Why Does God Enable Evil?

“Questions are never indiscreet, answers sometimes are.” – Oscar Wilde

As I grew up, I believed that everyone shared my convictions. Living in the Bible Belt, we often nurture this assumption of unity in our beliefs while overlooking and mistreating those who disagree. When I attended an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist church and later a Southern Baptist church, a core tenet of our beliefs was the idea of eternal conscious torment (Hell) and the existence of a being known as Satan or the Devil. Recently, a woman asked about my evolving beliefs, stating, “So, if you don’t believe in Hell or the Devil, then the rest of it doesn’t make much sense.”

I couldn’t agree more; this is part of my deconstruction story. When I ask honest questions about Satan, the Devil, and related topics, many of my beliefs no longer hold the same conviction they once did. Why? Without fear, promoting the church’s other doctrines becomes much more difficult. I don’t intend to delve into an extensive study of Hell or Satan, as others have covered those subjects well, and it would take more than a chapter to explore them fully. Here’s a summary statement that reflects my current understanding.

Jesus referred to a place called Gehenna, a garbage dump outside Jerusalem
Jesus referred to Satan, who was a fictional character at the time known as “The Accuser.”
Eternal Conscience Torment goes against God’s nature according to Jesus’ example.
The Church of Satan and the Satanic Temple do not believe in a literal being called Satan.
Writers like Dante, from the Middle Ages, likely influenced our ideas of the Devil and Hell more than our holy books.
The bottom line for hell and Satan is that the fear tactic works well to keep people under control and dependent upon the church’s alleged protection.

My main question during deconstruction varied somewhat from all of that. I moved away from thinking those things were real and grew more curious about the more profound questions hiding in the shadows.

Why did God create a broken system?
Why did he create an adversary to lead us down the wrong path?
Wouldn’t it have been better not to have a “fall from grace” in the first place?

Written in the 1600s for Christians in Britain and Scotland, the Westminster Catechism states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy [God] forever.” This goal of communion would have been much more achievable, and much pain could have been avoided, if there weren’t an adversary that God seems to have envisioned to lead us off the path.

When we examine history closely, it becomes evident that our current beliefs about the evolution of the doctrines of Hell and Satan stem from the fact that religion, much like any sales organization, depends on instilling fear to control the narrative and, in many cases, dictate our actions. It’s easier to manipulate someone when they are afraid.

Was there someone above God who forced him to introduce this adversary?

I understand all the arguments for free will, but they fall apart when we examine the havoc this character has either caused or has been blamed for throughout history. The redemption narrative works for minor offenses, but there is neither redemption nor growth from many of the atrocities we face today. According to the narrative, all of that evil originates from the same source. Why didn’t God uproot it, or why doesn’t He do so now?

It serves no purpose to make excuses for God, but that is precisely what most of us do regarding this question. We may assume that we cannot understand God (which is true), yet we also presume to understand Him quite well when we make assumptions (theology) about His intentions.

Perhaps it’s time to stop promoting the narrative that religion constructed to maintain control over us. Just because we have believed certain things for a long time doesn’t mean they are genuine, effective, or beneficial for creating positive change in the world.

I understand this is a provocative challenge, but we must ask, “Who fostered that terror within us, and why did they do it?”

I am not opposed to challenges that make us stronger, but the myths of Hell and Satan are harmful and lead us down too many misguided paths that cause us damage. When I finally reflected on this question with a clear mind, it shook the foundation of many beliefs I once held. My friend was correct, which frightened her; however, her anxiety stemmed from her lack of understanding about what awaited her on the other side of this realization.

We feel morally better because we have progressed through this realm of deconstruction. We excel at doing good deeds, as we are not constantly driven by our fears or searching for demons around every corner. We do not fear the afterlife, primarily because we recognize that no one can definitively speak on this subject. We possess purpose, meaning, and practices that help us evolve to new levels of consciousness, and we do not waste our waking hours pondering the myths of Dante and church leaders.

If you’re wondering how you can find support in the Bible for overcoming the cultivated fear that church leaders have perpetuated for centuries, look to the more than 300 instances in that book that encourage you to “Fear Not.” The actual sources of fear aren’t demons; they are the smooth-talking, narcissistic leaders you’ve chosen and hired to guide you on what to fear. Some research can help us understand what we should truly fear. However, long-standing myths in literature and history endure because they serve the interests of those who promote them. We revisit the original question: “Why didn’t God intervene?”

Despite sacrificing his “son” to atone for the accuser’s actions, he did little to halt the ongoing injustices caused by fearful religious groups, which continue even after the sacrifice. There must be accountability for the global destruction driven by our anxiety that the “other” is the Devil while believing that God supports our cause.

The victims and survivors of global, regional, and local tragedies continue to ask, “Why didn’t God stop it?” or “Why doesn’t He stop it now?” Meanwhile, the leaders who fueled our fear and caused much calamity assure us, “It’s all reasonable suffering to strengthen us and is part of God’s plan.”

Are you starting to understand how effective questions can provide much better information? The answers to these questions don’t come easily and may create temporary cognitive dissonance as we grow and reassess our old understandings and assumptions.

Questions About Questions

What belief(s) did you inherit concerning this question?

How is your response to this question changing?

How to Survive a Stroke

Learn to be Where You Are (Presence)

Learn to be Who You Are (Authenticity)

Finding Regulating and Somatic Healing

Getting Away From Your Trauma

Getting Out of Survival Mode

Are you serious about deconstruction and asking bigger questions?

If that’s the case, this book was created for you. As a former pastor, I made the mistake of deconstructing a bit and then trying to start something new, as I was trained to do. The problem with that approach is that I wasn’t ready to begin something new.

I hadn’t delved deeply enough or asked enough questions. The first stage of deconstruction typically includes assessing our beliefs regarding hell and the afterlife, supporting queer individuals and women in their fight for equality, and achieving a better understanding of racism and privilege.

Many people in deconstruction communities expend significant effort criticizing Evangelicals and attempting to gain a following. While I believe they deserve intense criticism, this strategy fails to effectively tackle the problem because they generally don’t listen to us!

Our tendency to punish our former organizations sometimes overlooks the challenging process of healing and growth. It is the same trap we fell into in our former associations.

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Campfires occupy a special spot in the mosaic of history. They act as communal hubs across different cultures and faiths. The campfire’s circular design fosters equal participation within the collective group. The flames at the center draw our focus and encourage face-to-face interactions as we exchange experiences, wisdom, and insights about the world beyond. It is where legendary myths and tales are born.

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This book is named Campfires in the Desert as it stems from nearly 400 discussions we held with individuals on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary, and our aspiration to improve.

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Karl Forehand Campfires in the Desert – A Soft Book Release. Karl Forehand is a former pastor, podcaster, and award-winning author. His books include Out into the Desert, Leaning Forward, Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father’s Heart, The Tea Shop, and Being: A Journey Toward Presence and Authenticity. He is the creator of The Desert Sanctuary podcast and community. He has been married to his wife Laura for 35 years and has one dog named Winston. His three children are grown and are beginning to multiply! You can read more about the author here.