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In many ways the problem with evil is how it compares to God and his power and
morality. In our reading of Dew and Gould chapter 13, we are given 2 types of problems with
evil. One being the logical problem of evil, this is the point in which evil cannot be if God is
perfect in both a powerful and moral code. Simply stating that if God had the power to remove
evil, why hasn’t he? Furthermore, if he is perfect and loving why hasn’t he removed or stopped
evil? How can God and evil co-exist? Then comes the argument that God has allowed us free
will and in doing so has put the control of our action on good versus evil in our hands. The
second problem of evil is evidential problem of evil. This is stating that there is inevitable evil in
the world and is the argument defending the fact that God and evil are compatible due to the
stance that there is no pointless evil.
Dew & Gould states the theodicy embraced by theists and the free will that Plantinga’s
argument defends is probable cause for there to be Both God and evil but does not state that is it
fact or not. Puritt also suggests that this may be the most reasonable reason as to why both God
and evil can co-exist. Dew & Gould and Puritt both deemed that they believe the free will
theodicy to be of good premises on how both God and evil can be compatible. Pruitt stated that
God may be tolerable to some evils as “P1: God can justifiably allow some evil if it realizes
some worthwhile good that would not otherwise be possible.” The free will argument entails that
humans are given autonomy to make their own choices. That even if God were to step in and
take this free will away, then we would not in a sense be “free”. Which is why Jesus died for our
sins, to free us and allow us to live the way God intended. It is free will that allows humans to
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build up their good and understand right from wrong, it allows humans to have the power in
which they can make their own decisions. Dew & Gould stated, “Many philosophers think that
Plantinga’s Free Will Defense solved the logical problem of evil.” To which Pruitt aligns with.
Both Pruitt and Dew & Gould acknowledged that although Plantinga’s theory is probable it is
not a complete response to the problem of evil.
In Dumsday’s paper I found the most interesting concept that he brought up and
discussed was “Lewis on the Universal Revelation through Conscience” in this he brings to light
the interesting thought that we are giving the awareness of life and what it has to offer. This
awareness is of good and evil, right, and wrong, and awareness of our mind, body, and spirit. In
this, Dumsday states that Lewis believed this is how God would reveal himself to us. He also
states that we are given the gift of knowing what morality is and in this states that Lewis believed
further that “. The moral law itself transcends the natural order; moreover, through the law we
have a clear indicator that there is yet something else behind the physical world, something much
more like a mind than like anything physical, as only something mind-like could be the ultimate
repository and issuer of instructions.” I find this to be interesting because he speaks of the
universe or physical world to have a mind-like state at which we follow. This allows for multiple
questions to be asked like, how are we able to have the ability to follow a moral code in which
we were not born knowing? Where did this code of morality and ethics come from? How do
animals in their kingdoms all follow the same code in which they live their lives? All questions
that follow the main conclusion of this pivotal point.
I think that Dumsday makes a connection to Dew & Gould’s theory on divine
hiddenness. The connection I see is that both theory’s have a firm belief that God is unseeing as
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in we don’t see him physically but rather in his works through mortality and actions of faith.
Each theory believes that since he isn’t seen physically this causes a loss of faith in the people
that like concrete evidence to allow themselves to fully believe in God. Dew & Gould and
Dumsday both proclaim that it’s not just God in Christianity but other Gods that are also distant,
unheard, and unseen. Dew & Gould focus more on the distance Christianity theory and
Dumsday focuses on the supernatural nature of God and how the difference in traditions today
may play a big part in why there are more nonbelievers today than before.
Personally, this paper required a lot of reading, and I didn’t have the time to read it all
especially in the last 2 weeks of classes when our 2nd week is cut so short. However, what I did
my best to read and what I read to specifically answer each question to the best of my knowledge
will allow me to give my honest opinion on this matter. I think there were many valid arguments
on why the problem of evil occurs in the world. I have asked the question “why so much evil if
God is here?” It’s an honest question. Especially when we are told how he loves us, we are saved
from our sins, and all the other great things about the almighty God. I think there was a great
point made about how without wrong we would not know right and how God gave us our
freedom in hopes we would take the morality consciousness he gave to us to make the best
decisions. Unfortunately, we all know nothing is perfect, and I think not even God is perfect. I
compare this to us as parents. We have children, raise them, instill as much good as we can,
teach them, and we can be the best parents ever and our children still gain their freedom and
chose to do wrong… I also think that the issue with lack of believers is heavily since we do not
see God. I for one am the type of person where I want to see it to believe it.
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Reference Page
James K. Dew Jr. and Paul M. Gould, Philosophy: A Christian Introduction (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 181.
Johnathan Pruitt, Good, Evil, and Human Good. Moral Apologetics.
https://www.moralapologetics.com/wordpress/god-evil-and-the-human-good-part-1-of-2
http://www.anglicantheologicalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/dumsday_97.1.pdf
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