Evil, problem of

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | 692 words | Copyright

Evil, problem of. If God is both almighty and perfectly good, why is there evil in the world? This challenge, made by Epicurus (341–270 BCE), has been repeated over the centuries, either as a response to the Teleological Argument for God's existence or, more radically, to attack theism. The book of Job is one of the earliest treatments of the question. Attempts to show that evil in the world can be reconciled with God's power and goodness are known as theodicies (theodicy).

According to the Free Will Defence: moral evil is regarded as the result of human freedom, a price worth paying either because freedom is an intrinsic good or because its good effects outweigh its bad ones.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Evil, problem of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Evil, problem of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Evilproblemof.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Evil, problem of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Evilproblemof.html

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