LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Theodicies and the Problem of Evil:
If God is all good, why is there evil and suffering?
Submitted to Dr. Dennis McDonald
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO525 – B05 LUO
Systematic Theology I
by
Adam S. Weinberg
14, 2019
Thesis
Throughout this paper it will be shown that the problem of evil is considered a problem
because it is assuming because God is all-good there should not be any evil present, but there are
morally sufficient reasons for allowing evil.
The Need for the Study
Evil is evident in the world today provided with proof from simply turning on the
television. Pain and suffering are captured from numerous amounts of people through natural
disasters, terrorism, and a host of other vehicles. For non-Christians, and many Christians, this is
difficult to accept. Christians know it is due to sin in the world and the world is broken.
Non-Christians believe the world is getting worse through the continuance of time
without accountability governance. Additionally, there is belief of no god and the world is
chaotic because humans need one government. Despite these controversies, people continue to
seek answers of why evil is in the world. Christians need to be able to give an answer to others
and to better understand God themselves.
The problem of evil requires further examination through available theories regarding
theodicy. The examination will review the available scripture references to substantiate the
necessary argument regarding the presence of evil. The question if God is good why is there evil
and suffering will be answered using various sources. This paper does not seek to resolve this
problem completely, however, attempts to alleviate where humanity may seek solutions with
knowledge and understanding.
The Procedure for the Study
As this paper will provide discussion on the problem of evil, the topics within the body
will provide different perspectives on the subject. These will include the perspectives of what
humanity fails to take into consideration such as examination from a worldview. Furthermore,
the presence of evil is argument for the existence of God rather than against. Moreover,
humanity suggests by the statement God owes people something because He is God but, it is the
opposite. Finally, the problem of evil is a problem, but we forget God suffers with us and
knows our plight.
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