Symes has delivered on his bold claim to have defeated the evil-god challenge.

Heythrop Journal

This is the most thorough treatment of the widely-discussed evil-god challenge to date. Symes clearly identifies the strongest version of the challenge and then patiently constructs a robust response, showing how the three main approaches to theology strongly favour attributing goodness rather than evil to god. Required reading for anyone interested in the topic.

T. Ryan Byerly, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Sheffield, UK

In recent years, the evil-god challenge has become a highly debated topic in the philosophy of religion. Defeating the Evil-God Challenge by Jack Symes stands as a pioneering, comprehensive exploration of this contentious subject, providing both depth and intrigue. It not only marks a pivotal milestone in the field but also serves as a must-read for theists, atheists, and anyone navigating the expansive intellectual landscape in between.

Yujin Nagasawa, Kingfisher College Chair of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics and Professor of Philosophy, University of Oklahoma, USA

Suppose that there is a God, is it more (or at least as) likely that He's bad as it is that He's good? Arguments that the answer to this question is 'Yes' constitute the evil-god challenge as it has been pressed over the last decade. In this, the first book-length engagement with the challenge, Symes makes a sustained, careful, and multi-pronged case that the answer is in fact 'No', a case which will be of cogency and interest to theists, agnostics and atheists alike.

Tim Mawson, Edgar Jones Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford, UK

Symes' book – the first book on the evil-god challenge to date – provides a clear and concise overview of key arguments and thinkers. It's a great place to start.

Stephen Law, Director of the Certificate in Higher Education and Director of Studies in Philosophy, Department of Continuing Education, University of Oxford, UK

Engagingly written and accessible, Defeating the Evil-God Challenge provides a novel and compelling response to an important argument against the existence of the God of classical monotheism. This book is a must-read for any scholar interested in the fundamental questions of God's existence and nature.

Asha Lancaster-Thomas, Teacher of Philosophy, Atlanta Classical Academy, USA