Title: Problem of evil and some types of atheism
Authors: Adnan J. Al-Majdi
Volume: 9
Issue: 4
Pages: 17-21
Publication Date: 2025/04/28
Abstract:
This paper deals with an analytical review of William Rowland's famous article "The Problem of Evil and Certain Types of Atheism," which is considered one of the most prominent contributions to the philosophical debate about the existence of evil and its relationship to the existence of God. Roland distinguishes between two types of evil: justified evil and unjustified evil, and he bases his argument on examples of natural evil to reinforce the position of mental atheism. The paper also reviews the responses of believing philosophers, such as Alvin Plantinga and John Heck, and analyses the effectiveness of their defenses. In addition, the discussion expanded to include traditional and contemporary Islamic positions, drawing on the views of Ibn Sina, Al-Farabi, Al-Ghazali, and Muhammad Taqi Misbah Al-Yazdi, explaining how Islamic heritage dealt with the problem of evil within a metaphysical and teleological framework. The paper concluded that evil, despite its problematic character, is not conclusive evidence of the negation of God's existence, but rather opens the way for deeper reflections on divine wisdom and the limitations of human perception.