To answer a question on the Logical Problem of Evil, you would want to know at least the following:

• By ‘evil’ we mean (roughly) ‘pain and suffering’.

• The ‘Problem of Evil’ claims to show that because pain and suffering exist, the God of Classical Theism (i.e. traditional Christianity) cannot exist.

• Here, we examine the most famous variant of this — the ‘Logical problem of evil’.

• Traditionally, Christians have claimed that God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omnibenevolent (all-loving).

• For example, Jesus notes that ‘for God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19. 26) and elsewhere the Bible says ‘God is love’ (I John 4. 8).

• Christians generally take this to mean that God can do literally anything God wishes, and loves everyone who has ever lived with perfect agapé love.

• However, as David Hume points out, this creates a logical paradox.

• He explains, ‘We grant that his [i.e. God’s] power is infinite: whatever he wills to happen does happen. But neither man nor any other animal is happy; therefore God doesn’t will their happiness’ (1779: 44).

• He means that if God TRULY loved everyone, then God would use His unlimited power to end their pain and suffering; however, God has not done this.

• Note that if God were ONLY omnipotent, there would be no paradox: an un-loving God would have no reason to help anyone.

  • N.B. This is what Deism argues: God made the world, but doesn’t take an interest in it.

• Likewise, if God were ONLY omnibenevolent, then there would be no paradox: a weak or limited God would want to help everyone, but not be able to.

  • N.B. This is what Process Theology argues: God can influence the world; but not stop individual acts of evil.

• However, Christians want to maintain that God is BOTH omnipotent and omnibenevolent, leaving them with the Logical Problem of Evil.

References:

• Hume, David. 1779. 'Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion', ed. Jonathan Bennett <https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/hume1779.pdf> [accessed 21 May 2026]