I remember having a similar conversation with you last August, in three separate threads.
One: “Why did God create the universe” Why Did God Create this Universe?, in which you raise the concept of “cosmic context”, and introduce us to your “bubble beings.
Next: “Why do people sin? Why do people sin?, in which you introduce us to the man who looks at himself in the mirror after he showers (I’m still trying to get that image out of my head) and senses “cosmic unfairness”, and where you made the postulate “Human beings (and probably angels) choose what they want to believe. (also we discover your admiration for Ulysses Everett McGill)
Then: “Why is life so hard?” Why is life so hard?. Where we discussed the emotions expressed in the lamenting word “why”.
Now this thread “Is Evil in the world the price we pay for Love?” seems to follow some common themes as these previous discussions. Much digital ink has been spilled in discussing things that may be (probably are) too deep for mortal minds, and I don’t intend to rehash old themes. Is there an, as yet, central question you are getting at; a prime conundrum to which all your various questions are pointing? Have you lost a silver coin, and are invoking our help to “light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until we find it? (Luke 15:8)
I would tug on the thread of your topic title a bit that suggests we “pay” for love by enduring malevolence, as if God had no other way to demonstrate His “maximal” love except through the unfortunate vehicle of evil. This statement needs some wordsmithing, I think. Even so, I think I get what you are rhetorically suggesting (I hope).
You say:
I understand you here; light is unknown except against the backdrop of darkness, good cannot exist except in the absence of un-good. So I guess you are suggesting that Perfect Love cannot be experienced unless it stands in contrast against a necessary evil. I hear you. In our temporal and mortal experience, I really get this concept, but in our Spiritual reality, I sure hope you are wrong. The “hope that is within me” sure expects to experience maximal love apart from any scintilla of evil, and that for the duration of eternity. Your postulate may prove accurate in the here and now, but surely there is existence that exceeds our present tragic situation; a reality that saves us from this mortal trap. So many scriptures come to mind here, too many to begin to list them without feeling like I left some of them out. I’m sure they come to your mind too. The milieu of “maximal love” is reserved for the resurrection, of which Jesus is the “firstfruit”. If He is the firstfruit, then it is implied others to follow. James revealed “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:18)
I accept your idea that “We can know nothing in the absence of a relevant definitional context” here and now. However, I fully expect to know much more, in the atmosphere of holy perfection, in the resurrection, sitting next to you in paradise, sipping liquid manna, and resisting the urge to say “I told you so”.
Peace in Jesus, forever.
KP
P.S.edit
I just reread this and it sounds a little blunt. I’m sorry, I didn’t intend it to sound confrontational in any way. I appreciate you, and enjoy talking about the issues you raise. Sorry If I sound too curt.
KP