[Semi Civil Servant]

First: the man is 81 and looking right down the barrel of finite mortality.

We aren't all 81, but we all face mortality.

The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis addresses the other issues in your post, if you're interested. It's a complex problem.

Anthony Flew is one of the most influential atheists of the past 50 years. I read some of his work in college when I was an agnostic.

In 2001, Flew was still claiming to be an atheist.

Sorry to Disappoint, but I'm Still an Atheist! by Antony Flew

Either the Guardian has it wrong, or something's changed for Flew.

[Tribune7]

There has been several posts about this. It looks like something has changed.