Understanding the Nature of Evil

Evil is characterized as a privation, meaning it is not a substance but rather a deficiency of good. The analogy of a broken pencil illustrates this concept effectively; when a pencil is broken, it loses its purpose and utility, demonstrating that evil arises from a lack of goodness rather than being an independent entity. The concept that evil is a reduction of good rather than an additive element is supported by philosophical ideas that have been discussed for centuries, including perspectives from figures like Augustine. Thus, when considering afflictions such as cancer, it becomes clear that these are part of a fallen world rather than creations of God, reinforcing the notion that God did not create evil but allowed a broken world to exist due to humanity's choices.