Web site invites students to discuss God’s goodness

Philosophers, theologians and leading intellectuals have struggled for centuries to explain the problem of evil.

If God is good, then why does evil exist? This question at once seems irresolvable and yet demands an answer.

This month, B&H Academic, a division of B&H Publishing Group, launched www.GodorNot.com, a social networking Web site that encourages users to upload original videos answering the question, "Why do you believe God is good?"

The site is geared toward students, and the best entry will win $5,000.

All videos should be less than two minutes and must be uploaded by April 5.

"When students are challenged to defend their faith, they had better be ready to give a strong answer," said Jim Baird, B&H Academic. "One of the greatest challenges students will face is their belief in the goodness of God."

Baird said Christian students are now more than ever committed to the cause of Christ.

"We are learning that this is a very zealous generation of students," Baird said. "We want to make sure the students know why they are zealous. We want to help equip them to articulate a solid apologetic. We are called to defend our faith when skeptics challenge us."

Above all, Baird said he hopes the uploaded videos on GodorNot.com will offer testimonies to nonbelievers who question God’s existence and goodness.

"Many students can give an intellectual case for the goodness of God," he said. "We simply want to show what that goodness looks like. We want them to show the evidence of His goodness."

GodorNot.com launched in conjunction with the release of "The End of Christianity: Finding God in an Evil World" by William Dembski. The book is published by B&H Publishing Group.

Dembski, research professor in philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas, addresses the problem of evil and attempts to resolve how a good God and an evil world can coexist.

Dembski formulates answers to so-called "New Atheists" like Richard Dawkins, author of "The God Delusion," and Christopher Hitchens, author of "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything."

"The End of Christianity: Finding God in an Evil World" is available at LifeWay Christian Stores. B&H Publishing Group is the publishing division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.