Christianity and the Problem of Evil, Part 1

Christianity and the Problem of Evil, Part 1

From Anglican Church of the Incarnation - Richmond, Virginia by Church of the Incarnation, Richmond, Virginia

April 26, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

This episode begins the exploration of the problem of evil, discussing various philosophical and theological perspectives on suffering and evil within the Christian tradition.

In this opening lesson, we begin examining the problem of evil as both a philosophical challenge and a theological question. Our discussion explores several major attempts to explain suffering—including free will defenses, higher-order goods arguments, and skeptical theism—while considering the strengths and limitations of each. Along the way, we are encouraged to reflect on how modern secular assumptions often shape these debates in ways Christians need not accept uncritically. This lesson lays the groundwork for a deeper exploration of how the Christian tradition approaches suffering, evil, and the nature of God. Church of the Incarnation is an Anglican (ACNA) parish in western Henrico, Virginia, committed to: Biblical teaching for both head and heart, Spiritual formation through liturgy and sacrament, and A shared life of prayer and discipleship for all ages Learn more: https://incarnationrichmond.org

Topics covered

  • problem of evil
  • philosophical challenge
  • theological question
  • suffering
  • Christian tradition
  • free will defenses
  • skeptical theism

Keywords

  • evil
  • suffering
  • Christianity
  • philosophy
  • theology
  • free will
  • secular assumptions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Church of the Incarnation

Books & works: Christianity and the Problem of Evil

Places: Virginia, western Henrico, Virginia

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