The Free Radical Podcast #48 | Karma, Free Will, and the Problem of Evil — Adi Purusha, June 18, 2025

In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, Swami Padmanabha welcomes Vaishnava scholar and Hindu chaplain Adi Purusha, whose academic background includes a PhD from the University of Cambridge and a focus on theodicy, Vedanta, and ethics. The conversation explores the problem of evil—how suffering can coexist with an all-loving, all-powerful, and all-knowing God—through the lens of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Topics include karma, the purpose of suffering, and how to approach these ideas without minimizing or justifying suffering. This episode complements a previous discussion with Christian theologian Thomas Jay Oord, showcasing diverse spiritual responses to divine justice and human pain. The podcast seeks dialogue, not doctrinal agreement, aiming to foster deeper understanding and love across differences. https://youtu.be/XBodQVjsiC8 ▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ YOUTUBE ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ WEBSITE ▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon ▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM ~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels ▶ WEBSITE ▶ FACEBOOK ▶ INSTAGRAM ▶ YOUTUBE