1. Out of the Whirlwind Is God asleep at the wheel? Talk 3 The Christian Response

2. The Christian Response?

3. Summary Atheists acknowledge evil but deny God Pantheists acknowledge God(s) but deny evil Theists acknowledge both God and evil

4. A wholly good, all powerful, personal and moral God exists who cares deeply about the people he has created Yet, evil also exists and is the source of all pain and suffering God and evil can exist at the same time!

5. A) The existence of evil On what basis do we decide something is evil? Or good?

6. How would you define…..? Cancer? Car rust ? Tooth decay? Wood rot?

7. A) The existence of evil … We cannot define evil without first defining its opposite – good Evil is not a first cause – it is good that has gone wrong or been corrupted The reality of evil actually requires the existence of God rather than disproves it.

8. Moral law from the moral law Giver?

9. B) The Avoidibility of Evil Could God have created a world without evil? What would that look like?

10. Democracy or Dictatorship?

11. B) The Avoidibility of evil ….. In the beginning ….

12. B) The Avoidibility of evil ….. Some things are impossible for God God cannot give humans free will and at the same time with hold free will from them

13. B) The Avoidibility of evil ….. Free choice risks wrong choice ….

14. B) The Avoidibility of evil ….. What have I done to deserve this? God must really have it in for me

15. B) The Avoidibility of evil ….. The suffering God

16. B) The Avoidibility of evil ….. God provided a solution to sin and evil without destroying our freedom

17. C) The Purposelessness of Evil Q: If God existed he would not allow the purposeless suffering we see, right? A: 1) We are not God! 2) What am I here for?

18. C) The Purposelessness of Evil A: 3) Is all pain bad? Eg. Leprosy “God whispers to us in our pleasures but shouts to us in our pain. Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis The Problem of Pain

19. D) The Persistence of Evil Q: Why does bad stuff keep on happening? A: 1) If God wiped out all evil tonight..... Who would be left? 2) “not yet” does not mean “never” “He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

20. D) The Persistence of Evil…. D-day landings 6th June 1944 End of WWII 8 th May 1945

21. “…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him..” 1 Corinthians 2:9