3. Irenaean Theodicy

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

1. Genesis Quote
2. Free Will
3. Moral Development
4. Universal Salvation
5. Hick’s Vale of Soul Making
6. Hick’s Epistemic Distance
7. Criticisms

Question 2

1. Genesis Quote

Answer 2

• “let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness”
• Image: intelligent, conscious beings with a moral nature
• Likeness: Humans must grow into the likeness of God. Developing our moral natures to be like God.

Question 3

2. Free Will

Answer 3

• Humans created like God: intelligent, conscious beings with a moral nature.
• We have to be like God, free to make our own choices
• If God hadn’t given us free will we wouldn’t be in his image
• We have freedom of choice that enables us to be moral agents

Question 4

3. Moral Development

Answer 4

• We have to develop and mature to reach our full potential (growing into the likeness of God)
• Morality developed through hard work is more valuable than pre-programmed morality
• Genuine moral development is only possible in a world where pain is real.
• World with no pain: actions have no moral consequence
• Swinburne: “many of the moral virtue we admire are only possible in an imperfect world”
• Proportional to severity of suffering… real pain = real compassion.

Question 5

4. Universal Salvation

Answer 5

• However, suffering can lead some to moral degradation.
• In order for suffering to be justified, everyone must attain perfection.
• This process must take place after death.

Universal Salvation: Everyone must make it to heaven

Question 6

5. Hick’s Vale of Soul Making

Answer 6

• God allows suffering for higher purpose of moral development.
• We develop “virtues through hardship” that are infinitely better than any virtues that instilled in us from birth.
• Perfect world is something to look forward to (potentially afterlife)

Question 7

6. Hick’s Epistemic Distance

Answer 7

• If God intervenes, this undermines human freedom
• God creates ‘epistemic distance’ (God is close to us, but far away)
• God makes his existence uncertain (if we knew for certain that God was present, we would behave out of fear not virtue)

Question 8

7. Criticisms

Answer 8

• Do ends justify the means?
• Not acceptable to do bad to achieve good (this is what God does by creating an imperfect world for a higher goal)
• Does all suffering result in moral growth?
• Suffering often leads to moral degradation
• Is universal salvation fair?
• What is the motivation to be moral?