Unsatisfying Alternatives

Why People Seek Alternatives

We’ve seen how the problem of evil sharpens into a logical dilemma: if God exists, is all-good, and is all-powerful, why does evil exist? Many have tried to resolve this dilemma not by affirming all four truths, but by denying one of them. These attempted solutions can seem attractive at first, but each one proves unsatisfying on closer inspection.

1. Atheism — Deny God Exists

The simplest option is to say there is no God. If there is no God, then the problem of evil disappears... at least on the surface. There is no higher standard to hold the world against; suffering and injustice are just facts of existence.

But atheism has its own difficulties. If there is no God, then our outrage at evil becomes puzzling. Why do we insist that things are unjust, wrong, or unfair? If the universe is only matter in motion, then suffering is not really “evil”- it just is. Yet we cannot help but treat it as something more. The very strength of the problem of evil assumes that goodness and justice are real, and that evil is their violation. Ironically, the atheist answer undermines the very moral ground that gives the problem its force.

2. Pantheism — Deny That God Is All-Good

Another option is pantheism, the belief that God and the universe are the same. If all is God, then evil must somehow be part of God as well. Some Eastern religions, and some modern spiritualities, see the divine as a blend of good and evil, light and darkness.

The problem here is that such a God cannot be trusted. If God includes evil within Himself, then our longing for justice and goodness is meaningless. Worse, calling evil “part of God” erases its horror. A God who is both good and evil is not the God we need, it is simply a larger version of the contradiction we are trying to resolve.

3. Naturalism and Polytheism — Deny That God Is All-Powerful

Others resolve the problem by limiting God’s power. In polytheism, the world is ruled by many gods: some good, some bad. Evil exists because no god has complete control. In modern naturalism, “God” is reduced to the forces of time, growth, or nature itself. This “god” is weak, imperfect, and still developing.

But such views fail to satisfy. A weak god cannot guarantee justice or redemption. If God is powerless to conquer evil, then there is no ultimate hope. We may admire His intentions, but good intentions without power leave us in despair.

4. Idealism — Deny That Evil Exists

A final alternative is idealism, which denies the reality of evil altogether. In certain philosophies and spiritual movements, evil is said to be an illusion of unenlightened human consciousness. If we could see things truly, we would discover that all is well.

This answer may seem comforting, but it collapses in practice. Try telling a cancer patient that their pain is an illusion, or a victim of injustice that their suffering is not real. To deny evil is to deny human experience. Christianity, by contrast, takes evil seriously, so seriously that God Himself entered into suffering and death to overcome it.

Why These Fail

Each of these options denies one of the four truths at the heart of the problem:

• Atheism denies God.

• Pantheism denies His goodness.

• Naturalism denies His power.

• Idealism denies the reality of evil.

But none of these satisfy, because in our hearts we know all four to be true: God exists, God is good, God is powerful, and evil is real.

The challenge, then, is not to escape the problem by denial, but to seek a deeper resolution. That is what biblical theism claims to offer, not by ignoring evil, but by showing how God’s goodness and power remain intact even in a world where evil exists.

Looking Ahead

In the next post, we will turn to the positive principles for addressing the problem of evil. How do we think clearly about such a difficult issue? What starting points can guide us? Before we seek a final solution, we need to understand the rules of good reasoning, the meaning of key terms, and the “data” of revelation that Christians take as their foundation.

Only then can we see how the Cross of Christ provides not just an abstract answer, but a real one.