““Man that is born of a woman Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.”continueth not.” Job. 14:1-2Job. 14:1-2

ATHEISTATHEIST = One who holds there is enough evidence to conclude that God does not exist

THEISTTHEIST = One who holds there is enough evidence to conclude that God does exist

1. God is all powerful1. God is all powerful

2. God is all good2. God is all good

3. Evil exists in this world3. Evil exists in this world

4. Good is opposed to evil in 4. Good is opposed to evil in such a way that it eliminates all such a way that it eliminates all evil.evil.

5. No limits to what an all 5. No limits to what an all powerful being can do.powerful being can do.

6. A good all powerful being 6. A good all powerful being would eliminate evil completely.would eliminate evil completely.

Conclusion reached by Conclusion reached by ATHEISTATHEIST

GOD DOES NOT EXISTGOD DOES NOT EXIST

God is all powerfulGod is all powerfulGod is GoodGod is GoodEvil existsEvil exists

Logical contradictionLogical contradiction

There is suffering all around...There is suffering all around...

Questions:Questions:

Is God willing but not able ?Is God willing but not able ?

Is God able but not willing ?Is God able but not willing ?

Why do we have suffering ?Why do we have suffering ?

1. If suffering exists then God 1. If suffering exists then God does not exist. does not exist.

2. Suffering exists.2. Suffering exists.

3. Therefore God does not exist.3. Therefore God does not exist.

The Conclusion of atheistsThe Conclusion of atheists

Sin is the only real evil...Sin is the only real evil...

1 Jn. 3:4 = transgression1 Jn. 3:4 = transgression

Gal. 5:19-21 = works of fleshGal. 5:19-21 = works of flesh

It is not evil that Evil Exists !It is not evil that Evil Exists !Impossible to create a man who could not sin !

Free Moral agent. Choice

Responsible for our own sins.

Some Logical impossibilities:Some Logical impossibilities:

4 sided triangle - Round square

Impossible to create an Impossible to create an intelligent free moral agent and intelligent free moral agent and place him in a situation in which place him in a situation in which he is beyond all possibility of he is beyond all possibility of sinning !sinning !

God Wants man to Love HimGod Wants man to Love Him

John 14:15

Must be free moral agents

Love is voluntary

Man’s choice to sin brought Man’s choice to sin brought death !death !

1 Cor. 15:211 Cor. 15:21

Death brought disease/suffering

John 16:33 – “tribulation”

Job 14:1-2 – “full of trouble”

It is true that God made man with It is true that God made man with the possibility that he could sin. the possibility that he could sin.

It was necessary that God make It was necessary that God make us this way so we could love him.us this way so we could love him.

But God is not responsible for the But God is not responsible for the sins committed by man !sins committed by man !

God cannot make a man who is God cannot make a man who is a free moral agent, without a free moral agent, without giving him the liberty to giving him the liberty to choose right or wrong !choose right or wrong !

Impossibility to create a man Impossibility to create a man who could not sin.who could not sin.

Not that God is not goodNot that God is not good

Not that God is weakNot that God is weak

Only real evil in the world is Only real evil in the world is sin !sin !

But what about hurricanes, But what about hurricanes, floods, earthquakes ?floods, earthquakes ?

Could this world be Improved ?Could this world be Improved ?

This world is as good as any possible world could be in serving as man’s temporary abiding place.

Natural calamities are not inThemselves evil !

What kind of world is suited for What kind of world is suited for man ?man ?

Not a pleasure paradise

Allows man to be free moral agent

Provides basic physical needs

Challenges man to follow God

Small in comparison to eternity

God is all knowing - omniscientGod is all knowing - omniscient

God knew man would fall into sin

God desired to save man from sin

God knew man would need a place to develop so he could come back and obey God.

God created the world for this purpose !

What about Hurricanes?What about Hurricanes?

World not created as man’s permanent dwelling place.

Good for man to realize that life on earth will be brief and the exact time it will end is uncertain.

Calamities help remind us of..Calamities help remind us of..

Jas. 4:14 = life is short, vapour

Matt. 24:44 - exact time of ending is unknown

Things of earth are temporary

Matt. 6:19-20

1 Tim. 6:7-8

1. If automatically removed all 1. If automatically removed all problems then many would obey problems then many would obey for that reason. - Jn. 14:15for that reason. - Jn. 14:15

2. God did not promise we would 2. God did not promise we would be exempt from suffering - be exempt from suffering - Jn. 16:33Jn. 16:33

3. Without suffering the 3. Without suffering the righteous could not sympathize righteous could not sympathize with menwith men

4. Pain humbles us - 2 Cor. 12:74. Pain humbles us - 2 Cor. 12:7

5. Ps. 119:71 “It is good for me 5. Ps. 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; ...”that I have been afflicted; ...”

Suffering and pain are really Suffering and pain are really small when we think about:small when we think about:

Blessings of heavenBlessings of heaven

Punishments of hellPunishments of hell

2 Cor. 4:17, 182 Cor. 4:17, 18

What is Evil ?Anything that interferes with Anything that interferes with our life as a child of God is our life as a child of God is evilevil - Rom. 6:23 = SinPain, suffering, hurricanes are Pain, suffering, hurricanes are not evilnot evilGod knew the kind of world God knew the kind of world that would be best for man!that would be best for man!Sometimes that includes Sometimes that includes hurricanes !hurricanes !