Divine Transformation: Overcoming Death and Evil
In the Christian worldview, despite the proclaimed Divine will, the presence of death and evil is explained by the peculiarities of the world's structure and human freedom. On one hand, the human soul possesses a God-like impulse for freedom, which allows it to act according to its own laws and even to oppose the supreme will. Thus, the fall of man and the departure from true values give rise to the conditions we perceive as evil and death—not as a direct creation of God, but as the result of a rejection of life and Love. This is expressed in one of the sources:"The Lord did not create death, by no means; it is impossible for Life to create death, or for Love to engender evil. Death arises precisely from the rejection of life, from actions contrary to Love, for God is Love..." (source: link txt).On the other hand, evil and death are inherently—and tragically—a part of a world governed by unchanging natural laws. However, in Christian understanding, death serves as that pivotal moment through which human life can attain a new, eternal dimension if one follows the path shown by Christ, the one who conquered death. This is reflected in the idea that evil, which is tantamount to death, must be overcome through inner transformation and a connection with Christ:"The problem of evil reaches its final antinomy. Evil is death, and death is the consequence of evil. To defeat evil at its very root means to uproot the sting of death. Christ has conquered death..." (source: link txt).Regarding the addressee of the believers’ prayers, they address God directly—the Source and Supreme Author of all existence, who governs both the immutable laws of nature and the fate of every individual through His Divine Plan. Believers are convinced that in every moment of life, no matter how tragic it may seem, there is a part of a grand Divine plan aimed at the ultimate vindication and salvation of the soul. Thus, their prayers are directed to God, whose will determines the course of history and whose grace is capable of transforming even suffering and death into a pathway toward eternal life.