Problem Of Evil Quotes

Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

The problem of good and evil is not the problem of good and evil, but only the problem of evil. In opposition to good there are evil characters, but there are no good characters in opposition to evil. Evil is arguable, but good is not. Therefore the Devil always wins the argument.

My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?

Trouble, hardship, difficulty, pain, suffering, conflict, tragedy, evil – they’re all part of the [Christian] Story. Indeed, the problem of evil is the reason there’s any Story at all.

A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.

Why bad things happen to good people

Almost everyone agrees the world is not the way it ought to be. It’s called the problem of evil.

Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

The great human problem of evil stems from the illusion of separateness. Whenever this illusion is overcome, we behave lovingly to one another.

We live in the best of all possible worlds

The problem of evil is raised more often by spectators of life than the actual combatants. You will hardly ever find that the great sufferers are the great skeptics.

The best answer to the problem of evil is not one so much found on paper but on wood.

To be willing to suffer in order to create is one thing; to realize that one’s creation necessitates one’s suffering, that suffering is one of the greatest of God’s gifts, is almost to reach a mystical solution of the problem of evil.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?