I really think it depends on how you define the attributes of God. For example, if you say that God omnipotent ("all powerful"), capable of doing anything that he pleases and that he is Omni-benevolent ("all good"), only and always desiring and doing good, one would have to ask why such a God, who has the absolute power to stop evil and the absolute desire that no evil exist, would allow evil to continue. This is a legitimate concern, especially for those who believe that God both knows the future and is sovereign over it. By that I mean that God knows what is going to happen and makes sure that what he knows actually comes to pass.
One defense might be that God has granted to humanity libertarian free will. In order for humans to remain "free," God chooses not to violate the will. If he did, it would present a logical contradiction. If God violated human free will, even one time, humans would no longer be free. Therefore, when a person does something evil, they do it out of their own free choice, which God does not violate. Logically, if humans do have free will, God could not violate it due to the law of non-contradiction. There are many things that God cannot do. For example, God cannot sin, because he would no longer be the God described above.
Just because evil exists does not mean that God is not working to bring good out of evil. This is what the early church fathers taught, and it comports with a notion of a God who will ultimately bring all things to right. Even though we cannot understand all things now, due to the fact that we are finite creatures, God, out of his great love, plans on bringing good out of evil in the end.
I really think it depends on how you define the attributes of God. For example, if you say that God omnipotent ("all powerful"), capable of doing anything that he pleases and that he is Omni-benevolent ("all good"), only and always desiring and doing good, one would have to ask why such a God, who has the absolute power to stop evil and the absolute desire that no evil exist, would allow evil to continue. This is a legitimate concern, especially for those who believe that God both knows the future and is sovereign over it. By that I mean that God knows what is going to happen and makes sure that what he knows actually comes to pass.
One defense might be that God has granted to humanity libertarian free will. In order for humans to remain "free," God chooses not to violate the will. If he did, it would present a logical contradiction. If God violated human free will, even one time, humans would no longer be free. Therefore, when a person does something evil, they do it out of their own free choice, which God does not violate. Logically, if humans do have free will, God could not violate it due to the law of non-contradiction. There are many things that God cannot do. For example, God cannot sin, because he would no longer be the God described above.
Just because evil exists does not mean that God is not working to bring good out of evil. This is what the early church fathers taught, and it comports with a notion of a God who will ultimately bring all things to right. Even though we cannot understand all things now, due to the fact that we are finite creatures, God, out of his great love, plans on bringing good out of evil in the end.