My goal for this paper is to prove that God cannot prevent evil and still preserve human will, that it is possible for both evil and God to exist, that it is impossible for God to intervene constantly and preserve the world and that Christianity is the only method for providing meaning in life. I will prove these points by looking to the writings of Morris, Lewis and Craig. Through this essay I hope to bring a deeper theological understanding of how both God and men operate in conjecture with each other.
1. That God Could Prevent Evil Actions and Preserve Human Freedom of Will Oftentimes, atheists will claim that God could have prevented an evil and preserve freedom of will; however, it is necessary that if the latter is to exist then the
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While there are differing views, the basic premise is that God punishes those who disobey Him and rewards those who follow Him (Morris 270). There are several issues with this argument, i.e. the innocent person who encounters some great tragedy. A more limited view of this theory would be more appropriate. Second is the free will theodicy. Here, God has given individuals a free will in which they may choose their own actions and reap the benefits or punishments in accordance. Because individuals choose to act in a certain manner, they determine their own path in life. Hence, evil that befalls them is not a result of God’s allowances, but because their actions result in such consequences. Lastly is the idea of soul making. Every individual has their own personality and abilities. Sometimes, God allows evil to fall upon so that their character can further develop. In order to be free individuals, God has to allow individuals to make their own choices in response to situations (Morris 275). Lewis takes a slightly different position. According to him sin resulted as an attempt at self-sufficiency (Lewis 595). With free will inevitable comes the belief that a person can exist independent of any other being. Hence, they try to live outside the will of