Keywords
good, evil, Atonement
Abstract
The classical formulation of God as the sole, self-existent Being and ground of all that exists poses a philosophical problem. If God is omniscient and omnipotent, why does evil exist? Why does he not save humankind from moral and natural evil? If we embrace the full set of classical assumptions of creedal Christianity, these questions have no satisfactory answer and God cannot be absolved of responsibility for evil. This paper reviews and rejects several classical and modern philosophical formulations that try to solve the problem of evil. It then argues that the problem of evil dissolves if we accept Restoration theology in its most compelling form. Pluralism replaces monism, law is largely natural rather than legislated, and the necessity of atonement is located in humanity rather than in God, though God graciously provides the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which makes human exaltation possible.
Recommended Citation
Larsen, Val and Wright, Newell D.
(2025)
"Latter-day Saint Theology and the Problem of Evil,"
Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Vol. 64, Article 20.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/interpreter/vol64/iss1/20
