I pretty much agree with all of this. I can’t believe in a God that is simultaneously omnipotent and omnibenevolent without a solution to the Problem of Evil. It’s a logical contradiction.
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 from whence comes evil? --Epicurus [apocryphal?]
But a solution to the Problem of Evil is not sufficient to make me believe God exists. So it’s a co-crux for me.
God is such a complex claim that I would need this part solved before even allowing that God exists within the space of all logically consistent hypotheses to be considered. I suppose that’s less of a crux and more part of a prerequisite definition, come to think of it.
I pretty much agree with all of this. I can’t believe in a God that is simultaneously omnipotent and omnibenevolent without a solution to the Problem of Evil. It’s a logical contradiction.
But a solution to the Problem of Evil is not sufficient to make me believe God exists. So it’s a co-crux for me.
FYI, while I still do not believe in God, I was… actually just pretty satisfied by Scott Alexander’s Answer to Job?
[edit: epistemic status: haven’t actually thought seriously about it tho. Also, someone just gave a plausibly convincing counter argument]
I am interested in that counterargument. Can you summarize or link?
God is such a complex claim that I would need this part solved before even allowing that God exists within the space of all logically consistent hypotheses to be considered. I suppose that’s less of a crux and more part of a prerequisite definition, come to think of it.