Reasonable Faith Podcast Question of the Week #966: A Mother’s Struggle with Gratuitous Evil
Dec 11, 2025
A mother shares her heart-wrenching struggle as her son's atheism grows amidst personal suffering. The discussion explores the intricate argument surrounding gratuitous evil and its implications on faith. William Lane Craig tackles the burden of proof, emphasizing our limitations in assessing what constitutes gratuitous evil. The conversation turns to how belief in God can counter these claims, with references to philosophical perspectives on necessary evils. The emotional and intellectual dimensions of suffering are examined, promoting love and prayer as a response.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Family Story Behind The Objection
- Mary Carmen recounts her middle son Abiram losing faith after her severe illness when he was 14.
- The family debate about God's existence centers on Abiram's claim that seemingly pointless evil undermines faith.
Burden Of Proof And Epistemic Limits
- William Lane Craig emphasizes that the burden of proof rests on the one who asserts gratuitous evil exists.
- Given our cognitive limits, we cannot justify claiming any instance of evil is truly gratuitous.
Respond By Undercutting And Positive Reasons
- Undercutting theism's opponent weakens their claim without proving theism false.
- Build positive reasons for God's existence to rebut the problem of evil effectively.