Tuesdays with Lewis: Atheism and Evil

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”

Some of C.S. Lewis’s most profound observations appear as he dissects atheism. Lewis systematically dismantles all the popular arguments, including the classic “why is there evil?” one. Personally, I have sometimes struggled to answer friends who have challenged me with this argument. In Mere Christianity, Lewis offers an elegant answer that strikes at the premise behind the question. We cannot argue against God’s existence by citing the injustice inherent in the universe.

Search the internet for arguments in support of God’s existence and we will invariably find a common response: “But if God existed, why is there so much evil?” This question seems to have influenced hundreds of people to reject Christianity and theism. People look around and see death, destruction, and pain everywhere. How could God allow such a cruel existence? Thus, atheists believe in a random and non-spiritual universe devoid of meaning or overarching purpose. If the world governs itself by self-interest, survival instincts, and probabilities, atheists can accept both the beauty and evil of the world together.

Yet Lewis cuts to the heart of the argument by questioning the terms people use. After all, we cannot label something as evil without also identifying good. Even those opposed to Christianity would agree with the above statement. However, when we extend the same label to the universe, we arrive at a contradiction in the atheistic worldview. If we condemn the universe as unjust and cruel, we compare it with some “ideal” or “good” universe. Since no man living has witnessed such a universe, we must conclude that this standard is a universal ideal hidden in our nature.

If we truly consist of just molecules, we would not possess ideals. Man’s highest ideals should consist of their instincts: wealth, power, and pleasure. I do not deny that many men do indeed pursue their survival instincts. However, all men speak of their emptiness and yearning for a greater purpose than selfish desires. Even atheists desire to engage in philanthropy, altruism, and legacy-building. This desire to find meaning cannot stem from a purely natural universe.

Ultimately, only God can reveal their emptiness to someone who does not believe. Even so, their plaintive cry against injustice may serve to unearth their longing for justice and higher standards. As Lewis says, atheism disproves itself.