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Divine Evil by David Lewis

 

            In his work, Divine Evil, David Lewis provides several reasons for the argument that the "existence of evil is logically incompatible with the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, and completely benevolent deity."" One of the significant claims he makes in this selection is his argument that the torment and punishment that is given by God to those who are insubordinate to him is unlike any that humans could imagine, unjust, and not one an omnipotent, omniscient, and completely benevolent deity would give. He also discusses the ideas that God's scriptures are not to be read literally and that an individual's choices are the cause for their salvation or damnation. .
             Lewis believes that God's tormenting as a means of punishment, as recognized by many religions to be eternal damnation, to be an unjust and evil doing that is unparalleled to the all-loving stature of God. He explains that God's scriptures not only send those who have sinned but also those who do not believe whole heartedly in him to hell. For example, one who has committed a heinous crime such as murder would be subject to damnation in the same way as one who lacks faith in God, but has donated their life to charity and good works. His second argument states that God places people in a situation in which they must make a judgment that binds them for an eternity. This means that one who makes an ignorant decision in their lifetime would be doomed to an eternity in damnation. Thirdly, he explains that an individual has not been informed of God would also be choosing damnation. .
             I believe Lewis' reasons are well thought out and critical towards God and the idea of eternal damnation as he states several concrete, concise, and specific examples in support of his argument. It is reasonable to question why "an omnipotent, omniscient, and completely benevolent deity " would allow his creations to be drawn into sources of evil and fail to prevent them from it.


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