This essay serves as an introduction of sorts to a topic that Christian bashers and critics love to harp on: The Problem of Evil. One Christian apologist wrote that The Problem of Evil is perhaps the strongest objection that an atheist could raise against theism, or Christianity in general.

I appreciate this sentiment and can see where he came to the conclusion, but I'm not in complete agreement, since I think that this objection could also be called, "Cry-baby non-believers who sound like five-year-olds who whine, "Life is soooo unfair!"

Critics of theists (of Christian theists in particular) almost never seem to take the following into consideration when raising the 'problem of evil' subject:

a.) It was man's decision, made possible by the free will given him by God, to disobey God; hence 'sin' entered the universe, which led to a downfall of sorts, not only in regards to morality, but also in the balance of nature and in the animal kingdom.

Some skeptics 'Blame God' for giving us free will, and in turn, use this to blame Him for evil and suffering-- which seems to be a rather simplistic, last ditch, desperate effort by the 'dishonest' doubter to discredit theism. A few go so far as to cry "Entrapment!" when the issue of the forbidden fruit comes into play (I believe it was Glenn Miller who responded to this charge at his 'Think Tank' website; I refer you to his web site regarding this issue). God did not intend or want suffering and death to be a part of this world and the human experience.

At any rate, I'd like to hear skeptics answer this (rhetorical question): if you had all the attributes of the "Christian" God, exactly how would YOU have created a being with free will, able to make choices, but without giving that being any real choices to make? --In effect, wouldn't such an individual, who is not faced with making decisions between obeying you or not obeying you (or even with the possibility of doing so), be more like a robot and not a man?

b.) God the Son, who became incarnate in the Person of Jesus, though sinless Himself, took our sins on Himself and suffered in our place to make a remedy for the Fall, for man's disobedience as originally enacted in the Garden of Eden.

Jesus' substitution for us--the physical, spiritual, and mental suffering that God endured in our place -- allows any who wishes to do so to accept the free gift of salvation, the forgiveness of sins; God offers a way out.

As a side note, I have yet to hear of an atheist or other sort of critic of Christianity who would be willing to suffer --to be beaten, mocked and be killed for the shortcomings of others-- not for a set of beliefs, but for the sins, for the misdeeds, of others.

c.) I am always puzzled as to why any atheist would show outrage or anger at the idea of a God who allows suffering and death, since this is intertwined with morality and values.

The atheistic world view is one of no fixed, or absolute values-- each man can make his own set of values. But who then determines what is right or wrong, and how are we to know that suffering and death are 'bad'? Is it not, therefore, a contradiction, or at least hypocritical and bizarre for the atheist to judge God on these grounds?

Since atheists believe that we are all here by mere chance (with a little evolution tossed into the mix), just a collection of DNA and molecules who will die and cease to exist some day (and remember, there is no afterlife, no God to answer to, be held accountable to, according to the atheist), then why does the atheist care if men suffer and die? Why does the atheist even care that evil acts are committed?

The important things to keep in mind: man is to blame for man's suffering, not God; when God allows suffering and death to occur, there's always a reason-- a very good one at that, but sometimes one we may not be able to recognize in this lifetime. Lastly, God did not exempt Himself from suffering: keep in mind the crucifixion of Christ.

Getting back to the whiny five-year-old analogy, Christian critics need to come to terms with the fact that life is not always going to be rainbows, unicorns, and sunshine -- and they need to stop being angry with, and blaming these things on, a God they claim does not exist.

And to the Christian critics who say they do accept that life isn't perfect but then mope around about because of it (those doom and gloom existentalist types, or adherents of fatalist religions such as Hinduism) need to realize that there is hope, thanks to that certain carpenter who came from Nazareth.