The problem of evil is not the greatest argument for atheism, but the most sound argument against it. Human history is a horror story. All evil is gratuitous, or it is not evil in the strict sense, as Aquinas notes. If it is not pointless, cruel, vindictive, and without meaning then it would not be evil. Evil deprives, consumes, and destroys and provides no rational conclusion. Evil admits of no exit except to heap-up or hollow-out additional evil. Mankind chose, and with each moment of a violated conscience continues to choose, to "know" evil. This is an intimate and experiential knowledge, as in Adam "knew" his wife and bore children. It is immersive, taught in real time, is as unforgiving as mathematics, and is as pointless as childhood leukemia. A recovered drug addict might acknowledge as much, for the knowledge of evil is a lesson better left unlearned. This is the lesson from which Man is still reeling, the epigraph of his assigned textbook the Bible, and the horror of history culminating in the Cross of Christ.
Yes, Evil actually proves the existence of God and not 'No God' because evil is the manifestion of Free Will which comes fro God and God Light, Goodness, Truth and Glory reinforced and Glorified when juxtaposed against the choice against gainst such Light and Glory the choice to follow the evil sprit. Evil Glorifies God because it reveals the opposite of God.
@@dennislydon6769" evil is the manifestion of Free Will... [and] evil Glorifies God because it reveals the opposite of God" You seem to have expressed a sincere belief in God, however your reasoning regarding "evil" reflects the error of dualism. Evil is not a thing, but rather a privation. Evil is not a manifestation of the freedom of will, but rather a failure of the will to choose freely. Evil does not glorify God, although God can and does work all things together for good. He speaks existence ex nihilo, calls light to shine in darkness, and raises the dead to life. "his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he" (Deuteronomy 32) "And not rather, as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say, 'Let us do evil, that good may come?' whose damnation is just" (Romans 3) "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do" (Romans 7) "refuse the evil, and choose the good" (Isaiah 7)
Andrew Ferg, yours are the only TH-cam comments I've ever screenshot because they're profound. I know I've seen your name, or at least, your surname, as a commenter on someone's Substack recently. I suppose you're that commenter, as well.
Love is present when two agree to love each other. God is love. Do you love God? People will go to hell because God never knew them. The relationship God offered was never accepted. Sin and evil continues because of ignorance.
I wish we had just a clear audio file for all his lectures. Dr. Kreeft, may I make a donation for top quality professional audio video equipments?
Excellent talk; God bless you
Thanks much for this video, but the audio was really poor.
please mend the microphone or the connexion if Dr Kreeft gives another lecture...?? How sad!
I can't help wondering why the audio for some of the best things on TH-cam is so bad. I suppose it's because there's a Devil.
The problem of evil is not the greatest argument for atheism, but the most sound argument against it. Human history is a horror story. All evil is gratuitous, or it is not evil in the strict sense, as Aquinas notes. If it is not pointless, cruel, vindictive, and without meaning then it would not be evil. Evil deprives, consumes, and destroys and provides no rational conclusion. Evil admits of no exit except to heap-up or hollow-out additional evil. Mankind chose, and with each moment of a violated conscience continues to choose, to "know" evil. This is an intimate and experiential knowledge, as in Adam "knew" his wife and bore children. It is immersive, taught in real time, is as unforgiving as mathematics, and is as pointless as childhood leukemia. A recovered drug addict might acknowledge as much, for the knowledge of evil is a lesson better left unlearned. This is the lesson from which Man is still reeling, the epigraph of his assigned textbook the Bible, and the horror of history culminating in the Cross of Christ.
Yes, Evil actually proves the existence of God and not 'No God' because evil is the manifestion of Free Will which comes fro God and God Light, Goodness, Truth and Glory reinforced and Glorified when juxtaposed against the choice against gainst such Light and Glory the choice to follow the evil sprit. Evil Glorifies God because it reveals the opposite of God.
@@dennislydon6769" evil is the manifestion of Free Will... [and] evil Glorifies God because it reveals the opposite of God"
You seem to have expressed a sincere belief in God, however your reasoning regarding "evil" reflects the error of dualism.
Evil is not a thing, but rather a privation. Evil is not a manifestation of the freedom of will, but rather a failure of the will to choose freely. Evil does not glorify God, although God can and does work all things together for good. He speaks existence ex nihilo, calls light to shine in darkness, and raises the dead to life.
"his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he"
(Deuteronomy 32)
"And not rather, as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say, 'Let us do evil, that good may come?' whose damnation is just"
(Romans 3)
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do"
(Romans 7)
"refuse the evil, and choose the good" (Isaiah 7)
Andrew Ferg, yours are the only TH-cam comments I've ever screenshot because they're profound. I know I've seen your name, or at least, your surname, as a commenter on someone's Substack recently. I suppose you're that commenter, as well.
I appreciate Dr Kreeft's wisdom but the audio is pretty ordinary... makes hearing this lecture quite arduous! 😓
Wonderful lecture. Thank you.
Love is present when two agree to love each other. God is love. Do you love God?
People will go to hell because God never knew them. The relationship God offered was never accepted.
Sin and evil continues because of ignorance.
Bad audio....shame, he is making real sense
Starts properly at 8mins
8:02 The lecture starts
Also, spotty audio and close caption dosent translate well
Dr Kreeft, is consecrated celibacy a "higher vocation" (TTMHS, PCF, 1995, 35) than male - female couple marriage?
Go to 8 minutes to skip the intros and "I..." statements
I can't hear him