Philosophy of Religion: Good and Evil
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Good and Evil Essay
Kiara R. Nichols
Liberty University Online
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Compare and Contrast the three readings
In my opinion all of the readings have similarities. Craig, Habermas, and Thomas each
write from a theistic point of view. Habermas and Thomas show us the theists view of God,
while Craig shows us how life without God would be. Craig writes, “If there is no God, then man
and the universe are doomed. Like prisoners condemned to death, we await our unavoidable
execution. There is no God, and there is no immortality”. Meanwhile, as I read articles from
Habermas and Thomas, I found in their articles questioning of why God allowed certain events
to take place such as Hurricane Katrina, children becoming blind or someone falling ill to cancer.
They gave good examples of arguments that Atheist could use and would be beneficial in regard
to their point of view.
Can life have objective meaning without God?
Craig stated that, “If God does not exist, then both man and the universe are inevitably
doomed to death. Man, like all biological organisms, must die. With no hope of immortality,
man’s life leads only to the grave.” With that quote alone we see that there is no meaning without
God. What would be the point of existing without God? What would we be living for?
Could life be “good” without objective meaning?
Craig argues that, “If there is no God, then life itself lacks meaning, value and purpose.
So, if we all are doomed to death then the question still stands, what is the purpose? Nothing will
matter and everything will be meaningless, so what would be the point? Craig also stated that
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“even if we could live forever, life would still be meaningless, it is not mere eternity that gives
life meaning. There must be something that gives it meaning. Without God, even an eternal life
would be a big SO WHAT”? To just sit and think, we would all be sitting and waiting, but what
would be sitting and waiting? However, life is not meaningless therefore, God exists.
What effect do your conclusions regarding the problem of evil have, in your view, on
the philosophical case for God’s existence?
As we know, there is a lot of evil and wrongdoing in the world. Somethings are out of our
control as other things can easily be avoided. I don’t believe that God allows things to happen to
us that are bad. “Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.” (Ecclesiasticus 7:1 KJV) In my
view I believe that God does in fact exist. We are alive and breathing because of God’s existence.
He showed grace upon us and sent his only son to die on the cross for us so that we may be saved
and able to live a life. We are to live a life for God and live it abundantly. God told us to be
fruitful and multiple, he said in his word that he has plans for you and me. Those plans are for
our good and not to harm us. We have to know and understand what the will of God is for our
own lives. Once that is clear for us, we are able to live in the many promises of God. We have to
learn and live a life that is Christ-centered, when we are able to do that, we will be able to
understand how we can glorify God in everything. We were created to worship; we were planned
for God’s pleasure. We are to enjoy real fellowship because were formed for God’s family. We
were created and designed for a purpose. We are to live out that purpose. We are not here in vein.
Each and every day we rise and give thanks to God we are living miracles. It is because of God
that we are well, alive and breathing. Each moment we are here, God is simply not done with us.
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Every second of the day we have to opportunity to turn whatever negative thing around and
make it for our good, for God has given us the power and authority to do so. Life and death are
in the power of the tongue. With my tongue I proclaim that God does indeed exist!
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References
Craig, William Lane, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3rd Ed., Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2008, 71-90 Retrieved from: https://learn.liberty.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-
41142437-dt-content-rid-
488737708_1/courses/PHIL201_D04_202030/PHIL201_LUO_8wk_DEV_ImportedCont
ent_20160810083903/Master/CraigReading_3rdEd.pdf
Habermas, Gary, R, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 5:14 (2008) : 813-27 The
Plight Of The New Atheism: A Critique Retrieved from:
http://garyhabermas.com/articles/J_Evangelical_Theological_Soc/habermas_JETS_Plight
_of_new_atheism_critique.htm
Thomas, Tom, Suffering” Richard Dawkins Contra Jesus (2018) Retrieved from:
https://www.moralapologetics.com/wordpress/2018/9/19/suffering-richard-dawkins-contra-jesus
