Final answer:
The problem of evil in Judeo-Christian tradition raises questions about the nature of God as depicted in the Bible. Early scripture does not always portray God as all-knowing or all-powerful, creating a dilemma when accounting for the presence of evil and the role of Satan. The debate is furthered by differing interpretations and theologies, including Process Theology, that attempt to reconcile the existence of evil with the concept of a perfect deity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Theodicy Problem in Judeo-Christian Tradition
The concept of evil in Judeo-Christian tradition, and its relation to the deity, has been a source of theological debate for centuries. According to St. Augustine, the problem of evil originated with the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, implying that humans are responsible for evil by succumbing to Satan's temptations. This view attempts to separate the all-good, all-loving deity from the creation of evil while highlighting the role of the Supreme Being in the process of 'soul-making' from bios to zoe, that is, from an undeveloped form to spiritual life infused with divine love.
However, critiques arise when looking at the deity depicted in early Hebrew scriptures. The God of the Old Testament is not presented always as omniscient or omnipotent, having crafted beings like Lucifer without foreseeing the subsequent evil wrought by them. The inconsistency between this depiction and later conceptions of an all-knowing and all-powerful God fuels the problem of evil. Some, like Irenaeus, offer a teleological perspective, suggesting that evil, and the human struggle against it, is integral to developing virtue and moral character—a form of soul-making.
The portrayal of Satan, especially within the context of early Bible stories, further complicates theodicy. The Hebrew deity is described as struggling to place a check on this fallen angel, suggesting limitations to divine power. Latter Christian theology, influenced by texts such as the story of Job and the New Testament writings, has recontextualized Satan as the personification of evil and a being in opposition to God's will. The problem of evil persists in discussions around human agency, divine foreknowledge, and the nature of a perfect, all-loving deity in the face of real-world suffering and moral evil.
Process Theology offers a different approach, akin to earlier Hebrew notions, by redefining God's characteristics and thereby 'solving' the problem of evil by aligning God's nature closer to an imperfect being. This approach, similar to ideas in Process Theology, removes the paradox of an all-good God coexisting with the presence of evil in the world.