Brittney Brunson

Professor Sipin
211C
February 11, 2015
The Problem of Evil Analyzed
The problem of evil, the objection to Gods existence is one of the most serious problems
in the world. Allen Stairs takes on the intellectual obstacle of the belief and existence of God
when evil is still in the world in his article, C.S. Lewis and Davis Hume on the Problem of
Evil. Stairs deconstruction of both Lewis and Humes works illuminates various concepts that
can contribute to the problem of evil. Stairs acknowledges the questions against the existence of
an all knowing, powerful and good God existence who would allow so much evil and suffering
in the world. Stairs also provides a rebuttal by explaining the faults in free will. Stairs argument
was successful because he reveals that choice, faith and understanding is the problem of evil not
God.
What is goodness? Who is to blame for the problem cause man or God? If God is good
then why is the world so bad? Stairs begins with a statement by Lewis If God were good, he
would wish to make his creatures perfectly happy arguing the existence and goodness of an
almighty God. By beginning with this statement Stairs acknowledges the questions and
assumptions that if an omnipotent God exists than why doesnt he intervene or create a world
with no evil. Through the breakdown of the article of Lewis, Stairs explains that there are two
form of the impossible, absolute and relative. This explains that God has no limitation and
does not do contradictory things through the illustration of the definition of the square. This
illustration shows that God can operate by natural laws but also can operate in the supernatural,
miracles. Expanding Lewiss argument, Stairs adds that God does perform miraculous wonders

that disrupt the course of nature that can save peoples lives thus establishing God sometimes
intervene but through Gods sovereign purpose.
With the inclusion of Humes views of Gods goodness is not understandable to man.
The ideology of nature being both immoral and moral which the world operates by laws not God.
Stairs states God cant be like us addressing that the existence of God cannot be proven from
what is seen by comparing what is in the world. The world is consistent in good, beauty, horror
and pain Stairs exclaims so overall there to be good to contrast with evil. Stairs rebuts the point
of a universe with no pain and evil world is absolutely impossible for God to make that Lewis
expounds on. The knowledge of God is an incommensurable good, God is the creator, faith to
believe this is true and that free will is what God grants us.
The test of faith and temptation to not believe because faith objects intellect. The logical
conundrum questions the morality of Gods goodness but reason can be insufficient when
attending with miracles by God. The solution to the problem will not be entirely satisfactory due
to the debate of faith or fact. Faith as Hume disclosed was anything but a virtue, it is a matter
of belief. The belief of God is a matter of faith. But Stairs acknowledges the fact that Christianity
is not the only region to attests to miracles but experience in miracles determines the belief.
Proof and mere reason should not determine faith in miracles because according to Humes faith
subverts the principles of understanding. This argues that the solution to the problem of evil will
not be entirely settling for both sides of the problem of evil because of natural laws and logic.
Free will and choices are only significant when they are agreeable than others. Stairs
states, a universe without free will is better than one without. Although Stairs recognizes that
Lewis points out that the concept of convenience as it can be for one but not the other. In the
deconstruction of Lewis work continues on the fact of matters nature that cannot be fixed by

mans nature. A world with choices is better than one without with definitions that are deeper
than they appear with some choices will be bad. Some choices may be good for the one to
decide, bad things happen inevitably. Evil is unavoidable and the problem of evil is that it can
be the result of exercise of free will and the fact of matters nature not being fixed by man. The
matter that there is a fixed nature not by our wills.
Satire successfully addresses the problem of evil by acknowledging its attributes that are
more human faults than God. Evil exists in this world but good exists too. Its all in human
belief. Free will, choice and faith add to problem of evil. Although a good God created the world,
some people find it hard to believe stating, The world is a mere moral chaos. Stairs concludes
with the awareness depending ones perceptions to the intellectual problem of evil is an
unsatisfying conclusion .