The Problem of Evil

On the topic of the Problem of Evil on the CafeChurch forum, I wrote:

I think part of the problem arises from a particular way of understanding God. In "The Heart of Christianity", Borg talks about two concepts of God: supernatural theism and panentheism. The former involves thinking of God as a person-like being. God is "in heaven" or "out there". Thus, to act in the world God must intervene in the form of miracles, wonders, supernatural events, etc. Thelogically, it then becomes difficult to rationalise an all-loving and all-powerful God who sometimes intervenes but other times doesn't.


Panenthesism, does away with the notion of God as a being. Instead, God is a "Spirit" and everything is grounded in God. Thus God is not "out there" but around and within us. Thus, there is no "intervention", only everything taking place in God with the intention of God to bring everything into harmony with God.