The Problem of Evil

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?”

Epicurus (371-270 BCE)

1. If God exists, then God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent.

2. If God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent, then God would not allow evil to exist.

3. Therefore, if God exists, then evil would not exist. (Hypothetical Syllogism, 1, 2)

4. Evil exists, e.g., the suffering and death of innocent people.

5. Therefore, God does not exist. (Modus Tollens, 3, 4)