12/05/2005—

So, how is it that God can remove some of his presence from his creation when it is his presence that maintains it?

Could good just be defined as the absence of a substance called evil? If that were so, then God as conceived, all-knowing and all-powerful, could not exist. Why? God, in the Judeo-Christian sense, is defined as absolutely good. If evil exists as a real substance, then either he allowed it or he just couldn’t stop it, which would mean that he is a finite being just as we are, certainly one who doesn’t have all the answers and one who couldn’t absolutely be depended upon in all circumstances. What would be worse is that he created it. Worst of all, he may have created evil, making him not just a God who is cool and indifferent to us, but one who is cruel and barbarous beyond the worst tyrants humanity ever has or ever will produce.
But, what if evil were defined as the absence of a substance called good? If that were so, then God as conceived, all-knowing and all-powerful,would necessarily exist. Why? Because God, in the Judeo-Christian sense, is defined as absolutely good. As in “no hint of evil.” If good exists as a real substance, then he is it. What is better, is that his intentions toward us will always be good. Best of all, all goodness stems from him and never stops. But, if this is true, then doesn’t this undermine the notion of God’s existence? After all, evil things happen.