The existence of unnecessary suffering in the face of an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God, the problem of evil, has remained a primary logical objection against Christianity for ages.
Although no philosophical argument can completely disprove God, it can prove our current definition logically impossible. The “evidential problem of evil” is rather simple:
- Gratuitous evils exist.
- Gratuitous evils are incompatible with the existence of a god (omnipotent, omniscient, all-good).
- Therefore, no god exists.
The textbook apologetic dodge varies. Some Christians will adjust their definition to invent a not-completely omnipotent god. Others will blame Satan, creating a second god, and begging the question: why hasn’t God eliminated him? Others still see suffering as a means to spiritual strength, ignoring the fact noble, character shaping acts can be done in the absence of pain.
More, however, will assert God gives humans the choice to commit bad deeds, blaming the fall of Adam. Though this defense tries to explain evil committed by humans it does nothing to justify “acts of God” or natural phenomena that lead to unnecessary suffering. Even if natural events are placed into the same boat, we must address the unnecessary suffering they have caused millions of years before human even walked the earth.
Another interesting objection questions why a god who values free will would create humans, a species dependent on sleep, knowing we waste approximately a third of our life in bed, incapable of making choices.
Like the existence of suffering in general, the idea of sin leading to suffering is still inconsistent with an all-loving god.




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