There was an ancient philosopher dating back to 300 BCE named Epicurus who is credited with being the first to raise this dilemma. In it's most basic form it goes a little something like this:
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?
It raises the contradiction that a supposed creator god cannot be omniscient, omnipotent and benevolent if evil exists. If you consider the needless suffering in this world to be evil then one of these pillars has to go. Otherwise you are defining your god from the outset as a logical contradiction or absurdity.
Omniscient
: knowing everything : having unlimited understanding or knowledge
Omnipotent
: having complete or unlimited power
Benevolent
: kind and generous
Evil
: morally bad : causing harm or injury to someone : marked by bad luck or bad events
If god is benevolent does he not know evil exists? Then he isn't omniscient. Does he not have the power to end evil and needless suffering? Then he isn't omnipotent. If he can stop it and knows about it yet allowed it to exist and in fact made it so then he can't be considered benevolent.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below?
*Image: Noah Filipiak
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