The Problem of Evil (XXVII)

[Mister Agenda]

So you've conceived of a possible situation where God would have morally sufficient reasons to permit suffering, despite his tri-Omni super powers. I'd like to hear what it is.

Only an infinite (or nearly so) mind can calculate all the outcomes of a storm or one earthquake--not just in the near term but from that point on through eternity. Just a few possible "good" outcomes from such an event:

1. Community grows stronger in time of crisis. 
2. Neighbors helping neighbors. Recipients lives are touched/changed by compassion. Those giving aid or compassion are themselves changed.
3. Outsiders helping. Some results as #2 but they go back to another place a changed person. 
4. People's lives are refocused on things that matter. More introspection. 
5. Possibly as a result of #1-4 people gain a knowledge of God.
6. People from #5 live lives, come in contact with others, have families, possibly affecting hundreds, thousands, or even millions of future lives.

I'm sure you are familiar with Chaos Theory and the butterfly effect. It cannot be fathomed what effect one little change can have on the rest of eternity.

So the justification you put in the mouth of your God is a series of 'just so' ad hoc stories?

So a rapist can take comfort in knowing that at least his crimes will eventually result in a greater good, else God wouldn't allow them?

If I knew that allowing a child to drown would result in a greater good later, would I be justified in letting that child drown?

And finally, it's hard to be impressed by a supposedly omnipotent deity that can't accomplish its ends less clumsily and painfully than this. If he were real, he's literally made a world where it's harder to believe in his existence because of the means he supposedly uses to get people to know his existence.