Curated by Justin Bailey
In one sentence: God did not create evil; rather, evil is understood as the absence or perversion of good.
Why it matters: Understanding whether God created evil touches on His nature as wholly good and omnipotent. This question impacts theological discussions about the origin of sin, human free will, and the problem of evil in the world.
State of play: Christian theology generally holds that God, who is perfectly good, did not create evil. Instead, evil is often described as a privation—a lack or corruption of what is good. For instance, darkness is the absence of light, and similarly, evil is seen as the absence of good.
- Theological Context: Traditional views based on Augustine assert that evil has no independent existence but arises from the misuse of free will given to angels and humans.
- Biblical References: Scriptures like James 1:13 state that God "cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man," reinforcing the belief that God does not create evil.
- Philosophical Arguments: The Free Will Defense posits that evil results from creatures’ misuse of their God-given freedom rather than a direct act of creation by God.
Yes, but: Some argue that since God created everything, and if evil exists, then God must have created evil either directly or indirectly. This view wrestles with understanding God’s omnipotence and benevolence in light of the existence of evil.
- Counterarguments: Defenders might argue that creating beings with free will necessarily allows for the possibility of evil, but it doesn’t follow that God directly created evil.
What skeptics say: Skeptics challenge the coherence of an all-good, all-powerful God who allows evil. They argue this either limits God's power, questions His goodness, or contradicts the notion that an omnipotent being would create a world where evil is possible.
Between the lines: This discourse reflects broader theological debates about God’s sovereignty and human agency, and it highlights the complex interplay between divine foreknowledge, omnipotence, and the presence of evil and suffering.
Zoom out: The question of whether God created evil is deeply entwined with one’s views on the nature of God and evil. It also influences how believers reconcile the presence of evil with God’s goodness in their personal and communal faith lives.
The bottom line: While Christian doctrine traditionally maintains that God did not create evil, the existence of evil is a significant aspect of theological discussion, reflecting on how divine goodness operates in a world with moral and natural evil.
Follow Up Questions
How do various theological traditions within Christianity address the problem of evil and its origins? (Coming Soon)
In what ways does the concept of free will play a role in the existence of evil, according to Christian doctrine? (Coming Soon)
How have historical and contemporary Christian thinkers reconciled the existence of a good and omnipotent God with the presence of evil in the world? (Coming Soon)
Can the idea that evil is simply the absence of good sufficiently address the problem of moral and natural evils? (Coming Soon)
What scriptural bases do Christians use to support the belief that God did not create evil but allowed for its possibility through free will? (Coming Soon)
How does the Free Will Defense clarify the relationship between divine sovereignty and human moral responsibility? (Coming Soon)
What are the major philosophical challenges to the idea that evil is a necessary possibility in a world with free will? (Coming Soon)
How do the concepts of divine foreknowledge and omnipotence interact with human free will in the Christian understanding of evil? (Coming Soon)
What implications does the existence of evil have on personal and communal faith practices within Christianity? (Coming Soon)
How do modern Christian apologetics address new criticisms and perspectives on the problem of evil and suffering? (Coming Soon)
Justin Bailey – Creator of ChristianAnswers.ai
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