Aquinas Fifth Way Of Proving The — страница 2

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to stop it, and choose not to do so? How could He let young infants die in fires, allow men to become paralyzed and women to be raped and sodomized? If God is all of these things, would not He create a universe where there was no evil? John Hicks responded to Hume and the problem of evil by trying to imagine a world without evil. If no evil could occur the attempt to do evil would always be unsuccessful. In such a world all laws of science, logic and nature would have to be flexible to allow for the disappearance of evil. For example, a man drives in a car with a hostage off of a building. In a world without evil, the car and the people would land undamaged. Further, the reckless act itself would never have a bad outcome. Hicks also pointed out that the very good things in our

lives would either not exist or be less intense without the existence of evil. For example, without a devastating earthquake, there can be no charity, neighborly help, sympathy, endurance, courage and kindness. Without pain there can be no bravery or strength of heart. In short, the evils in our lives are effectively soulmaking events which create our character, our hearts, our passions and our souls. In a world without suffering, what would challenge the human spirit to rise to these levels of soulmaking? When I try to sum up my opinion as to the existence of God and the problem of evil, my mind keeps wandering to one example of human life, Christopher Reeves. He is a man who was blessed with looks, career success as an actor and celebrity, and a happy marriage. One day he

becomes paralyzed from the neck down losing everything even the capacity to breath. If God sees this and can change his condition, why doesn t He? Has is made Reeves a better man or enriched his soul as Hicks would say? Surely Reeves life is filled with unhappiness and suffering. Does one have to be aware that they are in the process of soulmaking? And is soulmaking supposed to be good for the individual, for the world at large or just for God? If I could answer these questions, there would be no need for the study of philosophy, as they have no correct answer. I do believe in God, but I do not know why except for a feeling inside which may be inborn or the result of my environment. David Hume s philosophies are based upon trusting one s feelings as is evidenced by his reliance

on poets instead of scientists. I think I will also go with my feelings on this issue. God does exist but humans may never have the capacity to understand the Hows and Whys.