Does Evil prove there is no God_ - Ralph Gilmore
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class opened with a brief history of the church’s “One Question” series, leading to the selection of the problem of evil as a frequent inquiry from the congregation. Dr. Ralph Gilmore, a retired professor of Bible and philosophy, was introduced and shared his background before diving into the topic. He explained that the problem of evil is the most common challenge posed by atheists, citing the logical tension between God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence and the observable presence of suffering. Gilmore divided his response into two approaches: a philosophical strategy aimed at intellectual skeptics and a psychological strategy for believers confronting personal tragedy. He illustrated the psychological side with personal anecdotes about his wife’s health and a conversation with a nurse, emphasizing that suffering does not diminish God’s perfect nature but reveals the fallen world’s need for redemption. After outlining his framework—free will, the reality of sin, relational purpose, and God’s perfect definition—Gilmore encouraged the audience to consider how the heart, not just the mind, processes the problem of evil. He concluded that although pain exists, God remains all‑powerful, all‑knowing, and all‑good, and that believers can find comfort in the promise that He works all things together for good, even when the reasons are hidden. The session wrapped with a call to trust God’s character, to embrace relational healing, and to bring questions to Him in prayer, affirming that the presence of evil does not nullify the God of the Bible.