That was a very pretty speech," said Loloc, "but if it contained an answer to even one of my questions then I did not hear it. - James Morrow

What's theodicy?" asked Anthony.
"Hard to explain."
"Sounds like idiocy."
"Much of it is.

Nature may not be benign, but she is reliable.

Murray held his daughter at arm’s length. “Does God...er, visit you?”
“She doesn’t even whisper to me. I listen, but she doesn’t talk. It’s not fair.” God didn’t talk. The best news he’d heard since Gabriel Frostig announced his embryo. “Look Julie, it’s good she doesn’t talk. God asks her children to do crazy things. It’s good she doesn’t whisper. Understand?”
“I guess.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. Where’d the crab go? Is he looking for his friends?” A profound weariness pressed upon Murray. “Yes. Right. His friends. It’s good God doesn’t whisper.”