Tom,

You are on the right track, Zamuda’s story is raw and painful enough to get people thinking about evil and how we might respond to it. I think if we are to respond to evil in our world, we have to be honest enough to confront its ugliness.  And I think this story helps us do that as readers.

I think you’ve got a great start to setting up a question that is being frequently asked. Generally, the “Jesus Culture” doesn’t handle this well. So many folks leave their faith unexamined and compartmentalized.

I was thinking about the broader topic while listening to an interview with Annie Duke, a professional poker player. [http://thisweekinstartups.com/2009/12/twist-30-with-annie-duke/  starting at about 24 minutes in.] She says that “privatizing good results and socializing bad results is very unproductive.” People tend to only take credit for good results and blame outside forces for bad results.

The Jesus Culture gives God the credit for good things in our world (privatizing good results), and blames humanity for evil (socializing bad results). Annie talks about a Twitter conversation she had with Kathy Ireland after Kathy used some reality TV show to promote her faith in Jesus by crediting God for her newfound ability to dance in heals. Annie Duke’s asks why God was worried about something as inane Kathy’s dancing, but seems impotent to deal with genocide in Africa.

Annie is right. The Jesus Culture cannot give God credit for His generous contribution personal success without inadvertently contrasting that with the evil where He doesn’t intervene.

I much prefer the Old Testament point of view that understands that God is truly sovereign. In order for evil to exist God must give approval - whether passively or actively. Good, clear answers in this deconstructionist atmosphere would be quite welcome.

I realize that some time has passed between the posted article and my comment, this for a couple of reasons, the least of which is how disturbed by Zamuda’s ordeals, another is sometimes I have to consider things for awhile.

I really do not have an adequate answer for the Zamudas of the world, nothing that would ease their suffering. Aside from divine intervention into their grief, what could possibly ease the pain she has suffered. Zamuda was the victim of evil.

However, I question whether or not the victims of Katrina were victims of evil. It seems to me that evil is the result of a choice made by a free and moral agent. A simple result of atmospheric conditions, which follow the laws of physics lack the requisite ability to choose to be actually evil. Does this change the effect on the victims? No!

So, as I am beginning to see natural phenomena that cause suffering, God created a system that behaves according to certain laws. For the most part this systems allows for life on Earth. The Earth’s molten core aids in maintaining a temperature that supports life. Atmospheric conditions provide for rain, sunshine, the elements that sustain life. However, from time to time this same system develops conditions which are extreme and results that are bad for people occur, but are they bad for the Earth and maintaining sustainability overall?

As far as evil, if it is the result of a free and moral agent’s free choice, the same choice that allows others to choose good, and they choose to violate the freedom of others, that is the sad result of a created order which allows for good to be chosen. God being a free and moral agent chooses good. He chooses not to violate the freedom He has given, for to to do otherwise does violence against the individual akin to the violence that individual perpetuates against others.

As I said, this cannot ease suffering, only God can do that.

Dr. Oord,

Obviously, I agree that Zamuda’s tale is horrific, confusing, and theologically challenging.  I am not sure that I agree, however, that the problem of evil “needs an answer,” as you said at the beginning of this post.  I worry that our search for an answer to the problem of evil then becomes a substitute for God - if we can explain away why evil exists, then we might replace the need for God with a tidy answer. Would an “answer” to the problem of evil bring healing to Zamuda’s life? Or can only an encounter with God do that?

I listened to the lecture and looked at the powerpoint that discussed her terrible story and the problem of evil.
  I do not know what the answer is. I recently wrote a paper trying to disprove one of the premises of the problem in an attempt to come to a conclusion other than God does not exist.
  I came to no solid Christian conclusion.
  It hurts me to think some people don’t think this is a problem. How could you read this story without weeping, and yet many can and it does not change or challenge them in the slightest. I don’t know how you can so emotionally detach yourself from the world to ignore issues like this. Even if I never find an answer I hope I can at least help other realize the problem does exist.

As I read through this and ponder the question as to why God cannot or will not prevent evil, I admit, I cannot understand the question of “why”. I know that evil exists. I have seen it, felt it, known it on my own scale and in my own way, and have become familiar with it inside and outside of my own experiences. I know that it differs from person to person and it rarely limits its consequences to one person in any given situation. I know that these consequences are refreshed in our minds daily. I cannot, however, offer up any satisfactory conclusions as to the “why would this happen” question. In truth, I don’t know that an answer is even possible. I would say that one of the only ways to cope with evil’s ghosts is to look outside of you (such as is the case with women speaking out against violence inflicted upon and around them) and find ways to reach out. In doing so, you may find people experiencing similar situations, people who need you, and maybe even people with whom you may be able to heal.

As I read this post I am reminded of the many horrible tragedies and injustices that cross people’s paths. However, I tend to agree with those who do not try to force an answer to the problem of evil in this world. I tend to think that there is some greater force working or choosing not to work for reasons we do not or can not understand. I think our great responsibility is to help heal those people that have experienced evil.

In the light of last week’s video God On Trial, I have contemplated some of the ways in which people (specifically Jews in the Auschwitz internment camp) understand the reasons why genuine evils happen to innocent people. Among the many explanations, there were three that stood out to me: (1) God uses genuine evils as methods of purification (such as those in OT sacrifices) to bring about a renewed closeness to God,(2) as free-will is given to humans, human beings will pervert it for their own interests, thereby bringing unwarranted injury for victims in their path, and (3) perhaps God, being unable to counter evils within the physical world, created mankind as his literal hands and feet to physically counter genuine evils. Although these methods are interesting, I wonder at how well they could apply and be accepted as a workable solution to problems around the world, specifically those that would encompass genocide, human rights violations, etc. And in doing so, to what extent is God responsible?

Over the past couple of weeks I have really struggled with one of the characteristics that was mentioned in class with regards to the reasons behind “why” genuine evils are allowed to happen: encountering genuine evil produces character. I know that this particular issue is one that I have commented on quite a bit, but it seems to stick with me as I deal with struggles in life. In all seriousness, I understand that character is one of the side effects of evils experienced in life, but I really struggle as I can’t figure out why some who claim to have great character have encountered very few significant struggles in life and I operate under the “when it rains, it pours” mentality. When do we have enough character? Do those who struggle with serious, life-threatening issues have more character than those who have not encountered as much? How do we know? When is it enough?