Chapter 29

Since the beginning, we have had freedom of action based on a certain level of deliberated choices, credentialed judgments, instinctual desires, varieties of personal preference, and other self-deterministic paths which can all be summed in the theological term “free-will.” It is the ultimate will of God that we have free-will, which of course lends the opportunity of evil. While God did not “invent” evil, He did invent free-will, which allows the existence of evil under the theological category of “the permissive will of God.” This is important to understand: Once again, God did not create “evil,” only the possibility of evil; and we as people actualized that potentiality.

And keep in mind, we are under the universal power of God, which means if you don’t like how He set things up you are free to go create your own universe, and if you can’t do that then you better submit to the universal power of God. Apparently God desired a love relationship with his highest beings (us) which can only be possible by allowing us the freedom of choice to love Him on our own, or not. He, of course, knew full well in advance the possibility of evil by allowing us free-will, but still thought it worth the cost.

Many uninformed, unintelligent people claim the existence of evil proves the non-existence of God. This type of ignorance is of the highest order of philosophical inconsistency. First off, if there is no God, where did we get the standard of goodness or decency by which we judge evil as evil? Even the word “evil” would have no meaning. The great ancient theologian Augustine put it best: “If there is no God, why is there so much good? If there is a God, why is there so much evil?” There are countless unfortunates over many thousands of years who, in their eagerness to promote atheism as a viable and (get this) even intellectual alternative to faith in God, search out any excuse not to believe. Funny thing is, I see no advance in intelligence when someone proclaims proof of the non-existence of God (which is EXACTLY what atheists do), since, philosophically speaking, one would have to have absolute knowledge (or be godlike) in order to make such a pronouncement truthfully with any confidence.

Like most things in life, sometimes people plainly do not understand concepts or beliefs in the right way, which leads to doubt, bewilderment, and then apathy. Upon deeper thinking, we find our freedom includes the possibility of sin within the context of its definition. Our actions must be within our powers, such that sufficient moral freedom is required for us to be held responsible for what we do.