David Bentley Hart: The Hardest Question No Religion Can Answer
episodePreviously titled “The Hardest Question No Religion Can Answer... | David Bentley Hart” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 3, 2026
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Why is the problem of evil considered the toughest argument against theism?
I've heard you mention that the problem of evil is the most compelling and coherent argument against theism, especially in its challenge to the idea of a benevolent and omnipotent God. So What is the problem of evil? Why is this such a powerful critique? And then what is your response to said powerful critique?
I see. Um We are starting at the uh at the deep end or at least the uh the Oh, the problem with evil is simply uh uh uh the obvious one, the suffering of the innocent, the uh Pestilence, famine, war, children dying of hearing. Cancer, the suffering of all creatures. I I um you know, I uh have never been A able uh to accept any of the the sort of standard arguments from modal logic or uh you know the English analytic philosophy regarding uh materialism. I've never been able to to Oh. accept the notion that th that the materialist picture of reality conforms either to logic or experience, but Uh the the The argument against belief in at least a benevolent and good God or belief in any sort of rational order to the cosmos at all.
Uh from Of the sheer. suffering of the innocent from the the the sheer darkness of this world I've never taken issue with, I find it. The most powerful and to be honest unanswerable repulse. to theism, um, at least as conventionally conceived. I mean, normal gesture of the re the religious imagination, of course, is simply to say there's m more to it than we understand. You know, there's a good ending beyond it all, but Oh You know. Um As Ivan Karbatsov. Uh argued. given the short sheer enormity of the evils we're talking about and Um Their reality. within the present, deferring the justification to this to some presumed eschatological future doesn't make the cost any more morally. I have no answer to it, to be perfectly honest.
I've never pretended to. Um I'm caught on the horns of a dilemma, metaphysically, intellectually. Uh I'm a theist, uh uh just because I think that that The evidence of reason points in that direction, but The problem of evil I regard as Irresoluble in the terms available to us.
What's the difference between the problem of evil and the problem of suffering?
Oh none, it's uh two two names for the same thing. Um the i the notion of evil, uh the problem of evil, I suppose, also encompasses the reality of Human malevolence. You know, it's uh moral evil as well as natural. But but at the end of the day, the the the the truth is that as long as A single child has died of diphtheria in the history of the human race. The preponderance of of the the argument, the preponderance of the power of the argument is is not one that that Favors the theistic or at least theistic platitudes.
For me, problems that I can't solve, they stick in my craw and I think about them as I'm as I go about walks, if I'm at the gym, if I'm laying up at night trying to sleep. This is an insolvable or insoluble problem. Is this one that keeps you up or is there something else?
Mm. Uh Well, I don't know if it keeps me up because I'm I'm a fairly lethargic creature. I can find a uh but but yeah, no, I mean it uh it it leaves me in a um And uncomfortable. Position. Uh, I simply cannot make myself. Become The metaphysical optimist I might wish to be. Oh When confronted with the reality of of of the suffering of the innocent, it's simply uh it simply exceeds anything my imagination or my my reason is able to overcome. Um At the same time. You know, I uh you know, in other moments I'm aware of of the beauty and and goodness of things. You know, it could be something like A child uh play rather than uh or the sight of a dog. I mean terrifically fond of dogs and cats, you know, and and this
But At the end of the day, no. I I mean I I I I don't think I'll ever comfortably settle into any state of of Firm and fervent and contented faith.
So I guess what I'm looking for is there are a variety of Things that occupy one's mind, whether they're positive or benign, or problems, and then the problems come of a sort of philosophical or theological sorts. So I'm looking for Are there any quandaries or paradoxes that you think about
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why is the problem of evil considered the toughest argument against theism?
0:00–14:34
2
How does Hart view the New Testament’s role in shaping Christian belief?
14:34–30:06
3
What is Stoic metaphysics and how does it inform Hart’s idea of a spiritual body?
30:06–45:03
4
In what way does Hart define ‘the Spirit’ and its philosophical significance?
45:03–59:45
5
How does Hart assess the credibility of different books of the Bible?
59:45–1:15:29
6
What alternative translation does Hart propose for John 1:1 and why?
1:15:29–1:29:09
7
How does Paul’s view of a resurrection body challenge traditional flesh‑and‑blood doctrines?
1:29:09–1:42:10
8
Why does Hart link language, consciousness, and intentionality together?
1:42:10–1:53:24
Speakers
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