2011-06-30
Explanation
This comic uses a visual metaphor to explain the problem of theodicy -- the philosophical challenge of reconciling the existence of evil and suffering with the belief in an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God. The metaphor presents God as a three-legged table, with the legs labeled "Omniscient," "Omnipotent," and "Omnibenevolent." On top of the table sits a ball labeled "Theodicy," representing the unresolved tension created by holding all three attributes simultaneously. The ball is out of reach, meaning the problem cannot be solved while all three legs remain intact.
The comic shows that you can get the ball (resolve the problem) by shortening any one of the legs. Cutting "Omnipotent" gives you "Free Will" (God is not powerful enough to prevent evil, or chooses not to override free will). Cutting "Omnibenevolent" gives you "God has bigger concerns than you." Cutting "Omniscient" gives you "God works in mysterious, dickish ways." Each of these is a common theological response to the problem of evil, but the comic notes that "each releases the ball, but makes the table ugly" -- meaning each solution undermines the concept of a perfect God.
The comic then pivots to the secular perspective: "For most people, this is disturbing" -- but then corrects itself: "Just kidding. Most people don''t care," showing a stick figure gleefully saying "Whee!" This is a wry observation that most people do not spend their time agonizing over theological philosophy. The final panels offer the skeptic''s alternative: "So... what does skepticism offer?" Answer: "A wondrous, beautiful doesn''t-give-a-shit-about-you cosmos." The votey panel shows the author promising "a penis joke tomorrow," humorously deflating the philosophical weight of the comic.