Problem of Evil
The philosophical challenge of reconciling the existence of evil and suffering with the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God.
The logical problem of evil: 1. If God is omnipotent, He can prevent evil. 2. If God is omniscient, He knows about evil. 3. If God is omnibenevolent, He wants to prevent evil. 4. Evil exists. 5. Therefore, such a God does not exist.
**Responses:** - **Free Will Defense** (Plantinga): God permits evil because genuine free will requires the possibility of choosing evil. - **Soul-Making** (Irenaeus/Hick): Suffering is necessary for moral and spiritual growth. - **Orthodox**: Evil is the absence of good (privatio boni); suffering participates in Christ's redemptive work and enables theosis. - **Islamic**: Suffering is part of God's inscrutable wisdom and a test of faith.