1. The Problem of Evil

2. What is Evil? The absence of good
Any act that goes against the will of God and results in human suffering
Types of Evil:
Moral Evil: Any evil that is a result of human action
Natural Evil: Any evil (or human suffering) that is a result of the physical world (examples: disease, natural disasters).
If God is Good, then anything that does not align with God is not good.

3. The Problem of Evil
The problem of evil is a philosophical argument which argues that evil and the Christian God cannot co-exist. The argument goes as follows:
God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omni- benevolent (all-good).
If God is omniscient, then God knows what is good and what is evil.
If God is omnipotent, then God CAN stop evil.
If God is omni-benevolent, then God would WANT to stop evil.
Therefore, evil and God can’t both exist at the same time.
Evil exists. Therefore, God cannot exist (or God would stop evil).

5. The Problem of Evil
The problem of evil has been the primary argument against the existence of the Christian God for centuries.
A THEODICY is an explanation for the existence of evil.
The Christian theodicy is the free will theodicy. It argues that God can co-exist with evil.

6. Free Will Theodicy Evil exists.
God DOES NOT cause evil (natural or moral). God does NOT punish humans on earth.
Some evil is a result of human misuse of free will. This moral is evil is caused by humans. Because humans are free, they are responsible, not God.
Some evil is a result of living in a physical world, like earthquakes. God does not cause earthquakes. Earthquakes result from the moving of tectonic plates.
Consequently, evil and God CAN co-exist. Evil does not come from God but from humans.