Question 17 (How to dispute five arguments about the problem of witches)
This is the last section of Part One. The book has three parts. I'll probably take a break to read something a little lighter before going on to Part Two.
Seems like our boy is gonna just repeat himself a bit here, but let's do it anyway.
Argument one: God has a ton of ways to punish sinners, so He has no reason to allow witchcraft.
Rebuttal: God allows bad people (witches) to exist so that good people are more obviously good by comparison. Also free will is a thing.
Argument two: If the Devil can cause infertility/miscarriages/abortions/SIDS, he could totally destroy the entire human race. This would make him stronger than God, and no one is stronger than God.
Rebuttal: God is stronger than the Devil. Like way stronger. Like God would beat Satan at arm-wrestling any day. God just lets the Devil do some bad stuff because it tests humans or something.
Argument three: If witchcraft were being used to punish sinners, then innocent people like children would not be bewitched.
Rebuttal: Satan just likes fuckin' with good people more.
Argument four: God is all-good and all-powerful, so He would never let witches exist.
Rebuttal: Pretty much the same as the first argument. Free will is a thing.
Argument five: Preachers and judges are always talkin' smack about witches. If witches were real, they would have killed all the preachers and judges by now. The preachers and judges are still alive, so witches don't exist.
Rebuttal: The clergy are protected by good Angels.
And that is the end of Part One!!!
Stay safe!
- me