Epicurus (341–270 BC), an ancient Greek philosopher, founded
a school of philosophy called Epicureanism. In a quote beloved by atheists, he is
alleged to have stated:
·
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 able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor
willing? Then why call him God?
I would simply like to examine one part of this quotation: “Is
he able [to prevent suffering or evil], but not willing? Then he is malevolent.”
This statement is seriously flawed:
·
A doctor
removes a cancer causing suffering, but no one would accuse him of being
malevolent. Why then would anyone accuse God of being malevolent for allowing
evil?
·
From a
Christian perspective, we all have a “cancer,” which we call “sin” or “evil.”
It is a malevolent God who would allow such a “cancer” to fester untreated. How
does God treat this “cancer?” He enables us to learn the hard way through the
things that we suffer.
·
We cannot
derive the concepts of “evil” or “malevolence” without God. Without God,
these concepts are merely human or cultural inventions, lacking any existence
outside of our passing thoughts and whims. Therefore, to charge that God is
evil is merely to say, “Today, I feel that God is evil, at least for my way of
thinking.”
·
God has a
plan to eventually eradicate evil and suffering. This is certainly
favorable, at least for those who embrace this plan, to the atheistic hope of
annihilation.
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