator responsible for the proliferation of evil.

The omnipotent deity of the Old Testament never hesitated to intervene supernaturally in human affairs, yet in today's world seems unable or unwilling to help in even the smallest ways to avert major tragedies.