(July 29, 2021 at 12:58 pm)Angrboda Wrote: One could argue that the existence of this world is evidence of a benevolent creator. Things like free will and beauty exist which would not exist without creation. One can argue whether on balance things are good or bad, but like the free will defense, the argument that it's possible that these things demonstrate a benevolent god cannot be argued away just by disagreeing on particulars.
Have you heard the argument that postulates a malevolent creator god? It's a thought experiment designed to demonstrate how weak the responses to the problem of evil are.
It goes something like:
A: This world was created by an omni-malevolent deity.
B: But there's so much good in the world! That can't possibly be!
A: Yes, but, in order for the world to be truly evil, the malevolent god created good so we can see how utterly evil the world really is by comparison.
etc. etc. etc.
For me personally, I never thought the problem of evil was a good sticking point. It's good to arouse thought in those who are utterly convinced of a good god. But there are plenty of reasons evil might exist. A good dungeon master puts traps and dragons in his dungeon, but only to make his world more interesting, after all.
