Divine Justice: Hope, Consolation, or Delusion?
Osman Karadağ, July 6, 2025
After a Hopeless Morning
This morning, in that silent interval between sleep and wakefulness, I was confronted with a question that stuck in my mind: Does divine justice really exist, or are we deceiving ourselves? Perhaps it was the effect of events that have marked today's agenda, or perhaps it was the feeling of accumulated injustice that has been building up for a while, overflowing and turning into thought. Maybe it was the effect of news I heard yesterday, or perhaps emotions left over from a dream from the night... But the question embedded in my mind was vivid: Once again a tyrant smiled, once again the oppressed remained silent.
This question was not just about today, but an inquiry into all of human history. The questions that come to mind when I wake up in the morning are sometimes the deepest, most sincere ones. After the unfortunate events in our country, the same question echoed in many people's minds. This question is not just today's search. It is a fundamental and deep inquiry that has troubled the minds of everyone from philosophers to ordinary people throughout human history.
The injustices, oppressions, and inequities we often witness on earth make us question the belief in the existence of divine justice. Yesterday's events once again showed that the expected divine intervention in the face of injustice does not occur. Innocent people continue to suffer, wrongdoers go unpunished, children die of hunger while the rich live in abundance. Yet this belief has held a central place both in individuals' inner worlds and in social order for thousands of years.
Why has humanity developed such a concept in the face of this situation? The answer to this question perhaps points to one of humanity's most basic needs: the search for meaning and hope in the face of despair. In this essay, I will examine the idea of divine justice from three fundamental dimensions: its philosophical origins, psychological function, and sociopolitical effects. My aim is not to empty this concept of its content; but to question it more consciously and to seek what we can put in its place.
A Philosophical Knot: Is Its Existence or Non-existence Justified?
One of humanity's most fundamental longings is justice. However, the world is often a stage where this longing is frustrated, where tyrants are rewarded and the good are oppressed. In the face of this deep contradiction, humanity has clung to the belief that justice will surely be realized on a divine plane, even if not in this world. The promise that "justice will find its place" has been humanity's greatest consolation for thousands of years.
So, how well can this consolation withstand philosophical inquiry?
The Origins of Justice and the Deferred Promise
The idea of justice has been an ideal that humanity has pursued since its existence. However, this thought did not begin directly with belief in a personal God, as is commonly assumed. We find its first traces in the intuitive belief in the intrinsic order of the universe. In ancient Egypt, Ma'at symbolized the harmonious functioning and balance of the universe, while the Greek Stoics expressed this with Logos, or universal reason. In both thoughts, justice was being in harmony with nature, showing respect for an inherent order. Injustice was a deviation that disrupted this harmony.
However, when we descend to an earlier temporal layer, before these abstract principles, we encounter the Sumerians. The Sumerians, who left the first known written legal documents in history, were the first to institutionalize the concept of justice. King Urukagina's reforms and later Ur-Nammu's written laws are early examples of the effort to unite divine order with worldly order. In Sumerian thought, the king was considered the earthly representative of the gods, and his duty was to "protect the rights of the helpless," "restrain the rich," and "bring balance to society." This understanding can be accepted as one of the first worldly applications of the idea of divine justice.
Humanity has been in search of order and meaning from the very beginning. In a chaotic and uncertain world, we have a tendency to impose cause-and-effect relationships on events, to distinguish between good and evil, and to expect a response to every action. Especially in the face of events that are difficult to explain, such as natural disasters, epidemics, or early deaths, people have wanted to believe that an invisible order is at work.
This need eventually gave birth to the idea of "invisible forces." These forces were assumed to be not only powerful but also just. Perhaps not at that moment, but someday, somewhere, the belief sprouted that everything would be put in its proper place. Here, the idea of divine justice was born as a deep and complex defense mechanism that humanity developed in the face of despair.
This belief both consoled the soul and shaped social order. Justice was now the responsibility not only of humans but also of gods. In this long intellectual journey extending from Sumer to Egypt, from there to ancient Greece, justice guided human history as both a cosmic balance and a social ideal.
And how strange it is that this search, which has continued for so long, still stands before humanity today like a deferred promise. Because justice continues to live sometimes as a prayer written in the sky, sometimes as a word missing on earth.
With monotheistic religions, this understanding transformed into the personal will of a God who has power over everything. Injustices in the world were then interpreted as part of a divine plan and a "test" where the final reckoning would be given on a "day of judgment." In early times, the concept of justice was based more on retaliation: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." However, as humanity developed, this primitive understanding gave way to more complex and abstract systems.
