Evil, Suffering and the Problem of Impermanence

Theodicy or what is popularly called the problem of evil has commanded so much attention in the mainstream and dominant tradition of philosophy of religion in the global north but without conclusive solution. Through hermeneutical and critical analyses, I argue that long before the problem became widespread among academics of the global north, it had received a deeper understanding and more appropriate attention in the Odù Ifá. I contend that whereas in the mainstream and dominant tradition, the problem of evil focuses only on one dimension of evil—pain and suffering, however, sages whose wisdom are documented in the Odù Ifá not only admit this perspective but added two other dimensions to understanding the problem of evil: (1) unfavourable status quo and (2) impermanenceimpermanence thereby elevating the total dimensions of evil to three. I consider the nature of these three dimensions as disclosed in the Odù Ifá as well as the solution offered by ancient Yorùbá sages with Ìwà metaphysics as framework. I conclude that their solution is still relevant not only for meaningful living but applicable to the philosophy of religion discourse.