In the midst of unrelenting suffering, a timeless question echoes: Can an all-powerful, all-good God truly exist? This conundrum is at the heart of "Could a Good God Permit So Much Suffering?", a debate that pits two philosophical heavyweights against each other. James Sterba posits that the sheer scale of evil in our world is a logical affront to the existence of a benevolent deity, as it contravenes the fundamental principle of preventing moral evil. In response, Richard Swinburne argues that just as our most significant benefactors – parents and the state – have the right to permit suffering if it yields a greater good, God, as the ultimate benefactor, has an even greater right to allow suffering if it is the only means to secure extraordinary benefits for humanity. The debate rages on, with both Sterba and Swinburne presenting counterarguments that meticulously probe every angle of this profound and complex question.