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First, then, God, being all-just, wishes to do justice; being all-wise, knows what justice is; being all-powerful, can do justice. Why then injustice? Either your God can do justice and won't or doesn't know what justice is, or he cannot do it. The immediate reply is: 'What appears to be injustice in our eyes, in the sight of omniscience may be justice. God's ways are not our ways.' Oh, but if he is the all-wise pattern, they should be; what is good enough for God ought to be good enough for man; but what is too mean for man won't do in a God.

Voltairine de Cleyre#4

JusticeFaithGodLogicTheology

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote questions the existence of an all-good God in light of real-world injustice.
In plain terms
Why is there injustice if God is good?
What can you take from it?
Religious beliefs about God must reconcile with observable injustice.

Where it applies

  • theological debate
  • personal faith
  • philosophy

Putting it to work

  • questioning doctrine
  • defining justice

Questions to consider

  • Does faith require suspension of logic?
  • Is there a solution to the problem of evil?

Another view

It assumes human understanding of justice matches divine standards.

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