Theodicy and kicking the can

[Angrboda]

The most common answer to this lately is the notion of free will. It's basically the idea that we're allowed to do evil because it's super important

What I as a believer finds super important is love in all its forms: love of God, brotherly love, romantic love, and, yes, erotic love. What is at stake is whether people love of their own accord or if external influences fully override their ability to decide who they love.

I've never been impressed by the love argument because from my recollection of when I believed, and observation of others, it's a stretch to call the feelings felt about God as "love." It seems more often to be a mix of fearful respect and wonder, but not love. But that goes against the narrative, so people say that the relationship is one of love. I know of no other actual love relationship which even resembles the typical attitude towards God. So to me, to suggest that the basis of our life in this world is so we can choose to love God is a complete non-starter. Just the whole thing about "choosing" to love just doesn't make any sense. We don't choose to love another person, how do we do it with God? One might say we can choose to commit ourselves to God, or the sacred, or the good, but that's not the same thing as 'love'.

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I think the best answer I've heard to this is that the 'test' is not for God's benefit, but for our own. It gives us the opportunity to develop and grow morally, as Chad suggests. In that sense, God's omniscience would be a non-issue because the purpose of life is our development, not the formation of a judgement about our worthiness for heaven.