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IbogaProject

(5,226 posts)
42. Epicurean paradox is another zinger
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 11:53 AM
Oct 6

The Epicurean paradox is a logical dilemma about the problem of evil attributed to the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who argued against the existence of a god who is simultaneously omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent.

The logic of the paradox proposed by Epicurus takes three possible characteristics of a god (omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence – complete power, knowledge, and benevolence) and pairs the concepts together. It is postulated that in each pair, if the two members are true, the missing member cannot also be true, making the paradox a trilemma. The paradox also theorizes how if it is illogical for one of the characteristics to be true, then it cannot be the case that a god with all three exists.[1] The pairs of the characteristics and their potential contradictions they would create consist of the following:

If a god knows everything and has unlimited power, then it has knowledge of all evil and has the power to put an end to it. But if it does not end it, it is not completely benevolent.

If a god has unlimited power and is completely good, then it has the power to extinguish evil and wants to extinguish it. But if it does not do it, its knowledge of evil is limited, so it is not all-knowing.

If a god is all-knowing and totally good, then it knows of all the evil that exists and wants to change it. But if it does not, it must be because it is not capable of changing it, so it is not omnipotent.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicurean_paradox

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I am polite and respectful. My family is also. Srkdqltr Oct 5 #1
Out as an atheist. joshdawg Oct 5 #2
I certainly respect your view. I'm not there myself, but I respect it. NNadir Oct 5 #6
I say I'm not religious, I'm philosophical about my morals Nigrum Cattus Oct 5 #3
My family was also seriously catholic buzzycrumbhunger Oct 5 #4
"... the easter bunny left me a book with tarot cards in my basket..." CrispyQ Oct 5 #9
LOL at that last toon! Bayard Oct 5 #17
Darn... GiqueCee 22 hrs ago #58
Yeah, I set my images to delete in 2 weeks, but here you go. CrispyQ 21 hrs ago #61
THANKS! GiqueCee 19 hrs ago #63
Wish I had the ovum to be a bitch. Collimator Oct 5 #10
I think being female adds another layer... buzzycrumbhunger Oct 5 #22
Standing up for yourself isn't "bitchy" IbogaProject Oct 6 #41
Over the course of my life every Atheist I have met BigmanPigman Oct 6 #45
In some certian circumstances i will show respect gay texan Oct 5 #5
I certainly am not "closeted" with complete strangers. I'll do it to avoid pain for people I love. NNadir Oct 5 #8
Yes..... gay texan Oct 5 #25
I used to work with a Sikh. The Madcap 23 hrs ago #53
All of them were so very kind gay texan 7 hrs ago #64
I am pretty much where you are rurallib Oct 6 #40
exactly!! samnsara 23 hrs ago #50
If you really want to get them fired up The Madcap 23 hrs ago #51
Seems only other heathens would be aware that you didn't bow your head. CrispyQ Oct 5 #7
I do a fair amount of woodworking for churches. Woodwizard Oct 5 #11
"When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a twodogsbarking Oct 5 #12
I like that locution. Hopefully you will not be offended if I steal it regularly. NNadir Oct 5 #13
Epicurean paradox is another zinger IbogaProject Oct 6 #42
I am out as an agnostic NewHendoLib Oct 5 #14
I feel safely out with professional colleagues, but very closeted with family. Religion strong on both sides of the tree eppur_se_muova Oct 5 #15
I suspect that Thomas Jefferson was an atheist. I also believe, although he clearly was changed by the Civil War... NNadir Oct 5 #19
with TFG... NewLarry Oct 5 #36
Closeted. I'm afraid if MAGA and the crappy fundies. AllyCat Oct 5 #16
I am an out Atheist. Eko Oct 5 #18
Closeted agnostic anciano Oct 5 #20
utterly out mike_c Oct 5 #21
Unapologetic atheist. no_hypocrisy Oct 5 #23
An interesting story. Your father could accept your atheism just so long as you weren't Muslim. NNadir Oct 5 #24
Oh, there's more. I "came out" to my mother. no_hypocrisy Oct 5 #26
I consider myself agnostic Skittles Oct 5 #27
That's pretty close to where I'm at. n/t. NNadir Oct 5 #31
I was closeted when my parents were alive. Girard442 Oct 5 #28
If they are obnoxious in my place, they cannot do what animals do. GreenWave Oct 5 #29
If ask I often say I'm a Red Letter Christian. multigraincracker Oct 5 #30
There is a blogger known as "Captain Cassidy". . . Collimator 22 hrs ago #55
I openly admit I'm an Atheist LogDog75 Oct 5 #32
Out. sinkingfeeling Oct 5 #33
Open atheist. tblue37 Oct 5 #34
Closeted church musician atheist oberle Oct 5 #35
Every Christmas, my wife and I travel up to Bethlehem, PA for the Lehigh University Christmas Vespers. NNadir Oct 5 #37
I'm respectful to others, but... wysimdnwyg Oct 5 #38
Yep I don't seek it out but I will participate if I go IbogaProject Oct 6 #39
It's rather amazing that our experience is so similar. NNadir Oct 6 #44
I am out because I want to normalize non-believers Envirogal Oct 6 #43
" Atheists are very feared. . ." Collimator 22 hrs ago #57
Proudly Open Faux pas Oct 7 #46
very much out Brainstormy Oct 10 #47
I am much more out now than I was 20 years ago. Cuthbert Allgood Monday #48
nope! There are folks I dont flaunt it in front of because I respect their beliefs... samnsara Thursday #49
Been 'open' since I was a teen... MiHale 23 hrs ago #52
I don't flaunt it... buzzycrumbhunger 23 hrs ago #54
I think that we don't proselytise with our atheism because we are not... NNadir 22 hrs ago #56
I've always referred to myself... GiqueCee 21 hrs ago #59
I've been an open (and sometimes loud) atheist since '75 -misanthroptimist 21 hrs ago #60
I will tell people I'm a non-believer, but will be respectful of their rituals. sinkingfeeling 21 hrs ago #62
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