Evil shifts the burden of proof onto Theism

Abstract

The discussion of the problem of evil has developed from a logical disproof, to an inductive argument, to an abductive inference. Here an even more modest approach to using evil is suggested: that evil shows that the prior probability of Theism must be very low, prior to any further investigation. This approach sidesteps the standard defences to the problem of evil, and thus indeed permits Atheist to adopt a more defensive strategy. All they need to do is show that the balance of arguments that may be offered do not shift this prior assignment.