Wednesday, April 06, 2011

FAQ: Epicurus


"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Then why call him God?" -Epicurus



My opinion is that Epicurus' quote has a couple of logical fallacies hidden within it. Not only that but he doesn't seem to understand who God is.

"Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent." This is a Non-Sequitur. You might be familiar with the funny comic strip but a Non-Sequitur is Latin for "it does not follow."

Here are a few examples of a Non-Sequitur: "If you buy this car, your family will be safer." or "If I buy this cell phone, all people will love me." How about, "All men are mortal, and Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates likes girls."

Basically, the two points that Epicurus made aren't connected. God's willingness to prevent evil does not necessitate that He is malevolent (evil). As expressed in the Bible (Isaiah 55:8-9) that God's ways are above our ways.

There is evil in the world today, sure but that evil is a result of sin or even sin itself. Sin is disobedience to God. God allows that disobedience within a person's life so that they would have a chance to repent instead of being instantly judged for sinning. (Infinitely preferable).

Sin is rebellion against God and although it is being tolerated a day will come where it is not. Jesus will return and judge and destroy all sin.

This is the promise for the believer: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away," - Revelation 21:4

The unrepentant nonbeliever does not have this hope.

1 comment:

Im_Kels said...

God is willing and he is able,but he is wait for his people to call on his name. and believe in him when he says ask and it shall be give on to you.because he is all mighty God,God may not show his power when we ask him to, but he always shows his power at the right moment.because he is a mercifully God, a powerful God, a God that does not obeys mir mortal time but of his own time.