Re: problem of evil - to clear things up

"Damien Stanton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> The only plausible defence to the problem of evil is the 'free will
> defence', ie. that the good of having free will outweighs any evil in the
> world.  This is difficult to argue against since it seem like a matter of
> opinion:  does the gift of free will outweigh evil?   Then, the one possible
> answer to the free will defence is the suggestion that God should segregate
> evil people into a secluded region for themselves, thereby protecting
> non-evil people.  Again, this is going to be a matter of opinion.  In one
> sense, this will be constraint on free will:  what if I want to go to this
> secluded place for fun?  But maybe it is a necessary contraint in order to
> minimize evil.  Who knows?  This is where the debate stalemates.
> 
> So there you have it:  problem of evil -> free will defence.   There isn't
> much else to it folks...

I suppose it depends on whether there is a final judgement or not.  If
evil is unavoidable due to free will, and that is all there is to it,
and we just have to cop it, then the protest that such a "gift" is
more harmful than helpful carries some weight.

But if there is a judgement, and your own suggestion is then adapted
viz. "segregate evil people into a secluded region for themselves"
(along with evil spiritual beings), or if you like the Great Divorce
between Heaven and Hell, then justice will be served in some form.

The judgement, if it is in fact real, puts a somewhat different light
on the question.

I personally believe there is such a judgement, in fact due to certain
personal experiences, I am absolutely certain there is.  I also
believe, and this is a purely personal belief, that when the Final
Judgement has taken place, and all people are in one place or the
other, then Hell will be shrunk to infinite nothingness.  In the sight
of heaven it will not exist, although to the inmates it will be all
too real.

I personally believe that Black Holes were given (partly) as an
allegory to this situation, where immense quantities of matter shrink
down to virtual nothingness in dimension.  To the external observer
the blackhole does not exist, except for certain strange things in its
vicinity.  But to the matter inside that tormented boundary of the
event horizon, it is very real.

Bob Crowley.