If a theologian doesn't have a reasonable way of dealing with the problem of evil, then he or she isn't worth his or her salt.
I'm of the opinion that dealing with God as an apriori idea is a creative and fruitful way of approaching the topic (but not as an assumption). God is certainly not an empirical object of the everyday kind and definitely not observable except insofar as the universe is a part of god.
As I mentioned earlier, I am in favor of science but I see absolutely no reason to think that it is an inherently rational practice as opposed to a successful and useful practice. I also do not think that theology could ever be a substitute for science.
Epicurus was no atheist. He just thought the gods were smart and consequently had absolutely no interest in us.

I don't remember that book by Guinness but it sounds like something he would have written.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13