If God is all-good, all-powerful and all-knowing, how can there be evil?

[cassiesmom]

I don't know why God allows bad things to happen. The best answer I can come up with (Dutch Reformed high school plus Lutheran college plus Catholic graduate school) is that it's because of sin. As a Christian I do know that not everything in my life is going to be super-smooth. Trials help my faith to grow. But even Mother Teresa had doubts.

I love this quote (also from Mother Teresa): "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."

[Catlady711]

Because God gave us (and the devil) free will, to either do good or to do evil. Some chose to do the latter. If we did not have free will, then we'd all be robots and there's no glory in that.

[Medusa]

Because God gave us (and the devil) free will, to either do good or to do evil. Some chose to do the latter. If we did not have free will, then we'd all be robots and there's no glory in that.

Amen and so mote it be.

[Catty1]

Rabbi Brian sent out an email later that same day:

Umm...

So, I sent you a whole article about THEODICY today.

And, I'm not going to ponder about the "reason" for it, but it seems my in-box EXPLODED.

If you sent me an e-mail between 6:00 am EST and 8:00 pm EST, I neither got it nor might you have received any indication that I didn't get it.

Yikes.

-B

[Catherinedana]

Yes - free will, the opportunity to make choices so that we can learn and GROW from mistakes, missed opportunities or sad, bad or frightening experiences. We grow in heart, mind and spirit. That brings us closer to each other and closer to god (however you see god). To me god = joy so with god in my life I am joyful. If I am joyful, I have more clarity. If I have more clarity, I make better and more compassionate decisions. That brings me closer to god. . .and so I am joyful!!

When bad things happen, I try to give thanks because it is an opportunity to open a new door and follow a path to greater understanding of myself and my relationship with others. It is about connections for me. . . to all other beings. I still have a lot of growing to do.

But do you notice that as you learn to stop and think before you act, speak, respond that things are often better in your life? Do you listen to your "instinct? The voice that tells you what REALLY needs to be done?

I got an email yesterday and part of it was this:

god has only three answers. . ."Yes"
"Not yet"
"I have something much better in mind for you"
Even if you do not have a relationship with god or spirit, this can speak to you because we all have that voice inside that guides us. We usually know before we step into something what the outcome will be and whether we are making the right decision or not. The key is to trust that voice and let it help to guide your path. Call it whatever you like, just learn to listen. . .

Peace!
Cathy

[Marigold2]

Why can't it just be because? The land flooded because it rained. The person got cancer because they smoked, the family died because they were hit by a drunk driver? The man who killed several children has a mental disorder.
If you throw a coin into the air and 60% of the time it's heads and 40% is tails is it God's will or just because?
Every people that have ever lived on this planet have prayed or worshipped some form of a God or Gods. The sun, moon, rain and on and on it goes. I believe it's because we are puny compared to this vast planet, this never ending universe and we seek answers. Why did my child die, why did the crop fail, why am I in pain? We don't know the answer so we invent a God or Gods to blame, support or fill us in on the questions that haunt us. We seek light when it's dark we seek answers when we have none, we seek comfort in our sorrow and pain and so we invent a God to help us. That is what the Indians did, the Incas, the Eyptians and every culture that has ever lived on this planet.
Perhaps instead of looking to a God or a Buddah or a Moon Goodess we should just look inside of ourselves and find the answers. How can I be a better person? Why isn't that enough?

[RICHARD]

God knows everything,
Do you really think he has time to tell all of us what he has in store?

Or,

God knows everything,
He's just not talking.

[smokey the elder]

...(partial quote) Perhaps instead of looking to a God or a Buddah or a Moon Goodess we should just look inside of ourselves and find the answers. How can I be a better person? Why isn't that enough?

IMO, many people are afraid to do that, and need a Paternal/Maternal (i.e. God or Goddess) to "stand in" for when they just can't handle something. Others are comforted by an Infinite Entity that just plain knows more than they do. I think everyone has their own take on religion/spirituality. There was an interesting piece on the news last week about how American religion is becoming more eclectic; people worship at different denomination churches, say; or even explore outside "their" religion.

The human species, because we are self-aware, have a lot of baggage to be sure, and ask a lot of (maybe unanswerable) questions! I enjoyed the Rabbi's opinions, and the fact that he allowed that there was no "right" anwer, just various more-or-less unsatisfying ones.