Evil: A Guide for the Perplexed

This monograph provides a comprehensive philosophical examination of the problem of evil, arguably the most formidable challenge to theistic belief. Meister systematically explores how the existence of suffering and moral wrongdoing bears on arguments for and against God's existence, offering both historical perspective and contemporary analysis of this enduring theological-philosophical puzzle.

The work begins by distinguishing various types of evil—natural, moral, and what some philosophers term "horrendous evils"—before surveying the logical and evidential formulations of the problem. Meister carefully explicates the logical problem of evil, which claims that God's traditional attributes (omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence) are logically incompatible with evil's existence. He then examines the evidential problem, which argues that the amount and distribution of evil make God's existence improbable, even if not impossible.

Central to Meister's analysis is his treatment of major theodicies and defenses. He explores the free will defense, arguing that moral evil results from God granting creatures libertarian freedom, a good that outweighs the resulting evil. The soul-making theodicy receives careful attention, with its claim that a world containing challenges and suffering enables moral and spiritual development impossible in a paradise. Meister also addresses natural law theodicies, greater good arguments, and skeptical theism—the view that human cognitive limitations prevent us from discerning God's reasons for permitting evil.

The monograph engages critically with prominent atheistic arguments from philosophers like William Rowe, Paul Draper, and J.L. Mackie, while also presenting rebuttals from theistic philosophers including Alvin Plantinga, Richard Swinburne, and Marilyn Adams. Meister's methodology combines analytical rigor with accessibility, making complex arguments comprehensible without sacrificing philosophical precision.

Particularly valuable is Meister's discussion of how different religious traditions address evil, including Eastern perspectives often overlooked in Western philosophical discourse. He examines Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic approaches alongside Jewish and Christian responses, demonstrating that the problem of evil takes different forms across religious contexts.

The work's significance lies in its balanced yet ultimately theist-friendly treatment of philosophy of religion's most pressing challenge. While acknowledging the emotional and intellectual force of arguments from evil, Meister concludes that various defenses and theodicies, taken cumulatively, provide adequate resources for rational theistic belief despite evil's reality. His monograph serves as both an introduction for students and a sophisticated contribution to ongoing debates among professional philosophers.