The age-old conundrum of evil has led many to question the likelihood of God's existence and the rationality of religious belief. Philosopher John Hick's influential solution posits that God utilizes evil as a means of perfecting human morality. This book provides a critical examination of Hick's theodicy, a philosophical endeavor to reconcile the problem of evil within the Judeo-Christian tradition. R. Douglas Geivett argues that any viable response to evil must first establish a solid foundation for believing in God. Geivett's analysis begins with an exploration of the perspectives of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Gottfried Leibniz on this question. He then contrasts Hick's approach with these views, making a case for natural theology and defending the rationality of believing in God despite the presence of evil. Geivett critiques Hick's stance on the significance of evil, human freedom, and the afterlife, advocating instead for the Augustinian free-will tradition, which holds that creatures with free will are accountable for evil. The book concludes with an afterword by John Hick, in which he responds to Geivett's thesis.