The Greek philosopher Epicurus recognized the conundrum 2,400 years ago; a slight adaptation of David Hume’s terse summary is widely quoted: “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is not omnipotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is He neither able nor willing? Then why call Him God?”27
