Stephen Fry caused an internet sensation earlier this year when justified his atheism with passion and eloquence to the Irish journalist Gay Byrne. “Suppose it’s all true, and you walk up to the pearly gates, and are confronted by God,” Bryne asked the British polymath and light entertainer. “What will Stephen Fry say ?” Fry’s reply was direct and visceral:
“I’d say, bone cancer in children? What’s that about? How dare you? How dare you create a world to which there is such misery that is not our fault. It’s not right, it’s utterly, utterly evil….Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain.”
Unfortunately, Fry’s certitude borders on hubris. He overstates the intellectual problem of evil and ignores the detailed, rigorous responses that Christians theists have presented over two millennia. Taken together, the following resources give a comprehensive reply to Fry’s outburst
Job, Evil and an Argument for Faith Is it rational to hope in the midst of despair?
Fry, God and the Problem of Evil A general overview of the problem of evil. Logically, it is entirely possible that God is smarter than Stephen Fry and that there are reasons for suffering that Fry has not thought of.
Fry, Pain and Injustice Fry can try to banish God, but he cannot banish pain. We need hope.
Some Critical Thinking about Stephen Fry’s Problem of Evil Do theists need to provide Fry with a clear explanation for suffering before we can believe in God? And how does Fry account for good and evil?
Fry and the Fall The doctrine of the Fall goes some way to explaining why God permits suffering; but Christians should not overstate the case.
