The Problem of Evil

Hi. Welcome to Practicing Truth.

Today's topic: The Problem of Evil

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you take what I say as food for thought.

For over two millennia, practitioners of Christianity have struggled to find an answer to what those who challenge their beliefs call the Problem of Evil: How to reconcile an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God with the existence of Evil.

Perhaps the answer has been elusive to Christians because of Christianity's concept of God: an all-powerful, anthropomorphic Father figure ruling from a heavenly realm. Expanded to other beliefs, specifically those that do not claim to know God's attributes, neither the question nor the problem seems as profound.

For many, it is only logical that a god that created "everything" also created Evil. And to accept, at the very least, that an all-knowing god would have to know Evil would be an aspect of its creation's design.

So, how does the Philosophy of the Divine Law address the question? The philosophy acknowledges the reality we share is dualistic. That every aspect of its nature has an opposing opposite. To define darkness, we must first define its opposite: light. Therefore, to define Evil, we must first define its opposite: Good.

The philosophy holds that Good is a conscious and positive decision made from responsible and constructive thoughts to conduct acts of altruism intending to create, cause, or influence a positive outcome or to prevent harm.

It asserts the Good we do is expected of us. That we are to do it without expectation of reward. And defines Altruism as a conscious and affirmative action intending to create, cause, or influence a positive outcome, or to prevent harm to oneself, another person, society, or the environment.

So, Good is when we make a positive decision that leads to a benevolent action. When we decide to do the right thing!

In contrast, the philosophy defines Evil as a conscious and malicious decision made from malignant thoughts to commit Sin or Malevolent Acts intending to cause or allow harm. And defines Sin as a deliberate and malicious action intending to cause physical, mental, or emotional harm or injury to oneself, another person, society, or the environment.

Evil, then, is an opposing aspect of Good. When we make a malicious decision that leads to sin or malevolent acts. When we decide to do the wrong thing!

It is essential to understand that neither Good nor Evil are actions. They are the decisions we make that lead to either Altruism, Sin, or Malevolent Acts. Which are the actions we take based on the decisions we've made.

Good and Evil are not separate entities but opposing aspects of a single identity. Duality! Like the two sides of a coin, one does not exist without the presence of the other.

Nothing exists we can decide to use for good that we cannot choose to use for Evil or vice versa. The hand that caresses can also kill. That which, in moderation, might nourish, done in abundance, might cause harm. Someone else can co-opt our acts of altruism and use them to sin. And though the philosophy asserts that God, through Divine Essence, is natural to creation, it holds that God is not accessible for personal use. However, governments, religions, and ordinary people have invoked the name of God to justify the atrocities they have committed throughout history. 

The effect of Evil is harm and suffering. However, we must distinguish the harm and suffering caused by an evil decision from the harm and suffering caused by natural phenomena. As I stated earlier, Evil is a conscious and malicious decision made from malignant thoughts to commit sin or malevolent acts intending to cause or allow harm.

Hurricanes, tornados, droughts, avalanches, and other weather events are natural phenomena, and do not make conscious and malicious decisions. Consequently, they are not evil. While they certainly cause harm and suffering, they are natural occurrences in the world and the reality in which we live.

Meteorologists and other scientists have conducted many studies of the planet that illustrate how the Earth's weather works. We no longer have to accept ancient mythologies and superstitions as plausible explanations for naturally occurring events. And though many stories in the Bible and other religious texts claim God uses natural phenomena to punish people for their sins, the Philosophy of the Divine Law does not share their beliefs.

The philosophy holds there is only God. And rejects the existence of angels, fairies, ghosts, devils, demons, and other such non-entities. It asserts that unseen or unknown forces do not compel us to be charitable, to sin, or encourage our malevolent acts. But contends that the decisions we make, and the actions we commit based on them, are individual and personal choices we make of our own volition. Even when we are acting within a group!

Although other group members might influence our judgment and subsequent actions, we are not sheep overseen by shepherds. Our minds are our own. The decision to commit the acts is still an individual and personal choice!

