If God is all good and does only good things, then Satan and evil must be good. Right?

Question

If God created Satan knowing Satan would rebel, then either creating Satan was good, or God was bad. Since God can't be bad, then creating Satan knowing he would rebel was good.

If God created murderers knowing they will murder, then either creating murderers is good or God is bad. Since God can't be bad, then creating murderers knowing they will murder was good.

Everything must be good and all things that you think are evil must really be good. Where am I going wrong here?

Answer 1

Where you are "going wrong" in your thoughts is this...a person makes choices about what they will do in their life.

Including making a choice to do wrong. Satan although created by God made a choice to separate himself from God. So, even though God created him, it all boiled down to a choice.

Answer 2

MeatBot, you ask some good questions, and it sounds to me like you really want to know the answers rather than unthinkingly using them as excuses for unbelief like so many of the neo-atheist trolls here on Y!A. You've no doubt heard the free will argument - that Satan, being initially created good as Lucifer, was created with free will (which is in itself good), but chose to use that free will for evil.

I think that argument is true, but it does leave open a question like you ask, although I think the real question is "If God knew that creating a universe where beings had free will must ultimately lead to evil, then wouldn't it have been better for God to not create the universe at all?"

It's a good question, and one that I think ultimately we cannot answer. This is what the area called theodicy is all about, trying to explain why God created knowing evil was a possibility, indeed even knowing that evil would take place. However, I would suggest that we can come closer to an understanding of the truth by examining the theodicies put forth over the years. There is, for example, the soul-building theory, that evil is necessary for man's souls to grow into what God wants them to be.

Ultimately, your question is a good one, and one that deserves a full investigation. It is also clear not so simple as simply saying "God created knowing it would turn evil, therefore God doesn't exist," as I am sure you recognize. I suggest you start with somebody like Alvin Plantinga, who is so smart my head hurts just thinking about how smart he is. He has written extensively on the subject.

The other thing I'd caution you about is not to assume, like many atheists do, that the question of evil is a new thing that will bring down Christianity. People have been struggling with it for many years; Augustine, wrote in the year 419 in "City of God" on the same subject. Still, some atheists mindlessly throw down the problem of evil and think they've dealt with God. It's easier than thinking, I grant it, but your thoughtful questions show me that you are actually interested in the truth. Please contact me personally if you want to talk more and I'll do my best to keep up with you. :-)

Answer 3

The problem of Good and Evil is a tough one, and can't really be answered in a little sound bite. But here's a start: Suppose God had created a universe in which nothing could happen that was not in accordance with his good will. What would such a universe be like? In such a universe, nothing would matter. Whatever you did, you would be acting as a sort of automaton. Now, if all God wanted was to arrange patterns of beauty for his own delight, he might have created such a universe, and sat back to enjoy watching it all play out as arranged. But it seems that God's motive in creating the universe was more than mere beauty. He also wanted to share love with created beings who could interact with him freely. This involved the possibility that these creatures might not act according to the beautiful pattern. They might, in fact, choose evil. This was a risk for God to take, we may think. But the alternative was to create a world of automatic things which could not relate to him freely. Love is not something that can be demanded, it can only be wooed. God made this universe a risky place where free choice is possible, because that was the only way he could make creatures he could actually have a relationship with. Just because we CAN choose evil doesn't mean God WANTS us to. But allowing the option was necessary to the kind of universe he wanted to make.

Answer 4

You are wrong in your premise in assuming that God can't be bad. Actually God is neither bad nor good -- he just is. We humans put the labels of good or bad upon things as we perceive them due to our social mores and religious beliefs. The real question then becomes, if God created satan (and He had to if he created all things) can God create something that is not of himself? OR Where does evil come from?

Answer 5

Eve bit the apple and disobeyed the one rule that God gave them in the garden. She chose to sin, just like we choose to sin. Doesn't matter if it's a murder or a lie---sin is sin in God's eyes. We are all created in the image of God, but like Jesus we have to walk the earth and be tested in our faith. Where does it say in the Bible that evil is good?

Answer 6

Satan is the true God. The Christian god was invented to test the loyalty of Satan's disciples.

Answer 7

Yes, God is all good. Good and evil, for Him is the same, all good. From our angle of vision we make difference between good and evil because we are conditioned in this material world of dualities.

Answer 8

why are you assuming god is all good?

And god said unto Abraham, "You shall kill your son Isaac."

Doesn't sound very good to me.

Answer 9

They are good to get you a ticket to hell. One way of course.

Answer 10

lol. yah, to bad christians wont see it that way and will beat around the bush by not answering you directly.