Suffering,
Evil &
free Will
Introduction
The problem of evil (or argument from evil) is the problem of reconciling the existence of the evil in the world with the existence of an omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful) and perfectly good God.
The argument from evil is the atheistic argument that the existence of such evil cannot be reconciled with, and so disproves, the existence of such a God. Christianity claims both that God created the world and that he sustains it. Christianity claims that God knows all things and is capable of all feats. Christianity claims that God is perfectly good, and wants only the best for his Creation. If each of these claims is true, though, then it is difficult to see why God allows the evil in the world to persist. The evil in the world thus appears to be at least strong.
What this bank of information will achieve is looking at the logical problem of evil, are God and evil both existing impossible?
The probable version of evil, is it probable that God does not exist because of evil?
The emotional problem of evil, Where is God in my suffering?
Upon those three bases, there are other territories such as natural evil, looking more into moral evil, the teachings of the old testament and how free-will in essence is central to a loving God.
Do watch the introductory videos (I know there’s quite a few) But they will help, I believe, to establish an introductory understanding on the topic.
Introductory Videos
Essential Books
A great introductory book on apologetics and recommended for beginners. This book introduces you to understanding and working your way through the problem of evil logically. This book also comes with a study guide
Level: Beginner
Clay Jones’ marvel on the problem of evil is recommended to any Christian looking essentially at the questions we really want to understand like why do we suffer for what Adam did? Why not another way? What about eternal punishment? Won’t heaven be boring? And more.
Level: Beginner
A brilliant book on problems to do with moral evil in the world and this one in particular focus’ on the Old Testament difficult passages that many of us find hard to square.
Level: Beginner
This book focuses particularly on the Canaanite incidents in the Old Testament. This will get into genocide, differences between murder and killing and all forms of hot topic ethical issues around this.
Level: Beginner
Plantinga’s masterpiece tackles the topics of evil, human freedom and arguments for God’s existence and weaves them all together into a large piece. This argument from Plantinga was revolutionary for its time and today. It has changed the face of scholarship toward the problem of evil.
Level: Intermediate
A level up and is very much aimed at scholars and serious students of natural theology. If you want to get into the serious arguments defending Christianity, this is the place to look, but be prepared for a complex read, even if you’re quite familiar on the problem of evil.
Level: Advanced
Video Lessons
Clay Jones Biola University lecture series on some essential topics in-depth.
Uni lecture series
Clay Jones has a series of lectures from Biola University on the problem of evil here.
Training talk
More...
Plantinga, “Supralapsarianism, or ‘O Felix Culpa’”
Bergmann, “Commonsense Skeptical Theism”
Michael Rea, “In Defense of Skeptical Theism”
Why Did God Let That Child Die?
How Could It Be Fair to Kill Canaanite Children?
Why Couldn’t Israel Adopt Canaanite Children?
Why Kill the Canaanites’ Animals?
Were There Any Innocent Canaanites?
Why does God allow Evil? Clay Jones vs Richard Norman
Plantinga vs Gale Debate, “The Existence of God and The Problem of Evil”
Swinburne vs Ehrman Debate, “The Problem of Evil”
Why would a good God allow evil? Sharon Dirckx & Hannah Timson
Why Suffering? Sharon Dirckx & Alom Shaha – Unbelievable?
Why does God allow suffering? Vince Vitale & Julian Baggini
2 views on suffering – Warfare vs Blueprint – Kurt Jaros & Ken Brownell
Can we find God in a suffering world? Richard Harries & Michael Ruse
Divine Action, Human Suffering, and the Old Testament | Paul Copan
The Loud Absence – Where is God in Suffering? | John Lennox | Harvard Med School
Quantum physics debunks materialism
benefits of believing in free will
How free agency points to the existence of God
Is God a moral monster? A conversation with Paul Copan
Responding to the problem of evil with Josh Parikh
Why does God allow evil – Clay Jones
Why does God allow natural disasters?
Suffering and natural disasters – Sharon Dirckx
Emotional suffering – Gary Habermas
Does the existence of evil exculpate God as the cause of the universe?
Did God sanction slavery in the Old Testament?
Making sense of the Old Testament God – Paul Copan
The Euthyphro Dilemma – William Lane Craig
Craig, Series of Lectures on The Problem of Evil, Part 1, 2, 3, and 4
Swinburne, “The Problem of Evil”
Swinburne, “Why Does God Allow Suffering?”
Hudson, “The Problem of Evil and Skeptical Theism”
How Are We Responsible for Adam & Eve’s Mistakes?
Why Bad Things Happen to Good People
Why Doesn’t God Reveal the Reasons For Permitting Evil and Suffering?
Did God Command Genocide In the Bible?
Is God the Best Explanation for the Problem of Evil?
Can Good Come From Suffering and Evil?
If a Christian Suffered from a Mental Disease (or Damage), Would He Still be a Christian?
Do Pain and Suffering Disprove God’s Existence?
What About Evil and Multiverses in Context of the Ontological Argument?
Did God Create Sin and Evil? | William Lane Craig
What Is the Difference Between ISIS and the Invasion of Canaan?
With all this suffering, how could there be a God? Tim Keller at Veritas
The Burden of Proof on Atheists concerning Evil, Suffering, and God