Sin and Evil in Christian and Buddhist Perspectives: A Quest for Theodicy.
Source: Asia Journal of Theology . Apr2015, Vol. 29 Issue 1, p22-46. 25p.
Author(s): Thang Moe, David
Abstract:
Theodicy (theo "god" and dice "justice") -- the question of why evil exists if God is omnibenevolent and omnipotent has challenged theologians and moralists. The problem dealt with in this article is a theological concern: can the presence of sin and evil be reconciled with the existence of God who is all-good and all-powerful? This is a common question for Christians and Buddhists? For the latter, it stands as an obstacle to one's religious commitment, while in the mind of the former it serves as a perpetual burden of doubt to one's faith. Evil gives rise to existential and theoretical questions. The former refers to a practical question related to how a person can have a good life and what gives meaning to one's life? The latter refers to a general question of what is true and false: why do some good people suffer but some bad people do not? Why does God allow evil? Is there an end to suffering? And is there any good-evil duality, life after death and so on?
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