One sentence that throws the problem of evil out of the window.

[Mystic]

God's ways are higher and understand his ways best, is a valid response, if someone doesn't know why but is sure God exists. Despite Atheists hating it.  

If by "valid," you mean "dodging the philosophical issues with evil in an attempt to make an irrational fairy tale seem plausible," then okay.

The argument from evil in all its forms are arguments from ignorance. That is the essential structure of them all. 

They are not providing all possible explanations and then showing them all to be wrong.

They are arguments from ignorance, the fact, that Theists give responses, is simply because it is strong emotionally and needs to be addressed for that sake, but intellectually, it has no concrete basis and falls flat in so many ways.

If it was posed as a honest question and not asserting to disprove God, it would warrant honest answer, and I don't know why when someone doesn't know, is the best answer sometimes.

---

Whatever suffering possible in this world,  if we are patient and steadfast in midst of it, and in midst peril, out of love of the Great Ultimate Beauty that sees us exactly as we are,  the love that ensues to us from that loving being, is worth it, as well as the honourable position we will have in its absolute eye which is the vision of the absolute truth.

Frankly, you don't sound much different from the hippie types that we're famous for in California.

On a slightly related note, I hate that I live on the Left Coast and I seem to miss all the excitement because I'm at work while a thread gets 24 pages in a matter of hours, for Pete's sake lol. Is the entire thread worth a read?

-Teresa

My love has a much more vengeful taste to it. Not hippy style.