Is this an adequate response to the problem of evil?

Question

"God is not responsible for evil because evil comes about from human free will." Please Explain

Answer 1

That's what we are hoping?

Answer 2

It's not a tired argument, God being responsible for evil if God is the creator of all things. It's simply the fact of the matter. God might not be the direct perpertrator of evil, but would still be the originator of evil and the creator of a universe in which evil is possible. Therefore, God is ultimately responsible. You seem to be making an assumption that free will absolves God from the decision-making process, but still, God could have created a univese in which we never made a wrong choice. To prove your statement about free will you need to prove that free will exists, and that is patently absurd.

"The Lord IS a man of war." Exodus 15:3

Answer 3

I don't "believe" In the traditional view of evil. I think evil is something that you've done that wasn't right, not that it was necessarily wrong. If you believe in God then you would also have to believe that he is responsible for everything. But besides morality as it relates to a single religion, as it would be in a world without ethics. I think evil is just a learning experience.

In life there are many decisions you're going to have to make. Do this? Do that? Don't do this? Don't do that? If you knew each and every correct decision there wouldn't be good or bad, just a perfect world. But since no one knows everything, since the world is constantly changing with new decisions that no one has ever made, no knows the right answer to each decision, people are bound to make "Mistakes." If there is a concept of evil its when someone makes a mistake, and then realizes it's a mistake and does it again. If you learn from it and don't make it again, It's not "Evil" it's just a bad decision.

True Evil, if there is such a thing. Would be when someone makes the wrong decision on purpose, knowing it's wrong, but still does it, again and again. Most people who do something other people consider "Evil" actually think they are doing the right thing. That's why I think evil is just a miss-interpretation of someone thinking they are doing the "right" thing.

I think if someone knew what it was like to do the right thing, and learn from their mistakes. They would stop making them. It's just that no one cares about someone they think is "Evil" to try and help them. I believe everyone is good deep down, the people who are considered "evil" are just misunderstood - even by themselves.

Answer 4

Are you looking for a kind of theological reasoning? If so, I don;t think that you can get God off the hook in this regard. Consider this answer:

God is the first cause for everything that exists, and though he did not "create" evil, he created the conditions for the possibility of evil by creating both spiritual beings called angels and material beings called humans, bith of whom were capable of sin through an act of will. Once angels and humans existed, there was the possibility for evil, which God must have foreseen, as God is omniscient. God, it seems, was willing to risk this possibility, given that it is within his power to bring a greater good out of evil.

Answer 5

One could argue that God created us, and therefore he is responsible for making us that way. But that argument would miss the point. God made us the way we are for a reason. How many of us really want to NOT be able to make our own decisions? Well, that means being able to choose evil. We have the ability to do good, we just don't. Ultimately, I agree with the saying.

Answer 6

The main point of contention on this issue is the idea that all the bad things that happen to good people are part of some master-scheme. This assertion is flawed because it implys that mankind lacks any actual free-will. I would contend that if I really wished to undertake some heinous action in an attempt to be contrary to society I could make that choice... therefore I do have the ability to exercise free will.

With my ability to exercise free-will confirmed, I would then say that there is no predetermination to the events that occur in everyone's day to day lives. Unfortunately, many people lack the ability to accept the possibility of meeting their end in a vapid, eroneous, and ultimatley ranom manner; such people are able to compensate by lashing onto the pretense that such random acts are part of the aforementioned
"master-scheme" so that they can feel a sense of structure meaning to their lives... I guess what I am really trying to say is; **** happens... sometimes it is because of assholes, and other times it is just bum luck... deal with it..

Answer 7

No, human evil comes from the fact that a perfect being knows that the creation of another perfect being is pointless, human evil is what gives human good and humanity in general any sort of meaning.

Answer 8

Well, if we're going to assume that the Bible is correct, then God is most definitely responsible for evil. He slaughtered almost all of humanity once, and laid waste to a pair of cities (even the babies!!), not to mention all the misery and suffering from plagues and crusades and religious persecution. So I'd say yes, God is responsible for plenty of evil... maybe not _all_ evil (unless you use the tired argument that God created everything, so therefore God created evil), but quite a lot.

Answer 9

not at all.

God is not capricious; he abides by the same eternal rules that he requires of mankind. Never changing is his intrinsic nature, he cannot do anything less than perfect. All of his ordained providences are for a wise and good purpose, though to men, they may seem at the times difficult or unkind. God is ultimate truth, love, and holiness. When man sinned against God, there were consequences. The bad things that happen on this earth are a direct result of our disobedience. Also, humans have to understand that the secret things belong to God. They can’t expect to fully understand the mind of God. He has a wise purpose behind everything.

Answer 10

No. God is responsible and that statement makes him a liar. He tends to do that at times. He is trying to justify his mistakes. That contradicts the idea of 'God' who makes no mistakes. Then he tries to play it off as working in 'mysterious ways'. He is always trying to get out of the corner he put himself in. God is schizophenic. The devil in himself, but won't take his medication.

Answer 11

Have you heard of reification of the zero? This consists in regarding nothing as something in its own right. Do you have a substance called nothing in your pocket?

An absence of something is not a something in its own right. Darkness does not exist as such, darkness is the absence of light. Death does not exist as such; death is the absence of life. Evil does not exist as such; evil is the absence of good.

From memory, "All that is required for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing."