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In light of Evil:
Excerpt from Domenichino. The Rebuke of Adam and Eve. 1626, The National Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Does God hold people accountable?
Does God hold people accountable?
Describe the image.
Describe the image.
What do you find interesting?
Domenichino interprets Genesis 3 in his painting. Adam and Eve have just eaten the forbidden fruit and then, when confronted by God, blamed others for their disobedience to God’s command.
What is the definition of evil?
What is the definition of evil?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, evil means something or someone that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity.
No doubt there is evil in our world.
Share some examples of evil in the world, both currently and historically.
Given the presence of evil, is it rational to believe in the existence of God?
Given the presence of evil, is it rational to believe in the existence of God?
1. Some say that if God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and just, then he would be compelled to eliminate evil. Since there is evil, then there is no God.
2. Others believe that God exists and has a morally sufficient reason for allowing for evil.
What do you think?
What about human freedom?
What about human freedom?
According to the Bible, God created humans with the freedom to accept or reject his love and then live with the consequences. Alvin Plantinga, analytic philosopher, put it this way: “To create creatures capable of moral good, therefore, he must create creatures capable of moral evil; and he can’t give these creatures the freedom to perform evil and at the same time prevent them from doing so" (https://iep.utm.edu/evil-log/#H4).
One must ask, why is the freedom to choose goodness and truth so important to God when choosing evil has such dire consequences? What is your opinion?
What about human responsibility?
What about human responsibility?
A Christian perspective declares this: the one who does evil is the one who should be judged. As the painting illustrates, the man and woman are responsible for disobeying God and bringing evil upon all humankind. Therefore, people, not God, are responsible for the evil in the world. In other words, while we have no right to judge God, God rightfully will judge all evil. But, we may ask, why isn’t God judging evil right now? St. Peter writes, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise [for justice], as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9, NLT).
What is Peter’s main thought?
How do you feel about God’s patience and justice?
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