Free Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil. In Six Letters to —.

Soame Jenyns served in the British Parliament during the 18th century. As well as several poetical works, Jenyns authored a couple of theological essays, one on the problem of evil, and the other a work of apologetics. A Free Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil examines and proposes a potential answer to the questions raised by the existence of evil in a supposedly perfect world created by God. Upon its publication, the essay received rather negative reviews, including one by Samuel Johnson. Dr. Johnson condemned it as a superficial and flippant attempt to solve one of the most difficult moral problems. Jenyns, naturally, took offense to Johnson's words, and he later published a second edition of A Free Inquiry prefaced by a defense of his work.

Kathleen O'Bannon
CCEL Staff