PHIL 201
God’s existence: the problem of evil
Science of Social Work, Liberty University
PHIL 201: Philosophy & Contemporary Idea
God’s existence: the problem of evil
Compare and contrast the three readings: what are some philosophical similarities and
differences?
All three of the readings, “The Absurdity of Life without God” by Craig, “Suffering:
Richard Dawkins Contra Jesus” by Thomas, and “The Plight of the New Atheism: A Critique”
by Habermas, are written from a theistic perspective displaying two philosophical similarities.
The first similarity between the readings is the argument of God's existence and that He is the
creator of all things. The second is that pain and suffering are a part of life and that it happens to
everyone. In his article, Craig argues that if there is no God, then man is doomed to death,
ceasing to exist because without Him, the existence of mankind is meaningless, and all the pain,
suffering, and sacrifices made are all for nothing (Craig, 2008, p. 71-74). According to Thomas's
article, he critiques (atheist) Richard Dawkins's argument on the universe being meaningless, and
that suffering is without purpose, for both are “by-products of evolution” by stating that suffering
does have ultimate purpose, for these works will come to a meaningful end, just as Jesus’
suffering results in joy (Thomas, 2018, para. 4-7). Lastly, in Habermas's article, he indicates that
(atheist) Harris’s conclusion that the universe may have originated from “alien supercomputers”
is invalid. For in Harris's previous argument against God's existence and creation of the universe,
he contradicted himself after stating “that God himself would also need to be created”
(Habermas, 2008, p. 822) but could not provide evidence of his belief or origin of the alien race.
However, even though all three readings share the similarities of acknowledging the
existence of God and suffering, each one addresses these two topics from different viewpoints. In
, the article Suffering, Thomas explained Jesus' view of suffering to Richard by comparing the
endurance Jesus showed on the cross before his death to the excruciating pain and suffering
mothers endure during labor. He uses this experience to provide significance to the atheist and
explain how the mother had so much pain, but she endures because, after the birth of her baby,
she no longer remembers the pain of labor, for she is now only filled with love and joy (Thomas,
2018, para. 5-7). Where in Absurdity, Craig speaks about how without God, the existence of
mankind is meaningless, which means that all the pain, suffering, and sacrifices ever made were
all for nothing. Also, without God life has no purpose, and man's death is followed by a dark
unknown afterlife instead of the everlasting life promised (Craig, 2008, p. 71-73). Finally, in the
Plight, Habermas addresses the argument Harris (atheist) made against the existence of God with
a respectful manner to create a logical sense of understanding of a theist’s view while arguing
that without God, everything would cease to exist (Habermas, 2008, para. 5-10).
Can life have objective meaning without God?
For life to have an objective meaning, it must have a special purpose, or everything
would be pointless. Man was designed for individual purposes that are a part of God’s greater
plan. In the article Absurdity, Craig also argues that mankind’s existence was created for a
reason, and without God, life would be meaningless. Thus, it would mean that every life goal,
friendship, job, school, or interests that man has spent hours or years accomplishing are
completely meaningless as well, while also stating “man cannot live consistently and happily
knowing that life is meaningless; so, in order to be happy, he pretends that life has meaning”
(Craig, 2008, p. 73-79). It is also proven in Thomas’s article Suffering, as Richard teaches in his
argument that the universe is a cruel insouciance of “blind physical forces and genetic
replication” that only seeks the survival of DNA and genes to be passed to future generations.
Their survival is the only thing that matters, and in that process, genes do not care about who
they hurt or what suffering it causes. Therefore, insisting that there is no meaning or purpose in
God’s existence: the problem of evil
Science of Social Work, Liberty University
PHIL 201: Philosophy & Contemporary Idea
God’s existence: the problem of evil
Compare and contrast the three readings: what are some philosophical similarities and
differences?
All three of the readings, “The Absurdity of Life without God” by Craig, “Suffering:
Richard Dawkins Contra Jesus” by Thomas, and “The Plight of the New Atheism: A Critique”
by Habermas, are written from a theistic perspective displaying two philosophical similarities.
The first similarity between the readings is the argument of God's existence and that He is the
creator of all things. The second is that pain and suffering are a part of life and that it happens to
everyone. In his article, Craig argues that if there is no God, then man is doomed to death,
ceasing to exist because without Him, the existence of mankind is meaningless, and all the pain,
suffering, and sacrifices made are all for nothing (Craig, 2008, p. 71-74). According to Thomas's
article, he critiques (atheist) Richard Dawkins's argument on the universe being meaningless, and
that suffering is without purpose, for both are “by-products of evolution” by stating that suffering
does have ultimate purpose, for these works will come to a meaningful end, just as Jesus’
suffering results in joy (Thomas, 2018, para. 4-7). Lastly, in Habermas's article, he indicates that
(atheist) Harris’s conclusion that the universe may have originated from “alien supercomputers”
is invalid. For in Harris's previous argument against God's existence and creation of the universe,
he contradicted himself after stating “that God himself would also need to be created”
(Habermas, 2008, p. 822) but could not provide evidence of his belief or origin of the alien race.
However, even though all three readings share the similarities of acknowledging the
existence of God and suffering, each one addresses these two topics from different viewpoints. In
, the article Suffering, Thomas explained Jesus' view of suffering to Richard by comparing the
endurance Jesus showed on the cross before his death to the excruciating pain and suffering
mothers endure during labor. He uses this experience to provide significance to the atheist and
explain how the mother had so much pain, but she endures because, after the birth of her baby,
she no longer remembers the pain of labor, for she is now only filled with love and joy (Thomas,
2018, para. 5-7). Where in Absurdity, Craig speaks about how without God, the existence of
mankind is meaningless, which means that all the pain, suffering, and sacrifices ever made were
all for nothing. Also, without God life has no purpose, and man's death is followed by a dark
unknown afterlife instead of the everlasting life promised (Craig, 2008, p. 71-73). Finally, in the
Plight, Habermas addresses the argument Harris (atheist) made against the existence of God with
a respectful manner to create a logical sense of understanding of a theist’s view while arguing
that without God, everything would cease to exist (Habermas, 2008, para. 5-10).
Can life have objective meaning without God?
For life to have an objective meaning, it must have a special purpose, or everything
would be pointless. Man was designed for individual purposes that are a part of God’s greater
plan. In the article Absurdity, Craig also argues that mankind’s existence was created for a
reason, and without God, life would be meaningless. Thus, it would mean that every life goal,
friendship, job, school, or interests that man has spent hours or years accomplishing are
completely meaningless as well, while also stating “man cannot live consistently and happily
knowing that life is meaningless; so, in order to be happy, he pretends that life has meaning”
(Craig, 2008, p. 73-79). It is also proven in Thomas’s article Suffering, as Richard teaches in his
argument that the universe is a cruel insouciance of “blind physical forces and genetic
replication” that only seeks the survival of DNA and genes to be passed to future generations.
Their survival is the only thing that matters, and in that process, genes do not care about who
they hurt or what suffering it causes. Therefore, insisting that there is no meaning or purpose in
