The Problem of Evil

The problem of evil arises from the belief that God is both all-good and all-powerful—meaning that God could prevent anything from happening if desired.

There are two kinds of evil. Moral evil stems from humanity’s free will, while natural evil arises from disasters, disease, and death.

From a Buddhist perspective, God must be non-attached. God does not feel emotions for humanity as a parent does for a child. Instead, God chooses what serves the highest good, not necessarily what is desired.

If we accept the benevolence of God, two inescapable conclusions follow. First, God did not cause evil. Second, whatever evil occurs, God cannot stop it.

For a Deist, the answer is straightforward: God does not and cannot interfere with the laws of the universe. This is not the best possible world, it is the only possible world.