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Bob Cooper

The Question of Evil

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In the philosophy of religion and theology, the problem of evil is the question of whether evil exists and, if so, why. The question particularly arises in religions that propose the existence of a Deity who is omnibenevolent while simultaneously also being omnipotent.

 

In other words, if God is both good and omnipotent, why does He allow evil? This is a powerful atheistic argument.

 

The logic is, "either God is all-good, or He is all-powerful. He cannot be both if evil exists in the world. He is either incapable of stopping evil (that is, he is not all-powerful), or He doesn't care if there is evil in the world (that is, he is not all-good)."

 

The Abrahamic religions cannot seem to resolve this apparent paradox. What is the Vaishnava answer to the Question of Evil?

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God is epitome of goodness. Evil things exists...but do we put enough efforts to refrain ourselves from committing evil and/or being in the presence of evil? Ponder that..

 

Good or bad...there is always a lesson to learn from it. Namaste.

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Bob Cooper,

 

According to Vaishnava philosophy. There is NO EVIL and NO GOOD

 

God is ultimate cause and ultimate doer.

 

Evil, as per Vaishnavism, is simply turning away from God. By this definition, if we eat food (even vegan) not offered to God is considered sinful. Therefore any act, word or deed that is not done with God in the center is considered karma (good or bad).

 

So if you do an act that helps other people without God, it is good karma.

If you do an act that hurts other people without God, it is bad karma.

If you do an act just to please God, it is divine or transcendental (no karma).

 

So technically, within this material creation there is no evil or good as food for one is poison to other. Everything is relative and hence no such thing as absolute evil or goodness. Evil act and good act is just a label as everything is relative.

 

There is only the distinction between an act for God's pleasure or one's own pleasure (gross or subtle).

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In the philosophy of religion and theology, the problem of evil is the question of whether evil exists and, if so, why. The question particularly arises in religions that propose the existence of a Deity who is omnibenevolent while simultaneously also being omnipotent.

 

In other words, if God is both good and omnipotent, why does He allow evil? This is a powerful atheistic argument.

 

The logic is, "either God is all-good, or He is all-powerful. He cannot be both if evil exists in the world. He is either incapable of stopping evil (that is, he is not all-powerful), or He doesn't care if there is evil in the world (that is, he is not all-good)."

 

The Abrahamic religions cannot seem to resolve this apparent paradox. What is the Vaishnava answer to the Question of Evil?

 

 

this is one of the few questions that actually makes sense. Although God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent, he WILL NOT stop you from doing bad. IT is for you to "discern" right from wrong. There is always prior information for a prospective evil person to decide if he really wants to commit "the sin". He may give you strength to resist the temptation but does not prohibit you or anything like that.

 

The whole point in BEING is defeated if God interferes in any matter which is meant to be discerned by the human intellect.

 

quoted from bhagvad gita:

 

“One gradually attains tranquillity of mind by keeping the mind fully absorbed in the Self by means of a well-trained intellect, and thinking of nothing else.”

 

"The power of God is with you at all times; through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions; and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument.”

 

 

“One who has control over the mind is tranquil in heat and cold, in pleasure and pain, and in honor and dishonor; and is ever steadfast with the Supreme Self.”

 

 

These quotes support my answer to your question. The mind is the centre of all activity. YOU are totally responsible. It is for us to use our free will and decide what is the best action. Narayana is reflected in every good action, good intention, good deed.

 

 

As for the question of why people are not protected when evil is committed against them, there are, definitely many cases to this scenario:

 

1) IF there is a danger to that person(to whom crime is being committed) then, it is correct for him to be in danger at that time( as God decides). If innocent people are killed, it is meant for them to be killed.

 

2) Sometimes even if the person to whom the crime is being committed does nt deserve death, but still he dies: if this is the case, then criminals and victims will be given justice. The whole point to understand is that constantly there is free will everywhere. IT doesnt mean what you say: "He is either incapable of stopping evil (that is, he is not all-powerful), or He doesn't care if there is evil in the world (that is, he is not all-good).".

I'll tell you why. There is a huge responsiblity on the mind , irrespective of there being a god or not. For personal actions, freewill precedes god's intervention. God will not intervene at everything. A group of evil people coming in contact with a group of good people to torture them is a possibility we have to accept. What i mean to say is that God will not intervene in absolutely everything, he leaves it to people's free wil. He does not validate killing in the name of any god nor does he "always" stop their actions. In such times praying to God for protection( to avoid gathering around evil people) is important. The way God needs to be understood, is not only by the way of spiritual arguments but there are also many logical argurments. Vaishnava philosophy tells people to live, decide and discern logically and have failth in god. It is weird but i wont say that you have to take the name ot Vishnu, even if you pray to just "God" and not "Vishnu" it would be just as good; because you are still unsure who the real god is(his name, i mean), Visnu will respond if you ask "God"; hence it is one way of validating that Vishnu is the only God. This works ofcourse only if, you hold no doubt about other demi-gods(like Allah, actually he is a pagan god called "Sin" in the mesopotamian pantheon) or Jesus( He is actually a prophet and no, even i am a son of god).

 

 

If my argument is inconsistent or lacking strength to drive the point, let me know.

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