Thus, justice became a promise deferred to beyond this world. This situation gave birth to one of philosophy's most fundamental questions: Is deferred justice really justice? Tribes, city-states, and finally nations developed their own justice mechanisms. But these human-made systems were always far from perfect. Wrong decisions, corruption, the strong crushing the weak - such situations drove people to believe in a higher, infallible justice mechanism.
Nature's Indifference and the Search for Moral Order
When we look at nature and history, it is difficult to encounter a picture that would confirm this belief. The tiger eats the deer. There is neither right nor wrong. Only power and result... There is no concept of justice in nature. Natural laws operate, the strong survive, the weak are eliminated. Earthquakes do not distinguish between rich and poor, old and young. Disease shows no justice. Natural selection is merciless. The lion, when hunting the deer, has no ethical concern. So nature neither rewards good nor punishes evil.
The same applies to the human world: Many swindlers drown in wealth while many honest people struggle with poverty. Many dictators complete their lives in peace while many innocents disappear in nameless graves. When people faced this ruthless reality, they developed the concept of divine justice to give meaning to life. This is, in a sense, a spiritual need - believing that justice will somehow be realized makes unbearable suffering bearable.
The idea of divine justice essentially rests on the assumption of a moral order operating in the universe. According to this assumption, there is a system where everything is seen, calculated, and eventually everyone gets what they deserve. Humans, however, are different from nature. They empathize, develop a sense of justice, question equality. Perhaps in the face of this indifference in nature, they have given birth to the idea of "divine justice" in order to establish a balance in their own inner world.
The Problem of Evil and the Defense of God
The question "If God is both absolutely good and absolutely powerful, why does evil exist?" is the greatest philosophical obstacle to belief in divine justice. Epicurus's famous paradox summarizes this dilemma: Either God lacks power or his intention is not good; if both exist, how can this evil exist?
Against this problem, theistic thinkers argued that evil is chosen by man's "free will" (Augustine) or serves a greater good (Leibniz). When Leibniz said "This world is the best of all possible worlds," he argued that apparent injustices are part of God's divine plan. However, these defenses proved insufficient for many thinkers, especially in the face of the suffering of innocents and natural disasters.
God's Silence and Human Responsibility
With the Enlightenment, the foundation of justice began to descend from the heavens to earth, to human reason and conscience. Kant cemented this change by saying that morality should be fulfilled not with an expectation of reward, but with "consciousness of duty."
Friedrich Nietzsche raised the harshest voice of this break. According to him, divine justice was merely a "slave morality" invented by the powerless to escape from life's harsh realities and a search for consolation. Nietzsche's famous statement "God is dead!" declared that justice would no longer be expected from heaven, that the responsibility for establishing it belonged entirely to humanity.
In this line, atheist or agnostic philosophers like Albert Camus stood alongside Nietzsche. For them, the idea of "divine justice" was a fairy tale created by the human mind's inability to accept life's cruel realities.
In the twentieth century, existentialists like Camus sought a human-centered response to this responsibility. According to Camus, in the face of the universe's meaninglessness and God's silence, the task for humans is not to surrender; it is to rebel. Justice was no longer a grace awaited in the heavens, but a value that people tried to create on earth through solidarity and struggle.
A Psychological Refuge: The Cost of Hope
The human mind does not easily remain silent in the face of injustice. The look of a child who has been wronged, the cry of a person punished for no reason, or tyrants continuing their power without paying any price... These shake not only our conscience but also our perception of the world. It is precisely at these moments of rupture that belief in divine justice enters like an invisible hand: With the thought that somewhere, someday, everything will be put in its proper place, even if not in this world, humans breathe and stand upright.
Divine justice is not just a belief for many people, but a kind of psychological refuge. It is a support point on which the soul relies to cope with life's harsh face. Confronting real injustice is difficult. Moreover, it is sometimes heavy enough to shake a person's mental health. It is precisely at this point that the idea of divine justice functions as a kind of psychological refuge.
The Power of Hope and the Function of Consolation
The concept of divine justice is not merely a simple belief; it serves very important functions at both individual and social levels. Its most basic function is to offer hope and consolation to people in the face of pain and injustice. In situations such as losing a loved one, facing a disaster, or being wronged, the belief that "Justice will find its place sooner or later," "There is divine reckoning" gives the strength to endure.
