A significant portion of my studies for the past few months has been over the issue of the problem of evil to theistic belief. The argument generally runs that if God, who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, really did exist He would prevent evil. Numerous defenses (theodicies) have been proposed some arguing that God accomplishes a greater-good and is therefore justified in allowing evil to exist, others suggesting that evil is a natural consequence of the Fall and that God now works to providentially overcome it.
The issue has really led me to think about the attributes, or characteristics of God, the world in which we live, and God interaction with this Created order and His plan for it. Then I stumbled upon a work entitled Theodicy by Gottfried Leibniz. This response to the problem of evil argues that the world in which we live is the best world that God could have created given the parameters. Because this is the best we must realize that while evil exists, it is the result of sin and is at the most reduced it could be given God's larger plan for His Kingdom. No matter where one may dwell on an answer to the argument from evil, the idea of this world as God's best got me asking a lot more question. In response then I began reading, researching, and constructing an argument, which confessingly I still do not entire subscribe to myself. However, I find that the questions and tenets of the discussion most valuable in theology, regardless of one's philosophical inclinations. For the next number of days I want to trace this argument and its tenets and hopefully allow both of us to sort through this issue and develop, if nothing else, a deeper understanding and affection for God. Cheers!
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