Why we exist and where we come from are yet unanswered questions that have led humankind to mysticism and the bondage of religion. That we exist, and are here, are concrete facts that allow us to awaken ourselves to the truth of the reality we share.

Though many want us to believe they do, no one speaks for God or knows God's reason or method of creation.

However, throughout human history, observation, scientific discovery, and sometimes mere curiosity have helped us to accumulate vast amounts of information about how our shared reality functions.

Every increase in our knowledge has led to more intelligent questions—and we continue to learn how much we do not know. 

What we may be sure of today, new information may cause us to be skeptical of tomorrow. Therefore, we must continue to seek and accept the truth.  

Although there is much more we have yet to learn, our current comprehension of the laws that govern this reality and how it functions is more than adequate to help us determine its truth and constancy. This knowledge gives us the insight and confidence to predict what these laws will support and reject what they will not, such as talking animals, magical spells, and people returning from the dead.

Those who promote or hold such beliefs have divorced themselves from reality or have embraced viewpoints unsupported by facts.

Not that everything in this reality operates within a predictable norm. There are anomalies we are yet to understand. However, though abnormality and unpredictability exist—they are not commonplace—and we do not live in a reality where they are the norm and the truth is unknown.  

Except for some primates and animals such as elephants, big cats, wolves, foxes, and high-functioning mammals such as dolphins, whales, seals, and other creatures that display a consciousness beyond basic instinct, Homo sapiens is the only species we know that has developed an awareness to our level of knowledge and understanding. This means Evil, as we practice it, might only exist within the domain of humankind.

However, after all I've said, the question remains: why does God allow Evil?

Everything God has created within our shared reality is dual in its use or nature, including Evil.

The question, then, is not why God allows Evil, a natural aspect of reality's creation, but what has God provided to enable us to counter Evil?

The Philosophy of the Divine Law asserts God is innate to creation. An integral aspect of creation's composition. Inherent, through Divine Essence, within all that exists. Thereby, God and God's creation are never separate!

To counteract Evil, God has provided humankind God's Divine Essence. A distinct and instantly recognizable presence of thought, inherent within, that guides our actions toward the most favorable outcome for ourselves, other people, and our current environment.

Though inherent within all, God's Divine Essence is not apparent to all.

Millennia of fear-induced indoctrination, false teachings, mythology, and superstition have curtailed our awareness of its presence. Though we all hear its guidance, most dismiss it. And do not receive its benefits.

God's Divine Essence guides us toward, but not directly to, the most favorable outcome of a particular situation. However, the choice to comply with its guidance is our own.

We can choose not to follow its guidance. There is no punishment for not doing so. The consequence, however, is that we become susceptible to the outcomes God's Divine Essence guides us towards preventing.

Many Christians would regard God's Divine Essence as their concept of the Holy Spirit. And its actions as God's Grace or blessings. However, it is neither of those.

Unlike the concept of the Holy Spirit, God's Divine Essence is not a mediator and does not intercede in our lives. But offers guidance toward the most favorable action necessary to help ourselves.

God has already provided us with everything we will ever need, and God's Divine Essence to guide us. In contrast to the concepts of grace and blessings, the quality of our lives is determined by whether we live within the parameters of the Divine Law and meet the requirements to attain what God has provided.

God neither rewards nor punishes. Reward and punishment are human constructs. And our actions, in this here and this now, determine which we will receive. Therefore, humankind is the only entity that sits in judgment of human behavior.

God's Divine Essence will not directly tell us what we should do, nor will it speak for us, pay our bills, or find us a significant other. It will neither suspend the laws of physics to help us, magically remove us from danger, nor protect us from the hardships caused by the choices we make. Nor will it prevent the actions of malicious people from affecting our lives. And most importantly, it will not punish us if we do not follow its guidance.

It will, however, guide our thoughts toward making choices that will lead us to the most favorable outcome for our current situation. Ours is but to learn to recognize its voice and follow its guidance.

Thanks for listening.

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