Monastery of the Holy Cross

A Short Thought on Theodicy

• By Fr. Peter
• 24 June, 2012
• 1 Comment

A common complaint against God, one that has appeared in most times and places, runs as follows.  If God were truly all-powerful, He would (and should) act in such-and-such a way.  This is especially true with regard to innocent suffering.  Someone as powerful as God ought to intervene to prevent such suffering.

What is often meant by this complaint is this: if I were all-powerful, I would prevent such suffering.  But the thought of any human being as all-powerful should caution us that this is a dangerous line of reasoning.  For we have many examples of what human beings are actually like when very powerful, and the prospect of an omnipotent human being, no matter how well-intended, should suggest to us that the burden of omnipotence is one best left for God.