Philosophy

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…” (John 1:10-12) The sense of belonging is an amazing epistemic quality among humans. The animal world is not without it: the lioness with her cubs, the elephant with her calves, and the eagle with her eaglets portray a picture of attachment that are the subject of many a story, movie, and a documentary novel. But, in humans the sense is qualitatively different. It is epistemic and existential. Martin Buber talked of its occurrence in two worlds of relationships: the I-It (related to the world of utility) and the I-Thou (related to the world of relational bonds). Where the sense of I-Thou doesn’t exist, dehumanization occurs. Estrangement is a horrific aftermath of a loss of the Thou in the I-Thou world of epistemic and existential

1 . The Problem of Evil is a problem that relates to Theology, Cosmology, Anthropology, Ethics & Politics, Soteriology, and Eschatology, chiefly; then, also to the other doctrines. Therefore, its solution is pivotal. 2. Any theology that claims to be systematic, but fails to address the Problem of Evil sufficiently is severely defective. It cannot be systematic; and if it is, its foundations are weak. 3. Any Systematic Theology that relegates the Problem of Evil to the realm of mysteries is a blank theology. 4. To unstrap the Problem of Evil is to touch the heart of reality; to feel the heartbeat of God. The brow of Prince Siddhartha wrinkled up in deep pondering. He thought hard, and forgot the world around – all the whisperings of servants, chirpings of birds, and the presence of his wife nearby. The four scenes that he had recently seen occupied his thoughts as the dusk turned into the dark night. Sickness, decay, and death on one hand and the tranquility of the ascetic on the o