Lecture Notes: Addressing the Problem of Evil and Suffering from a Christian Perspective

Main Topics

• Addressing common arguments against a good and loving God in the face of evil and suffering
• Richard Dawkins' perspective on reality, morality, and suffering
• Logical consequences of atheism and naturalism on the concept of good and evil
• Christian worldview on judgment, suffering, and hope
• The significance of Jesus' incarnation and resurrection to the problem of evil

Key Points and Arguments

Common Arguments Against God

• Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then He is impotent.
• Is God able but not willing? Then He is malevolent.
• Is He both able and willing? Then why is there evil?
• Personal struggles with reconciling a loving God in a world full of suffering.

Richard Dawkins' Perspective

• Universe as a result of blind physical forces and genetic replication.
• No design, purpose, good, or evil.
• DNA is indifferent; we dance to its music.
• Dawkins' occasional contradiction: Despite claiming no good or evil, he criticizes God as evil.

Logical Consequences of Atheism

• Abolishes the categories of good and evil.
• If good and evil don't exist, defining God or the world as evil is meaningless.
• Human beings inherently have a sense of morality, justice, right, and wrong.
• This inherent moral sensitivity challenges naturalism.
• Charles Taylor: Modern age's attempt to retain moral right and wrong without God lacks meaningfulness.

Christian Worldview on Judgment and Hope

• Belief in a final judgment by Jesus Christ.
• Judgment implies our moral conscience is not an illusion; gives hope beyond atheism.
• Love involves risk; God created us with the capacity to choose to maintain love and free will.
• If God eliminated all evil instantly, human story and free will would end.
• God is active in redeeming humanity and drawing people to Himself.

Importance of Jesus' Incarnation and Resurrection

• Christian belief: God incarnated in Jesus, who suffered and was crucified.
• Shows God is not distant from human suffering, but part of it.
• Evidence of divinity through Jesus' resurrection; provides hope beyond death.
• Atheism cannot offer the same hope or understand the depth of this divine act.

God's Strategy and Rescue Plan

• God is mitigating evil while preserving human free will and ability to love.
• God’s strategy involves a rescue plan centered on Jesus’ incarnation and crucifixion.
• Achieving redemption without turning humans into robots.
• Historical instances of divine intervention in evil (e.g. the Flood, Canaanites) are often misunderstood.

Conclusion

• Consider God’s approach to dealing with evil and the cross as a central element in understanding and solving the problem of evil over time.
• Reflect on the wisdom of God’s strategy in balancing justice, mercy, and human freedom.
• Tim Keller's response for further insights on this topic.

Resources

• Tim Keller's response video
• Book: “Gunning for God” by John Lennox