Throughout history, people have sought explanations for evil's existence. Many attribute it to Satan—a once-pure angel, created by a perfect God, who rebelled and fell from grace. This narrative positions Satan as the root of all evil, with God as a benevolent overseer. Yet, this story raises complex questions: if God is all-knowing and all-powerful, how can Satan, and by extension evil, exist at all?
The idea that God ordains the landscapes of existence, including evil, suggests that evil is not just an anomaly or a rebellion but an integral part of the divine plan. Evil is often described as a departure from God's natural order, something sinful and corrupt. But should we accept this framework at face value? If the religious narrative about good and evil seeks control over law, society, and individual minds, it's essential to critique whether it holds truth, utility, or justice.
God as the Source of Evil?
One of the key differences between a theistic and an atheist perspective on evil is the question of whether evil serves some divine purpose. Believers may argue that God created Satan as a perfect angel, only for Satan to fall by choice. But this raises the issue of divine foreknowledge. If God knows everything—if He can predict Satan’s fall and the ensuing human suffering—then why allow it? If God is capable of molding reality, why not prevent evil from emerging in the first place?
By allowing Satan’s rebellion and the subsequent cascade of sin, it seems God, who is supposedly omnipotent and omnibenevolent, must bear some responsibility. Blaming Satan, or humanity, for the imperfections of creation seems contradictory if God holds the ultimate creative power and foresight.
The Problem of Suffering
If God possesses the ability to stop evil yet chooses not to, it invites scrutiny. The suffering of children at the hands of abusive parents, the violence and tragedy we witness globally—how can a loving, powerful God stand idly by? There’s a stark contrast between the benevolent, all-powerful deity presented by religious institutions and the harsh realities of the world we live in. If God truly holds dominion over everything, then the extent of suffering and evil suggests serious flaws in divine governance.
Morality Without a God
As an atheist, I believe morality is not bestowed upon us by a higher being but is an emergent property of human consciousness and society. Nature itself operates through cycles of collaboration and destruction. No creature in the natural world lives without taking or giving something back. Morality, then, is our unique human response to these patterns of creation and destruction. It is not dictated by a divine being but developed as we strive to balance these forces within our lives.
If religious teachings claim that God anticipated humanity’s moral dilemmas, it stands to reason that questioning God’s judgment is a part of human nature. Subservience without critical thought is not a moral good, especially when faced with contradictions between the world’s suffering and claims of divine goodness.
The Atheist's View: A Material Universe
I believe that if there were ever a being like God, it too would have emerged from inanimate matter, shaped by biological and evolutionary processes rather than some mystical force. In this sense, there would be no “gods” as traditionally understood, only beings or forces in nature that possess greater or lesser degrees of power and influence. We humans, as products of evolution, navigate a universe without overarching divine goals. Yet, this doesn’t mean the universe is without meaning or possibility for transformation.
Part of this transformation lies in the natural cycle of division and integration. The idea of a cosmic battle between good and evil, represented by God and Satan, seems more like a projection of human conflict than a reflection of reality. The natural world is full of tension and resolution, birth and decay, creation and destruction—none of which require the intervention of supernatural beings.
Why Question the God-Satan Narrative?
Believing in an omnipotent God who allows evil to exist invites questions about divine integrity. If God is perfect, why allow imperfection? If God is good, why permit evil? These contradictions weaken the very idea of God as an all-powerful, all-knowing force. If God is flawed, then perhaps God is not truly a god at all, but rather a projection of human desires and fears—a metaphor rather than a reality.
Moreover, it matters whether we conceive of God as a metaphor or as an actual being. If we imagine God as a metaphor for nature, then it makes sense that our conceptions of good and evil are human interpretations of the natural order. But if we believe in God as a literal entity, we must hold that being accountable for the suffering and evil in the world.
A New Understanding of Morality
The atheist perspective offers a different view of morality, one rooted in the physical world. Morality emerges from our interactions with nature and each other, shaped by the choices we make and the circumstances we encounter. Evil, then, is not a cosmic force, but a product of human actions that breach the autonomy and well-being of others. Our capacity for moral reasoning is part of what makes us human, and it’s this capacity that allows us to reflect on the nature of good and evil without needing to invoke supernatural causes.
In the end, the problem of evil challenges us to think critically about the foundations of our moral beliefs. If we rely on a flawed or contradictory conception of God to explain suffering, we may be missing the chance to truly understand the complexity of human morality. By examining evil as a human and natural phenomenon, we can move beyond the God-Satan dichotomy and toward a more nuanced, thoughtful understanding of the world.