Problem of Evil.

[U.S. Socialist.]

This is a question I've asked a few religious people from time to time, but never recived a good answer for. I'm going to quote Epicurus riddle and a similar question posed by the Buddha and I want to hear the theists answer to them. First is Epicurus's famous riddle:

"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?"

Here is the Buddhist version of it(for reference sake here is the linkhttp://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebdha068.htm):
If the creator of the world entire
They call God, of every being be the Lord
Why does he order such misfortune
And not create concord?

If the creator of the world entire
They call God, of every being be the Lord
Why prevail deceit, lies and ignorance
And he such inequity and injustice create?

If the creator of the world entire
They call God, of every being be the Lord
Then an evil master is he, (O Aritta)
Knowing what's right did let wrong prevail

 

[Temporal]

Well first of all what is evil, and what is good? Ask any person and the definition changes.

Either good and evil don't exist, or they exist but they are both part of the infinitude that is God.

The whole premise is setup to make it seem like God should somehow be dealing with this evil you speak of, in order to have power or relevance in your eyes.

I don't know how you relate to God but that is not what I see it as.

 

[hallam]

"Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent." This is where the idea falls apart. Malevolent is one possible outcome but it is not the only one. God could be able but unwilling because humans have told him not to. Our understanding of evil could be wrong; what is evil can change.

The Epicurus quote automatically assumes malevolence when that is not necessary the only correct motivations. The Buddhist quote infers the same but can be a teaching tool instead since it doesn't actually state the outcome the speaker wants. The middle stanza asks the question "Why prevail deceit, lies and ignorance? And he such inequity and injustice create?" which can be answered in the same way as the Epicurus quote.

 

[DarkWizard12]

This is a question I've asked a few religious people from time to time, but never recived a good answer for. I'm going to quote Epicurus riddle and a similar question posed by the Buddha and I want to hear the theists answer to them. First is Epicurus's famous riddle:

"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?"

Here is the Buddhist version of it(for reference sake here is the linkhttp://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebdha068.htm):
If the creator of the world entire
They call God, of every being be the Lord
Why does he order such misfortune
And not create concord?

If the creator of the world entire
They call God, of every being be the Lord
Why prevail deceit, lies and ignorance
And he such inequity and injustice create?

If the creator of the world entire
They call God, of every being be the Lord
Then an evil master is he, (O Aritta)
Knowing what's right did let wrong prevail

I think, and christians and religious people, of course are partly responsible, that what we call good and evil, god, satan, and everything in between is misunderstood by people, and has been misunderstood for...thousands of years. Just look at the book of Job. Job is the object of many atheists and secularists snide remarks about the tyranny or non-existence of a loving G-d. Yet what many fail to realize, why then is the book included in the cannon in the first place? Earthly authors didn't have to include it. There is no doubt a lot of wisdom has been lost throughout the years, what many fail to ask is, what did the wise man see learn in the book of Job, and that they would just see MORE evidence in an merciful and just God, that we simply don't see? Either due to translations and other complications?