utely honest and not frightened, in the history
of nations, that this universe is presided over by an infinitely wise
and good God? How do you account for Russia? How do you account for
Siberia? How do you account for the fact that whole races of men toiled
beneath the master's lash for ages without recompense and without
reward? How do you account for the fact that babes were sold from the
arms of mothers--arms that had been reached toward God in supplication?
How do you account for it? How do you account for the existence of
martyrs? How do you account for the fact that this God allows people
to be burned simply for loving Him? How do you account for the fact
that justice doesn't always triumph? How do you account for the fact
that innocence is not a perfect shield? How do you account for the fact
that the world has been filled with pain, and grief, and tears? How do
you account for the fact that people have been swallowed by volcanoes,
swept from the earth by storms, dying by famine, if there is above us a
ruler who is infinitely good and infinitely powerful?

I don't say there is none. I don't know. As I have said before, this
is the only planet I was ever on. I live in one of the rural districts
of the universe. I know not about these things as much as the clergy.
And if they know no more about the other world than they do about this,
it is not worth mentioning. How do they answer all this? They say
that God "permits it." What would you say to me if I stood by and saw
a ruffian beat out the brains of a child, when I had full and perfect
power to prevent it? You would say truthfully that I was as bad as the
murderer. That is what you would say. Is it possible for this God to
prevent it? Then, if He doesn't, He is a fiend; He is not good. But
they say He "permits it." What for? So we may have freedom of choice.
What for? So that God may find, I suppose, who are good and who are
bad. Didn't He know that when He made us? Did He not know exactly
just what He was making? Why should He make those whom He knew would
be criminals? If I should make a machine that would walk your streets
and commit murder, you would hang me. Why not? And if God made a man
whom He knew would commit murder, then God is guilty of that murder.
If God made a man, knowing he would beat his wife, that he would starve
his children, that he would strew on either side of his path of life
the wrecks of ruined homes, then, I say, th