Confidence that injustices will be compensated someday makes it easier to hold on to life. Especially in geographies where justice comes late or never, this belief becomes an invisible shield that protects the inner balance of the powerless and oppressed. This is a coping mechanism that particularly helps the individual maintain psychological health in the face of traumatic events.
Cognitive Dissonance and Inner Balance
In psychology literature, there is a concept known as "cognitive dissonance": The human mind feels uncomfortable when there is contradiction between lived reality and expectations. If this contradiction remains unresolved, mental tension and inner restlessness may arise. The belief in divine justice responds precisely to this conflict. It helps restore the individual's inner balance by placing evils that are difficult to explain into a larger, meaningful plan.
The helplessness felt in the face of events we cannot control in life is alleviated by this belief. The thought that "all evils will be punished one day, good deeds will find their reward" becomes a harbor of hope where people take refuge in the face of uncertainty and injustice. In short, while belief in divine justice may not provide a definitive explanation for reason, it provides powerful consolation for the heart.
The Hidden Danger of Passivity
However, this consolation also has a side effect: Passivity. If we believe that everyone's account will be settled somewhere someday, our desire to raise our voices against injustice today may diminish. Saying "Someone knows anyway," we prefer to wait rather than take action. This thought is a consolation when it remains at the level of belief. However, when it is placed at the center of life, it also prepares the ground for passivity.
The thought "His account will be settled someday anyway" distances many people from seeking rights and struggling. Sometimes this waiting can turn into escape from personal responsibility; into inaction. A delicate balance comes into play here. Does belief in divine justice become a source of hope that increases the individual's strength to live, or does it become a chain that makes them passive?
Forgiveness and Inner Peace
On the other hand, this belief is not only a refuge but can also open the door to forgiveness. The thought that "everyone will get what they deserve in the end" softens the individual's feelings of hatred and revenge. Achieving inner peace sometimes comes not from punishment but from letting go. The idea of divine justice can provide the psychological foundation for this letting go.
What is psychologically decisive is precisely this. Does faith strengthen the person and give them courage against injustice; or does it blunt the will to struggle by saying "everyone will find what they deserve in the end anyway"?
A Sociopolitical Tool: The Ideology of Silence
The idea of divine justice is not only a belief that echoes in the individual's inner world, but also a powerful ideological device that shapes social structure. Throughout human history, this concept has been both a hopeful refuge and the language of obedience. Whenever there is a lack of justice in a society, whenever injustices become systematized, the discourse of divine justice has come into play: "Be patient, you are being tested," "God is great," "This world is temporary, the real account will be settled in the other world."
Tool of Dominant Powers
Such sentences may seem spiritually soothing at first glance, but they carry traces of social engineering in their depths. The most dangerous and invisible face of divine justice emerges precisely here. Because throughout history, dominant classes have skillfully used this belief to legitimize the existing order.
Throughout history, dominant powers have recognized this spiritual effect of the concept of divine justice and have used it for their own interests. Like the concepts of heaven and hell, divine justice has also become a powerful tool of social control. The way this concept is used is quite insidious: People are told that if they are patient, if they wait without effort, justice will surely be realized.
The understanding of "God's will" or "sacred order" has often served as a shield preventing the questioning of power. The suffering, injustices, or inequalities experienced by the people have been presented as part of the divine plan; thus, the demand for social change has been suppressed.
Legitimization and Pacification
In history, the idea of divine justice has not only protected the individual's inner peace but has also been used by dominant classes as a management tool. The poor were told "you will receive the reward for the suffering you endure in this world in heaven"; the oppressed were given advice to "be patient, you are being tested."
Rulers, powers, and religious authorities have used this concept to preserve the existing order, suppress rebellions, and ensure social control. Discourses such as "fate," "divine decree," "everything has a reason" can pacify people. Sayings like "The patient dervish achieves his wish" or "God is great, he will provide justice sooner or later" can blunt people's will to struggle by directing them to passive waiting.
Historical Examples
In medieval Europe, the combination of feudal order with religious authority brought about the systematic use of the concept of divine justice. The understanding that "God made kings, God made slaves" prevented the questioning of the existing social order. The role of the concept of divine justice in maintaining the slavery system throughout history is indisputable. Enslaved people were given the message "Be patient, you will be free in the afterlife," and this message prevented anti-slavery rebellions.
