QUOTE : Lieutenant Chatrand: I don’t understand this omnipotent-benevolent thing.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity.<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: Exactly.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: Omnipotent-benevolent simply means that God is all-powerful and well-meaning.<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: I understand the concept. It’s just... there seems to be a contradiction.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: Yes. The contradiction is pain. Man’s starvation, war, sickness...<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: Exactly! Terrible things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well-meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn’t he?<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: Would He?<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: Well... if God Loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: Do you have children?<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: No, signore.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: Imagine you had an eight-year-old son... would you love him?<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: Of course.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: Would you let him skateboard?<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: Yeah, I guess. Sure I’d let him skateboard, but I’d tell him to be careful.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: So as this child’s father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: I wouldn’t run behind him and mollycoddle him if that’s what you mean.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: But what if he fell and skinned his knee?<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: He would learn to be more careful.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child’s pain, you would choose to show you love by letting him learn his own lessons?<br />Lieutenant Chatrand: Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It’s how we learn.<br />Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: Exactly.