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Angela Baer World Philosophy April 5, 2000 How does suffering exist along with God? B. C. Johnson is a philosopher who claims that there is a logical inconsistency with God being all good and the existence of evil. B. C.
Johnson questions how God can be all good and yet create evil. Theist claim that is all good, all knowing, and all powerful, but Johnson that only two of the three can exist at once. For if a flood kills people and leaves many homeless, God is all knowing in that he knew the flood would occur, he is all powerful for controlling nature, but if he was all good, God would not have allowed it to happen (Johnson, 447). B. C. Johnson does not conclude that God does not exist, but over that if he does exist, it is unlikely that God is perfectly good (Kessler, 446).
I believe that evil and suffering are actually what make the world virtuous. Without evil we would be lost. One of B. C. Johnsons sixth claim says that God creates disaster, and God approves of these disasters as a means to encourage moral urgency (Johnson, 448); therefore God is not all good. Johnson questions that if this is true why help one another and help mankind.
I think it is important to mention this claim first because Satan helps to justify my disapproval of this claim. Along with God Satan was also in the world. He was cast out of heaven and earth was his home (Revelation ch. 12). Satan deceived Adam and Eve and they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3: 15). Adam and Eve are all of our parents therefore; from the beginning they bestowed a curse of sickness and suffering onto mankind. The Bible affirms that sin and evil entered our world through disobedience of Adam and Eve (Romans: 12 - 14).
They cursed us with the presence of Satan and evil, and so all of human history and Gods creation are subject to the reality of sin and death, decay and evil (Hebrews 2: 14 - 15). Satan is against God and the Bible even tells of him trying to place himself above God. Satan is the symbol of wickedness, temptation and sin, but also he is an obstacle in a world of pain and suffering. James wrote, You know that the testing of testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete (James 1: 3 - 4). The bible is clear that among Gods purposes for us in the midst of suffering and pain is the molding and strengthening of our character.
In his first claim, B. C. Johnson declares that suffering is either necessary, or it is not. It was either necessary for the baby to suffer or it was not. If it was not, then it was wrong to allow it (Johnson, 447). The implication is that the removal of evil would make a better world.
The Bible provide evidence that this is not true because the recognition of evil is the recognition that certain things are right and certain actions are wrong (Dr. Mark Eastman). For God to eliminate evil it would eliminate our ability of choice and consequently our ability to do both evil and good. St.
Augustine sad that Since God is the highest Good, He would not allow any evil to exist in His works, unless His omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil (Enchiridion xi). This is the immeasurable goodness of God that he only allow evil to exist when the ultimate outcome is goodness. Philosopher David Scholer thinks that we shouldnt think God evil, but be thankful that he is never overcome by evil and sin. What would we do if the world were not all good, not evil and good, but all evil? When Paul asked the Lord for relief from the physical pain that he was feeling, God replied, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12: 9). God tells us that suffering is necessary to growth and development of mankind.
From pain we live and learn to appreciate goodness virtue. Bibliography Work Cited Aquinas, St. Thomas. Summa Theological I, 1, 2: Does God exist? . (1225 - 1274). 12 Mar. 1997 Eastman, Dr. Mark. Why Does God Allow Evil?
Koinonia House 23 Dec 1999. 2 April 2000 Greenwood, Tim. Why does God Allow Evil? 4 Jan 1998. Online posting. 2 April 2000 Johnson, B. C.
Why Do Babies Suffer? Voices of Wisdom. Gary E. Kessler.
Albany: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998. 446 - 51. Scholer, David. Why Does God Allow Evil &# 038; Suffering? 5 Feb. 1998. Online posting. 2 April 2000
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