the problem of evil - Paul

statistical challenge - premature deaths

What does Paul argue?

• If a creator exists, he has made an environment with huge amounts of suffering - beyond humans control.

• this extent of evil does not allow for an omnibenevolent, omnipotent, omniscient God.

What is Paul’s argument about premature deaths?

• He argues that the death of so many innocent children challenges the existence of God.

• 50 billion children died naturally, 300 billion prenatally - more before even being born than after.

• Millions of innocent children suffer and die every year, from both natural and evil causes.

• these children are too young to be able to make choices about God, they have no free will.

• No all-loving, powerful being would permit such suffering

• Therefore God does not exist.

What does Paul say about prayer?

• There is no historical evidence that prayer of Christians has reduced the suffering of children.

• Which Paul believes challenges the existence of God.

• Children do not have free will to achieve ‘perfection’ as they aren’t mature enough

• those who die before maturity are either incapable of entering heaven or go to heaven without choosing

• if they go to hell that is unfair, but it is also unfair if they go to heaven without choosing - their experience has been taken away.

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