The Problem of Evil

One of the biggest objections for non-Christians is that if there is a God, there should not be evil in the world. God is all-good and all-powerful. It seems contrary to human reason that a God who is all-good can allow evil.

The problem stated makes sense, except that this understanding of evil is not accurate. We must understand this term before we can begin to make sense of the problem.

Evil is the depravity of goodness. It is not caused by God, but it is allowed by Him. Evil is caused by the abuse of the freedom that was given to us by God, as the Catechism tells us:

“Angels and men, as intelligent and free creatures, have to journey toward their ultimate destinies by their free choice and preferential love. They can therefore go astray. Indeed, they have sinned. Thus has moral evil, incommensurably more harmful than physical evil, entered the world. God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of moral evil. He permits it, however, because he respects the freedom of his creatures and, mysteriously, knows how to derive good from it.” - CCC 311

Furthermore, we understand that “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to ‘the slavery of sin’.” – CCC 1733

If God created us free, He gave us the ability to choose to do good. When we reject that freedom, we become slaves to sin and evil. Choosing not to do good causes evil. There could be no free exercise of goodness if there was not the possibility to reject goodness.

Can this really be the case? Let us examine the alternative. If God created man without freedom, how could we glorify Him? Think about love. Can you force someone to love you? No. Love must be a free act of the will. God asks for our love, He does not force it.

Through our love of ourselves we become capable of loving others. By loving others we serve God. In loving God, we overcome evil and freely choose to do what is good. This is the perfection of our mission. This is what we are made for. Christ calls us, but it is our duty to generously respond to that call in sincere love.