Religious Systems & The Treatment of Evil's Existence
All religions must deal with the existence and prosperity of evil. Religions have dealt with this issue in three general ways.
The first way is Solution. The solution to the problem entails the elimination of an attribute of God. For example, if God is not omni-present, then the solution is simple: when evil strikes, and where evil thrives, God is absent. If God were present, then He would do something with it. This is the route taken by many of the pagan religions of the ancient Near East. Ba’al worshippers would subjugate themselves to self-mutilation in an effort to placate God into moving into the area. We see this in the account of Elijah on Mount Carmel: the worshippers of Ba’al mutilated themselves, and Elijah mocked them, asking, “Where is your god? Is he sleeping? Or maybe he is taking a leak!” Some people have eliminated the benevolence of God to deal with the issue; this is the route deism takes: God simply does not care about humanity, and that is why He allows evil to exist and prosper. Sadly, many Christians have subconsciously adopted this view, interpreting tragedies and evil in their life as evidence that God’s love is not upon them. Some have said that if a person must deal with tragedy due to evil, then that person is loathed by God. This is simply an extenuation of the solution argument. Atheists, in their effort to undermine religion, will often, in their arguments, assume God exists and then point out the existence of evil, bringing God’s benevolence into question, and making him unworthy of worship and devotion.
The second way to deal with the problem of evil is Dis-Solution. This is a denial of the tension between Good and Evil, the belief that Good and Evil are intimately connected. Good and Evil become an intrinsic part of the universe, and since there is no distinction between them, there is no tension to be resolved. Taoism takes this route.
The third way to deal with the problem, and this is the way ethical monotheistic religions have went, is Paradox. These religions affirm the reality and distinction of Good and Evil, acknowledging the tension. The paradox is thus: God, in His goodness and wisdom, allows evil to exist and even to prosper. The paradox behind this is obvious: if God is good, then why evil? If God is wise, then why evil? Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism have taken this route. All of these religions have struggled with this question and arrived at various conclusions. The various conclusions of Christianity are even shared by Islam and Judaism.
In the next post we will examine one of the answer to the problem, The Sovereignty Answer. After that, we will examine The Free Will Answer. In the third upcoming post, we will look at six more and less-common answers. We will find that none of these answers satisfy those who are faced with evil and its tragic effects. Following the examination of these answers, we will then explore the “Theology of Evil” and the reality of God’s justice and fairness and how that ties into the equation.
All religions must deal with the existence and prosperity of evil. Religions have dealt with this issue in three general ways.
The first way is Solution. The solution to the problem entails the elimination of an attribute of God. For example, if God is not omni-present, then the solution is simple: when evil strikes, and where evil thrives, God is absent. If God were present, then He would do something with it. This is the route taken by many of the pagan religions of the ancient Near East. Ba’al worshippers would subjugate themselves to self-mutilation in an effort to placate God into moving into the area. We see this in the account of Elijah on Mount Carmel: the worshippers of Ba’al mutilated themselves, and Elijah mocked them, asking, “Where is your god? Is he sleeping? Or maybe he is taking a leak!” Some people have eliminated the benevolence of God to deal with the issue; this is the route deism takes: God simply does not care about humanity, and that is why He allows evil to exist and prosper. Sadly, many Christians have subconsciously adopted this view, interpreting tragedies and evil in their life as evidence that God’s love is not upon them. Some have said that if a person must deal with tragedy due to evil, then that person is loathed by God. This is simply an extenuation of the solution argument. Atheists, in their effort to undermine religion, will often, in their arguments, assume God exists and then point out the existence of evil, bringing God’s benevolence into question, and making him unworthy of worship and devotion.
The second way to deal with the problem of evil is Dis-Solution. This is a denial of the tension between Good and Evil, the belief that Good and Evil are intimately connected. Good and Evil become an intrinsic part of the universe, and since there is no distinction between them, there is no tension to be resolved. Taoism takes this route.
The third way to deal with the problem, and this is the way ethical monotheistic religions have went, is Paradox. These religions affirm the reality and distinction of Good and Evil, acknowledging the tension. The paradox is thus: God, in His goodness and wisdom, allows evil to exist and even to prosper. The paradox behind this is obvious: if God is good, then why evil? If God is wise, then why evil? Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism have taken this route. All of these religions have struggled with this question and arrived at various conclusions. The various conclusions of Christianity are even shared by Islam and Judaism.
In the next post we will examine one of the answer to the problem, The Sovereignty Answer. After that, we will examine The Free Will Answer. In the third upcoming post, we will look at six more and less-common answers. We will find that none of these answers satisfy those who are faced with evil and its tragic effects. Following the examination of these answers, we will then explore the “Theology of Evil” and the reality of God’s justice and fairness and how that ties into the equation.
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