Epicurus' Problem of Evil Problematic for Epicurus

 This gentleman made this statement over two centuries before Christ. He is STILL waiting for a rational counterargument. Any takers? Anywhere......? -- Sean Faircloth, Dir. of Strategy & Policy.


I am a taker, Mr. Faircloth, and Mr. Epicurus.  I give you  Ravi Zacharias:

1. If you assume that there is such a thing as good, aren't you assuming that there is such a thing as evil ?

2. If you assume that there is good and there is evil, aren't you assuming that there is such a thing as a moral law on the basis of which to differentiate between good and evil ?

3. If you posit such a thing as a moral law, you must ultimately posit a moral law giver.

4. However that is what you are trying to disprove.

5. Now, if there is no moral law giver, there is no moral law.

6. If there is no moral law, there is no good.

7. If there is no good, there is no evil. What is your question ?

Rejection of a moral law/lawgiver leads to the denial of absolute moral values, of absolute moral evil. From here, the naturalist can only retreat into subjectivity.

In a debate between the philosopher Frederick Copleston and the atheist Bertrand Russell, Copleston said, “Mr. Russell, you do believe in good and bad, don’t you?” Russell answered, “Yes, I do.” “How do you differentiate between good and bad?” challenged Copleston. Russell shrugged his shoulders and said, “On the basis of feeling – what else?” I must confess, Mr. Copleston was a kindlier gentleman than many others. The appropriate “logical kill” for the moment would have been, “Mr. Russell, in some cultures they love their neighbors; in other cultures they eat them, both on the basis of feeling. Do you have any preference?”

I ask you if a society based on the fictions of Alex Rosenberg, Professor at Duke University, author of "The Atheist's Guide to Reality" could have longevity.  How long would a society last that embraces the following ideas?  He states:

"What is the nature of reality?  What physics says it is.  What is the purpose of the Universe?  None.  What is the meaning of life?  None.  Why am I here?  Dumb luck.  Is there free will?  Not a chance.  What happens when we die?  Everything pretty much goes on as before except we don't exist.  What is the difference between right and wrong?  There is no moral difference.  Why should I be moral?  It might make you feel better than being immoral."

Paul of Tarsus to the Romans states by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:  "So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law.  They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them".