The Vivisection of Evil: Its Roots, Nature, Methods, and the Ethics of Combating It

We don’t just have a mere right to fight evil. We are actually obligated to oppose it, and work towards its defeat. This obligation exists in complete harmony with the Bible’s general proscription against doing evil, and persists despite the fact that we will not succeed in this earthly realm. To see that these things are indeed the case, the author first undertakes a thorough review of man’s attempts at defining evil. This is a daunting task, as even such a basic thing as our finiteness gets in the way. As a result, no existing definition can completely circumscribe evil. Through this exploration, strong arguments against God and his benevolence based on the existence of evil are examined and all are found wanting. Christian theism emerges unscathed.

In battling anything, one must always know the enemy to have even partial success. For this reason, evil’s roots and methods are examined in depth. Its behavior at all scales is analyzed—from the actions of the schoolyard bully to the machinations of the totalitarian nation.

The exploration of evil culminates in an analysis of the obligation that all people, Christians in particular, have to oppose and fight evil. The ethical reasons are quite general, only relying on theism and Christianity when necessary. Pacifism in all forms is argued to be not only inexpedient, but often helpful to evil. The book concludes—unlike nearly every other philosophical exploration of evil—with an enumeration and analysis of the available strategies for fighting it, and their applicability in different situations. Knowing that God will ultimately solve the problem, the Christian need not despair, even knowing that evil has the upper hand here on earth.