In the modern period, this concept has taken more subtle forms, with the spread of the "karma" concept and the "universal justice" understanding of New Age movements forming its contemporary versions. Similarly, the concept of "karma" in India's caste system has prevented people from lower castes from questioning their current situation.
The Heaven-Hell Dualism
Especially the idea of heaven-hell has functioned not only as a moral but also as a political balance element; the individual who submits to injustice in this world has been made to believe that they will find justice in the other world. This structure has also led to divine justice becoming not only a source of hope but also of fear: "If you rebel, you will face God's wrath."
This understanding directs the individual to pray rather than seek rights; it blunts the spirit of struggle and glorifies passivity. Marxist and feminist critical approaches clearly reveal this aspect of divine justice: Such a belief is an ideological "sponge" that veils social inequalities and makes injustices appear natural.
Contemporary Transformations
The idea of divine justice has sometimes also served to legitimize social inequalities. Presenting poverty as "fate" or "test," considering wealth as "divine grace" can prevent people from questioning their situation. Such approaches ensure the continuation of the existing class structure; because people are directed to accept their fate rather than seek their rights.
However, in modern societies, the picture is gradually changing. With the process of secularization, the idea of divine justice has begun to lose its former influence on the social level. Today, the demand for justice is increasingly expressed through human-made law and ethical principles. Nevertheless, divine justice still holds a deep place in individuals' personal belief worlds; continuing its existence sometimes as a refuge, sometimes as an expectation, and sometimes as the ideology of silence.
The Reality of Effort and the Cycle of Passivity
The reality that "nothing can be achieved without effort" stands powerfully against all these belief systems. The expectation of divine justice drives people to inaction. This expectation creates the thought that "Even if I don't do my part, justice will surely be realized." However, in the real world, nothing can be achieved without effort, without labor.
Real life is not, unfortunately, a place where good always wins and evil is immediately punished. On the contrary, there are many examples of achieving success through cunning, lies, and deception. This passivity is a major obstacle especially regarding social change. Instead of reacting to injustice, people prefer to wait with the thought that "justice will be realized anyway."
The Superiority of Cunning
Some have realized that while others wait for divine justice, they themselves can achieve results by taking action. Cunning comes into play at this point. It is possible to reach the goal by shorter paths through ways such as lying, deception, and manipulation, and this is one of the main reasons why injustice continues.
In today's world, this situation has gained a new dimension. In the age of technology, while information has become the most valuable power, inequality in access to information, namely "information asymmetry," has given birth to new types of injustices. Data mining, the manipulative use of algorithms, and the digital divide are contemporary examples of these asymmetries.
These imbalances ensure the continuation of existing unjust orders. For example, companies that understand and can manipulate social media algorithms can use this knowledge for their own interests. Thus, power passes not only to technology but to those who are invisible but knowledgeable behind it.
This picture shows that justice is no longer a grace expected from heaven, but a responsibility that must be created by human hands. Real justice can be established on earth not by waiting, but through awareness, knowledge, and collective effort.
Lessons from History
Social change, the struggle for rights, the creation of fair legal systems, standing against exploitation and oppression are products of individual and collective effort. From Socrates to Gandhi, from Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela, many figures have shown that justice is achieved not through passive waiting but through active struggle. All positive changes experienced throughout history have occurred not as a result of people's passive waiting but as a result of their active struggles.
Conclusion: From Hope to Responsibility, From Waiting to Action
So let us return to the beginning: What if there is no divine law? What if tyrants will never be punished and good people will never be rewarded?
This possibility, though it may chill one's heart at first, is actually not despair but a declaration of freedom. If there is no law coming down from heaven, we must establish it on earth. Then fighting, resisting, organizing, and striving for a more just world becomes an unavoidable responsibility. From Socrates to Gandhi, from Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela, many pioneers have shown that justice is won not through passive waiting but through active struggle.
Liberation from the expectation of divine justice is not the death of hope but the birth of real hope. This is a "critical hope" fed by action, believing that the world can really change. Real justice is not a reward granted to us; it is a value we build together through labor, consciousness, and solidarity.
The question that stuck in my mind this morning perhaps reveals the simplest truth: Change is in our hands. Justice is our responsibility. We must lift ourselves up, because there is no one else to lift us. Perhaps what we seek that is divine is not a judgment that will come down from the heavens, but the very sense of justice that humans nurture in their own conscience and establish on earth through collective effort.
I wish you well-being.