ABSTRACT
One of the most difficult intellectual problems facing those who believe in an all-powerful, wholly good God is reconciling that belief with the existence of so much pain and suffering in the world. This problem is known as the problem of evil. If God really does exist and cares deeply about creation, then God should want to get rid of unnecessary suffering in the world. Why doesn’t God get rid of it? Some people interpret the existence of pain and suffering as proof that God does not exist; for, if God did exist, there wouldn’t be any unnecessary suffering. Defenders of religion have tried various approaches to circumventing the problem of evil. In this chapter we will examine these approaches and ask, for each one, whether it is successful.
