--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question of why evil exists is not a…" description: "\"The question of why evil exists is not a theological question, for it assumes that it is possible to go behind the existence forced upon us as sinners...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_answers_the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a_899593.jpg" --- # The question of why evil exists is not a theological… ![“The question of why evil exists is not a theological question, for it assumes that it is possible to go behind the existence forced upon us as sinners. If we could answer it then we would not be sinners. We could make something else responsible...The theological question does not arise about the…” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_answers_the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a_899593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_answers_the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a_899593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_answers_the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a_899593.jpg) > “The question of why evil exists is not a theological question, for it assumes that it is possible to go behind the existence forced upon us as sinners. If we could answer it then we would not be sinners. We could make something else responsible...The theological question does not arise about the origin of evil but about the real overcoming of evil on the Cross; it ask for the forgiveness of guilt, for the reconciliation of the fallen world” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil’s existence is a theological issue about redemption, not its origin; focus on Christ’s at. **In simple terms:** Evil is overcome through redemption. Key Takeaway Seek reconciliation through faith. Themes theology evil redemption faith Mood solemn hopeful thoughtful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal confession - community forgiveness - spiritual counseling - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts soteriology human sin Christ’s sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on redemption change our response to evil? - What role does personal repentance play in societal healing? A Different Perspective Some may view this as minimizing human responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-exists/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Exists Theological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists-theological-1227376/) [Fallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Origin Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/origin-evil-1227377/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Question Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-evil-233630/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Reconciliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconciliation/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner/) [Theological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theological/) [Theological Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theological-question-1227375/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [God is omnipotent; God is wholly good; and yet evil exists. There seems to be some contradiction between these three propositions, so that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-mackie/god-is-omnipotent-god-is-wholly-good-and-yet-evil-exists-there-seems/) [J. L. Mackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-mackie/) > [“Our descent, then, is the origin of our evil passions!! The devil under form of Baboon is our grandfather. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/our-descent-then-is-the-origin-of-our-evil-passions-the-devil-under/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/many-have-puzzled-themselves-about-the-origin-of-evil-i-am-content-to/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The god of the Christians, as we have seen, is the god who makes promises only to break them; who sends them pestilence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-most/the-god-of-the-christians-as-we-have-seen-is-the-god-who-makes/) [Johann Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-most/) > [We've come to know truths that we will never question: evil is real, and it must be opposed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-ve-come-to-know-truths-that-we-will-never-question-evil-is-real/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The question why there is evil in existence is the same as why there is imperfection... But this is the real question we ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-question-why-there-is-evil-in-existence-is-the-same-as-why-there/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“X “One doesn’t need to be a great hero to take down a great evil; they just need to be able to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-cramer/x-one-doesn-t-need-to-be-a-great-hero-to-take-down-a-great-evil-they/) [Cody Cramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-cramer/) > [I consider calmly the question of how much evil I should need to kill off my finer feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/i-consider-calmly-the-question-of-how-much-evil-i-should-need-to-kill/) [Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/) > [“Evil exists," he says, not flinching at the word. "I believe that what the rich have done to the poor people in this city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/evil-exists-he-says-not-flinching-at-the-word-i-believe-that-what-the/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Good and Evil are very hard to explain or understand. I'm sure that evil exists, but it is hard to isolate. Good and evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/good-and-evil-are-very-hard-to-explain-or-understand-i-m-sure-that/) [Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/) > [There are people in our world today and unfortunately in our political system, they do not believe in evil. They have the modern, western,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-c-rosenberg/there-are-people-in-our-world-today-and-unfortunately-in-our/) [Joel C. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-c-rosenberg/) > [The ability to choose is at the essential core of our grandeur. Even evil exists because God respects our ability to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/the-ability-to-choose-is-at-the-essential-core-of-our-grandeur-even/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [“The intellectual climate of the 1970s, for which the 1950s had already paved the way, contributed to this. A theory was even finally developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-intellectual-climate-of-the-1970s-for-which-the-1950s-had-already/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [People are just afraid of things too much … Sure, evil exists, extremism exists. Somebody could commit a hate crime and hurt me. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/people-are-just-afraid-of-things-too-much-sure-evil-exists-extremism/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [“Sometimes I think it's only post-scarcity that evil exists. Before that, it could always be put down to want or fear. It was possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/sometimes-i-think-it-s-only-post-scarcity-that-evil-exists-before/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The question of why evil exists is not a theological question, for it assumes that it is possible to go behind the existence forced upon us as sinners. If we could answer it then we would not be sinners. We could make something else responsible...The theological question does not arise about the origin of evil but about the real overcoming of evil on the Cross; it ask for the forgiveness of guilt, for the reconciliation of the fallen world", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a-theological-question-for-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a-theological-question-for-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_answers_the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a_899593.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_answers_the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a_899593.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_answers_the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a_899593.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The question of why evil exists is not a theological question, for it assumes that it is possible to go…” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The question of why evil exists...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a-theological-question-for-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-question-of-why-evil-exists-is-not-a-theological-question-for-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```