If you believe in a God or Gods, why does he/she/they allow evil in the world?
Human beings have been agonizing over the existence of evil for centuries. Why is it that so many people live with the very real possibility of being victims of evil at some point in their lives? The problems seem even more perplexing if your belief system includes the image of an all-powerful, all wise God benevolence. Consider this article to explore the nature of evil and how God’s purpose might intersect with our personal experiences with it.
How do you explain the existence of evil in this world?
There are a number of different theories as to why evil exists. Some people believe that evil is the result of a imbalance in the natural order, while others believe it is the result of humans acting in opposition to the will of God.
One popular theory is that evil exists because there is a lack of good in the world. This theory suggests that if there was more good in the world, then evil would not exist. Others believe that evil exists as a result of human free will. This theory suggests that humans have the ability to choose between good and evil, and that evil exists because humans choose to do evil things.
It is difficult to say definitively why evil exists. However, understanding why evil exists can help us to better understand how to prevent it from happening.
Suppose you believe in a God or Gods, why does he/she/they allow evil?
If you believe in a God or Gods, the question of why evil exists can be a difficult one to answer. Many people believe that evil is necessary in order for humans to learn and grow, while others believe that it is simply a part of life that cannot be avoided. Some religious texts even state that evil is necessary for the balance of good and evil in the world. No matter what your beliefs may be, it is likely that you have thought about this question at some point in your life.
Is Buddhism Atheistic or Monotheistic?
I was born in a Buddhist country and was raised as a Buddhist. Buddhism is a religion that does not believe in a unique god who created existence. Hence, my beliefs and perceptions are heavily influenced by it. Buddhism originated in a Polytheistic society, India, where various religions exist, but most of them believe in the concept of gods. Therefore, my culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism but also by the culture of the neighboring country, India. Thus, Hinduism plays a significant role in our culture, and we have local deities with specific purposes. Buddhism rejects the concept of a creator, a god responsible for our existence.
But that does not mean Buddhism is Atheistic or Monotheistic. Instead, the religion talks about heaven and hell—the presence of beings in various plains, five heavens, and four hells.
According to the teachings, we have the choice to craft our destiny based on the decisions we make and the good and bad actions we take. Karma is the law that ultimately judges these actions and decides the afterlife. My culture is also heavily influenced by Astrology and believe that planets and stars have a say in certain things in our lives. All these things factor into my thoughts about who or whom I believe is the author of my destiny. While I do not directly acknowledge any specific god or gods or planetary system, I do believe in the power of the universe. But what is this universe? That is a question I do not know to answer. Some may call it the ultimate god, but sometimes I imagine that would be nature just balancing everything out autonomously, and we call it the power of the universe. But that is my personal opinion. I believe we have some choice in deciding our free will by watching our actions and living ethically. But fate is something that I do think exists.
Ying and Yang
The Japanese term Ying and Yang, the opposite forces that work dynamically, talks about the good and bad balancing the flow of things. So why do I think evil exists in this world? I think it is because we are given a choice to make decisions, and those who choose evilness are the reason that exists in the world. The power of the universe, or nature as I interpret it, balances it out by letting karma take its course. Some religious beliefs I have come across validate evil if it is done in the name of the creator of a powerful being. There are instances where some actions could be justified when viewed in a biased opinion and defied when considered in the opposite opinion. However, these arguments could be confirmed or not. It all comes down to an individual perception of life and the meaning of existence. There might not be a powerful being sitting down, writing every person’s destiny, and assigning some people as evil while some are good. I think it is just a choice we are given every waking moment of our lives and what we choose to do with that choice makes the difference.
Read these articles for more details on the existence of evil in this world
Beebe, J. (n.d.). The logical problem of evil | internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Www.Iep.Utm.Edu.
Harvey, P. (2019, July 30). Buddhism and monotheism. Cambridge University Press.
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