Evil Quote by Richard Rohr
““We have spent centuries of philosophy trying to solve "the problem of evil," yet I believe the much more confounding and astounding issue is the "problem of good." How do we account for so much gratuitous and sheer goodness in this world? Tackling this problem would achieve much better results.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Divine Dance (1999)
The quote suggests that while philosophers focus on evil, the greater mystery is the existence of profound, seemingly gratuitous goodness in the world.
In simple terms: Goodness is a deeper mystery than evil.
Key Takeaway
Explore and appreciate the sources of genuine goodness.
Themes
spirituality
philosophy
ethics
goodness
miracle
Mood
hopeful
inquisitive
inspirational
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- community service
- artistic creation
- education
- mental health
Key Concepts
theodicy
moral philosophy
existential wonder
Questions to Reflect On
- What experiences reveal unexpected goodness?
- How can we cultivate goodness in everyday life?
A Different Perspective
Goodness may be interpreted as a social construct rather than an absolute.
![“Trouble, hardship, difficulty, pain, suffering, conflict, tragedy, evil - they're all part of the [Christian] Story. Indeed, the problem of evil is the reason there's any Story at all.” quote by Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e44/greg-koukl-12385_christian_trouble-hardship-difficulty-pain-sufferi_374860.jpg)
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
