ESSENCE: Interdisciplinary- International Journal of Concerned African Philosophers

The problem of evil, or theodicy, remains central to religious philosophy. This paper proposes CCBDS Creation, Covenant, Betrayal, Destruction, and Salvation as a fivefold historical pattern by which the Divine relates to humanity. While CCBDS is most explicitly articulated in the Abrahamic scriptures, this study argues that analogous structures exist in major Oriental traditions, though with different metaphysical assumptions. Using comparative philosophical analysis, the paper examines CCBDS in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and contrasts it with patterns in Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. In the Abrahamic view, suffering is largely moral and covenantal: a consequence of human betrayal against a personal God, followed by judgment and redemptive salvation. In Oriental traditions, suffering is more often cosmic and karmic: a result of imbalance, ignorance, or departure from the Tao/Dharma, followed by restoration through enlightenment or balance. Drawing on scholars from the UK and Nigeria, including the works of Prof. Charles. Nnaji on socionomy and psychonomy, John Hick on soul-making theodicy, Alvin Plantinga on free will defense, J.B. Danjuma on African theology, and K.C. Anyanwu on African metaphysics, this paper argues that CCBDS offers a cross-cultural framework for understanding how religions rationalize suffering and divine justice. The study concludes that while the structural pattern is similar, the theological meaning of “betrayal” and “salvation” diverges significantly. This has implications for interfaith dialogue, mission, and pastoral care in pluralistic societies like Nigeria.

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