Abstract

The persistent reality of evil and suffering constitutes one of the most enduring philosophical and theological challenges to human understanding, particularly within the context of belief in an all-good and omnipotent God. Throughout intellectual history, suffering has provoked existential anxiety, skepticism toward divine providence, and diverse explanatory frameworks ranging from metaphysical dualism to moral responsibility grounded in human freedom. This study is situated within this long-standing discourse and responds to contemporary confusion arising from attempts to reconcile human suffering with the goodness of God and the meaning of human existence. The purpose of this research is to critically examine the role of suffering in human existence by analyzing philosophical and theological interpretations of evil, with particular emphasis on Christian thought. The study seeks to clarify whether suffering is merely an absurd disruption of human life or an integral dimension of existence that possesses moral and spiritual significance. The research findings indicate that suffering is neither accidental nor meaningless within the framework of human existence. Rather, evil and suffering are shown to be ontologically dependent on the good and largely rooted in human finitude, freedom, and moral failure. The study demonstrates that God does not directly cause evil but permits it to achieve greater goods, including moral growth, spiritual maturity, and authentic freedom. Human attempts to deny or evade suffering are revealed to deepen existential disorientation rather than resolve it. This research contributes to philosophical and theological scholarship by offering a coherent synthesis of classical and contemporary perspectives on evil and suffering. It advances the argument that, when rightly understood, suffering plays a formative role in human development and faith, thereby challenging reductive interpretations that portray it solely as punishment or divine absence.