[redgolum]

Perhaps this comes at least in part from a mistranslation of the Our Father. The final words are "But deliver is from THE EVIL (one)." In Eastern Christianity, evil is the freely chosen power of Satan not merely the absence of good. The power of Satan is always used in opposition to God. Under the influence of Satan's power we refuse to respond to God graces and positively act contrary to God's Law, most often consciously, but sometimes unconsciously (or unintentionally). Sin multiplies upon sin and all creation is distorted, becoming disordered under the burden of that sin. That's why the lion usually doesn't lie down with the lamb.

Which makes more sense, and is close to what I learned in confirmation class. But that isn't (or at least hasn't been at times) the typical western Christian view of evil. Many books, including some of the earlier Church Doctors, hold the view that evil is only the absence of good, for a Scholastic reason. If evil is something in and of itself, then God had to create it, so God is the author of evil. Which leads to all sorts of dark places and a more fatalistic view of creation and God. To view evil as the something created by God, it would half to be "good" since everything God creates is good. So it is easier to define evil as the absence of good, then to say it is a real "positive" (not sure that is the right term, but I mean a real force) force.

To be honest, the problem of evil and the fall of Man is one of those mysteries that won't be answered for sure in this life. It is on the list of "Things to ask God when I get to Heaven".

[Kolokotronis]

"Many books, including some of the earlier Church Doctors, hold the view that evil is only the absence of good, for a Scholastic reason."

Figures those guys would be behind such a notion.

"If evil is something in and of itself, then God had to create it, so God is the author of evil. Which leads to all sorts of dark places and a more fatalistic view of creation and God. To view evil as the something created by God, it would half to be "good" since everything God creates is good. So it is easier to define evil as the absence of good, then to say it is a real "positive" (not sure that is the right term, but I mean a real force) force."

God created Satan. It doesn't follow however that God therefore created evil. He created us in the image and likeness of Himself, with free will among other attributes, but it doesn't follow that because Adam fell, He is therefore the author of the Sin of Adam or any other sin we have committed since then. What was their thinking?

[Kolokotronis]

You know, it just occured to me that perhaps the modern Western notions about Evil not really existing, simply happening, might be a result of Protestant "once saved, always saved, theology and the whole "God demanded the blood of His Son as payback for our sins" idea.