God, freedom and the problem of eviltranslated

The problem of evil is one of the strongest arguments that have been made against belief in a God of love. If God is all powerful and good, why is there so much pain in the world? Why doesn't she stop him? And still more: does he himself allow him or even send him to educate man?

By Petros D. Damianos (Dr. of Philosophy – NTUA Teaching Staff)

Here, however, a basic distinction is needed. The phrase "God permits evil" is often misinterpreted as meaning that God causes pain to teach, punish, or lead someone to the "straight path." This image creates a reasonable reaction. A God who inflicts trauma and then demands that man return to Him is more like a punishing God than a loving God.

But there is another way to look at the problem.

Man has free will. And if freedom is real, then it must have real consequences. Man can love, but he can also hate. It can create, but also destroy. He may act responsibly, but he may also, through negligence, greed, or self-interest, harm…