Rachel Evans
The existence of evil in a world created by a benevolent God has been a topic of debate for centuries, with many philosophers and theologians offering their interpretations. The Catholic Church teaches that humans do not have the ability to fully comprehend the consequences of their actions, and that God can bring good out of evil. Catholics distinguish between physical evil, or natural harm, and moral evil, or willful sin. While Catholics believe that God may send suffering to open the hearts of those who have refused to hear His call, they also believe that Lucifer, or the devil, is responsible for persuading humans to do evil. Ultimately, Catholics maintain that the redemption of Christ overcomes all suffering and evil, and that God will bring about justice and draw good out of the sufferings of this life.
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What You'll Learn
Catholics distinguish between physical evil and moral evil
Catholicism holds that evil is not a real entity, but relative. Evil is essentially negative, consisting of the loss or deprivation of something necessary for perfection. Evil is of three kinds: physical, moral, and metaphysical.
Physical evil includes all that causes harm to humanity, whether by bodily injury, thwarting natural desires, or preventing the full development of human powers. Physical evils directly due to nature include sickness, accident, and death. Poverty, oppression, and some forms of disease are instances of evil arising from imperfect social organization. Mental suffering, such as anxiety, disappointment, and remorse, are also considered physical evils.
Moral evil, on the other hand, refers to the deviation of human volition from the prescriptions of the moral order and the actions resulting from that deviation. The extent of moral evil is not limited to the circumstances of life in the natural order but includes the sphere of religion as well, which is believed to depend on the motives supplied by religion.
While Catholics distinguish between physical and moral evil, they adhere to the teaching that all creatures are inherently good. According to Aquinas, 'physical evil' is evil only because our nature is now weak and subject to fallen conditions. In our original design, we were not subject to physical harm.
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Evil is not a disproof of God
Firstly, evil is relative. What is considered evil in some contexts may be good in others. For example, in a right-handed world, a left-handed back slap from a Roman to a Jew or a landowner to a tenant farmer was considered a humiliating act. Evil is not a real entity, and it is not something in itself but a lack of something that should be present.
Secondly, the existence of evil is contingent upon there being a moral standard, rational agents, moral communities, and a contingent universe. Theism locks in a moral standard since God is the subsistent good. Thus, evil provides evidence for the existence of God. If atheism were true, there would be no evil, just as there would be no contingent universe, moral standard, or moral obligations upon conscious rational agents.
Thirdly, God permits moral evil to the extent that He gives us free will. The moral evil in the world is the result of our choices. God permits physical evil to an extent that He does not perform miracles to stop suffering. Physical laws apply to both good and bad people. God may have created us in an imperfect material world so that we would not rely on ourselves but come to love and rely on Him.
Finally, the Christian faith proposes that the redemption of Christ overcomes all suffering and evil in a radical, transcendent way. Evil is undone in a way that reaches back to the beginning.
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Catholics believe that Lucifer, or the devil, causes evil
Catholicism is a diverse religion with a wide range of beliefs and practices. While some Catholics may view Satan and evil powers as literal beings, others may interpret them as metaphors or ideas. However, the Catholic Church has long acknowledged the existence of Satan, also known as Lucifer, the devil, or the Evil One, and recognises his role as a source of evil in the world.
Catholics believe that God created the angels, including Lucifer, as inherently good. However, Lucifer and some other angels chose to reject God and became evil by their own doing. These fallen angels, now known as demons, actively work to tempt and deceive humanity, leading them away from their relationship with God.
In the Book of Genesis, Lucifer is described as the tempter who convinced the first humans to sin, thus introducing sin, suffering, childbirth, and death into the world. By Jesus's time, the devil had become the explanation for all that goes wrong in the world. Jesus himself faced and overcame Satan's temptations, and he frequently interacted with evil spirits, commanding them to leave those they possessed.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church acknowledges the problem of evil and asks why, if God is almighty and good, evil exists in the world. While there may be no brief or simple answers to this question, the Church teaches that God will ultimately have the final victory over Satan and his works through Christ Jesus.
Catholics are encouraged to protect themselves against the devil's temptations and to recognise the source of evil within human nature. While some may view the devil as a literal being, others may interpret him as a symbol of the broken human tendency towards selfishness and sin.
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Catholics believe that God permits moral evil by giving humans free will
Catholicism is a complex belief system, and the question of evil is a difficult and mysterious one that cannot be answered briefly or simply. However, Catholics believe that God permits moral evil by giving humans free will.
Free will is a fundamental aspect of Catholic teaching. God has given humans the capacity to choose between good and evil, and this freedom is seen as a manifestation of the divine image. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that while God is the author of all that is good and just, humans sometimes choose evil. This is a result of free will, and the misuse of this freedom can lead to moral evil. Catholics believe that God allows moral evil in the world to make it possible for humans to choose love. By creating room for free will, God also creates room for its misuse and the resulting consequences.
The concept of free will is closely tied to the idea of conscience in Catholic belief. Conscience is the judgment of reason, where humans, guided by God's grace, recognize the moral quality of their actions. Catholics are obliged to follow what they know to be just and right, and their conscience guides them to love and do good while avoiding evil. This education of conscience is considered a lifelong task in Catholic teaching.
While Catholics value free will, they also recognize that it can be misused. The abuse of free will is considered the definition of moral evil, and it can lead to sin and suffering. Catholics believe that God places limitations on their choices through the Commandments to guide them towards good and away from evil. However, humans are often tempted to ignore or flout these limitations, setting their own agendas and making choices contrary to God's commands.
Ultimately, Catholics believe that God permits moral evil by giving humans free will, and this freedom is essential for the possibility of love and genuine communion with God. While evil exists in the world due to human choices, Catholics also believe in redemption through Christ, who overcomes suffering and evil in a radical and transcendent way.
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Catholics believe that God can bring good out of evil
The existence of evil in the world is a common argument against the existence of God. The problem of evil, as it is called, is considered the greatest emotional obstacle to belief in God. The atheist philosopher J. L. Mackie, for instance, maintained that belief in God was irrational, for if God were all-knowing, he would know that there was evil in the world; if he were all-powerful, he could prevent it; and if he were all-good, then he would wish to prevent it.
However, Catholics believe that the existence of God and the existence of evil are not mutually exclusive. They believe that God permits moral evil by giving humans free will. Humans, therefore, are responsible for moral evil in the world. Physical evil, on the other hand, is a result of the world's imperfect material nature. God permits physical evil to the extent that He does not perform miracles to stop suffering.
Catholics also believe that the redemption of Christ overcomes all suffering and evil in a radical, transcendent way. This is reflected in the following passage: "Omniscience conceived this unfathomable plan, and omnipotence proposes to carry it out, through the battered and slain and resurrected flesh of Jesus, the taproot of a restoration that will spread through all of time and space, from the most shattering supernova to the smallest crying child."
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics are expected to speak out against evil, but the form this takes can vary. Catholics believe that evil is a lack of perfection, and that humans have the free choice to disobey God and cause evil, but they can never find true joy and peace except in harmony with God. Evil is not a disproof of God, but a reminder of our need for God.
Moral evil is willful sin, while physical evil is natural harm. Murder, adultery, theft, and abortion are examples of moral evil, while natural disasters, famine, illness, and death are examples of physical evil.
Lucifer, or the devil, is called the Father of Lies. Lucifer's power comes from persuading humans to do his will, and the result is disastrous. However, Catholic belief does not grant him the power to execute the evil he envisions. His bid for predominance in heaven has already been thwarted, and his final defeat is destined.
