In This Selection, Rowe Presents His Own Version of the Argument

question 5

True/False

In this selection, Rowe presents his own version of the argument from evil:
1. There exist instances of intense suffering which an omnipotent, omniscient being could have prevented without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse.
2. An omniscient, wholly good being would prevent the occurrence of any intense suffering it could, unless it could not do so without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse.
3. [Therefore] there does not exist an omnipotent, omniscient, wholly good being.
Concerning premise 2, Rowe declares, "In light of our experience and knowledge of the variety and scale of human and animal suffering in our world, the idea that none of this suffering could have been prevented by an omnipotent being without thereby losing a greater good or permitting an evil at least as bad seems an extraordinary absurd idea, quite beyond our belief."
-Rowe's conclusion is that a finite God does not exist.

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Definitions:

Communicating Bad News

The delicate process of delivering unfavorable or disappointing information in a way that minimizes negative impact.

Message Shortness

The practice of making communications brief and to the point, often to improve clarity or efficiency.

Negative Messages

Communication that conveys a refusal, rejection, or other unpleasant news in a tactful and considerate manner.

Buffer

A neutral opening statement in an indirect negative message that establishes common ground with the reader without revealing the main idea.