1. The problem of evil key words

Question 1

What does ‘moral evil’ mean?

Answer 1

• The result of human action.
• E.g. murder, theft, etc.

Question 2

What does ‘‘natural evil’ mean?

Answer 2

• Evil which is naturally occurring in the world.
• E.g. earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.

Question 3

What does ‘inconsistent triad’ mean?

Answer 3

• God is all-loving, all-powerful and all-knowing, yet evil still exists.
• Influenced by Mackie, Hume and Epicurus.

Question 4

What does ‘theodicy’ mean?

Answer 4

• An argument that suggests God is right to allow the existence of evil and suffering.
• In some way or another, they are necessary.

Question 5

What does ‘epistemic distance’ mean?

Answer 5

• God keeps a distance from humanity in order to not overwhelm it.
• Hick’s view of the human/God relationship.

Question 6

What does ‘counter-factual hypothesis’ mean?

Answer 6

• If God interferes, then humanity cannot develop.

Question 7

What does ‘omniscient’ mean?

Answer 7

• All-knowing.
• An attribute of God.

Question 8

What does ‘omnipotent’ mean?

Answer 8

• All-powerful.
• An attribute of God.

Question 9

What does ‘omni-benevolent’ mean?

Answer 9

• All-loving.
• An attribute of God.

Question 10

What does ‘transcendent’ mean?

Answer 10

• The idea that God is above and beyond space and time.
• An attribute of God.

Question 11

What does ‘free will’ mean?

Answer 11

• The idea that humans are free to make their own choices in life.

Question 12

What does ‘libertarianism’ mean?

Answer 12

• Humans have a degree of free will and so can be held morally responsible for their actions.

Question 13

What does ‘casual determinism’ mean?

Answer 13

• The view that every event is determined by preceding events and conditions of the laws of nature.
• Humans do not have free will.

Question 14

What does ‘compatibilism’ mean?

Answer 14

• A person is free to act within the constraints of their own motives and desires.
• Determinism and free will are compatible.

Question 15

What does ‘panentheism’ mean?

Answer 15

• The view that ‘all is in God’.
• In Process Theology, God is the soul of the universe, so is not transcendent.

Question 16

What does ‘parapsychology’ mean?

Answer 16

• The investigation of paranormal and psychic phenomena.

Question 17

What does ‘millenarianism’ mean?

Answer 17

• A belief in a 1000 year reign of Christ on earth.
• It concludes with a universal resurrection, judgement and the just going to heaven and the sinful to hell.

Question 18

What does ‘moral agent’ mean?

Answer 18

• Any being capable of acting in accordance of what is right and wrong
• Moral agents may use free will to bring about morally bad consequences.