What is the problem of evil? And how have people sometimes tried to answer it?

∙The problem of evil is the question of whether the evil and suffering we see in the world is compatible with the existence of an omnibenevolent (all-good), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful) God. ∙It is closely related to the argument from evil, which is an argument against the existence of God (often the God of the Bible or the Qur’an) based on the problem of evil. If God is omniscient and omnipotent, the argument goes, then he knows everything that is going wrong and is able to stop it, and if he is omnibenevolent then he must want surely want to. ∙There are many different ways that believers have tried to answer this question. Before we begin, however, it may be useful to distinguish between two types of evil: ‘natural evil’ and ‘moral evil’. ∙'Natural evil' is suffering caused by the natural world, such as that caused by hurricanes, earthquakes, or cancer. ∙'Moral evil', on the other hand, is brought about by human action: examples include murder, theft, and terrorism. ∙One common answer to the Problem of Evil is that God gave human beings free will, and that while he wants them to act morally and not cause suffering, he does not force them to. Therefore, much of the evil in the world may be attributed to humans and not to God. ∙This is known as the ‘Free will defence’. However, while this argument may be seen to provide an explanation for the existence of moral evil, it does not answer the question of natural evil, as this is not brought about by human action. ∙There are various ways that philosophers and theologians have tried to answer the question of natural evil. St Irenaeus suggested the ‘Soul-making theodicy’ (a theodicy is an attempt to defend the existence of God against the argument from evil), arguing that some evil is necessary in the world to make humans develop and grow (this is also known as the ‘Irenaean Theodicy’). ∙St Thomas Aquinas suggested the ‘Afterlife Theodicy’, which argues that the afterlife is eternal while human life is short, and that God allows suffering in this life in order to judge human moral actions and grant everlasting heaven and hell, and thus that the eternal afterlife justifies the brief injustice oi this world. ∙A final answer to the problem of evil is known as ‘Sceptical Theism’. This theory holds that human beings simply cannot tell if a certain evil might eventually lead to greater good, or diminished evil, but that God, being omniscient, can, and therefore permits evil in the instances where it will lead to a greater good. ∙There are many other arguments and counter-arguments on the subject of the problem of evil; however, the main ones have been described above. All that’s left between you and a top mark is for you to study and learn them, and to consider for yourself which ones you agree with and think can be rationally justified.