Why is there evil in the world if a loving God could remove it? Why do people suffer and die? That there is evil and suffering is not doubted. What is doubted is whether a God who allows evil is loving, or if he has the power to end it, or if he exists at all. The problem of evil is vitally important to all people. Evil and suffering are a fact of life, whether by man’s actions or that of the natural order. Free moral agents have the ability to commit evil both individually and institutionally; from the smallest lie to murder, war, genocide, and enslavement. Natural evil, although a consequence of moral evil, is the occurrence of harm due to natural causes (Rom. 8:22), such as weather, disease, or accident; randomly occurring. Ultimately all evil is present in the world …show more content…
There are several apologia that explain that it is not. The theodicy, or the justification of “the ways of God to man,” of Gotfried Leibniz suggests that the goodness of God mandates His obligation to create the best world possible, and to will the best for it. There is more value to a world that consists of both good and bad than in one which is wholly good. Therefore, the existence of evil in the world is justified while vindicating the omnipotence and all-loving of God, as long as it cannot be proven that a better world is possible. The free will defense, evil exists in the world through the abuse of free will, is used by John Hicks, Soul-Building. He reasons that perfection was not the goal of the original creation. Suffering is necessary to build the moral character of man. Although it is not self-contradicting, does evil always cause the development of virtue and moral actions? An abused child often grows to be abusive. Additionally, suffering is not the only way to teach morality and virtue. If, as Hicks says, God assures that everyone enters the Kingdom of God there is no incentive to build moral