3.2 Theodicies And Solutions To The Problem Of Evil And Suffering Flashcards
What is a theodicy?
A theory which attempts to show that the existence of evil is not incompatible with an omni-potent and omnipotent-benevolent god
What does Augustine view evil as?
A privation- a lack or absence of something
Why did irenaeus believe god allowed suffering?
He believed god have humanity free will in order to achieve a particular purpose, that having the choice between good and evil was essential for MORAL AND SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.
If god intervened to stop evil (suffering), then this freedom would be lost.
Give 2 reasons why Augustine’s theodicy is not a true theodicy?
1) it questions gods omnipotence, was god not powerful enough to create a world in which humans would not have sinned in the Garden of Eden and the Fall would never have come about?
2) it also questions gods omniscience. Either god knew the Fall would happen and continued to create mankind or he is not omniscient.
What is epistemic distance?
An argument by hick that god created humans at a special distanced from him, so they could know god but not be so close they had no choice but to believe in him.
Give 2 strengths of soul-making, they theory by Iraneus and hick
1) responsibility for evil is placed on humans, not God (making it a successful theology)
2) humans have free will, which is consistent with our interpretation of experience.
Give 2 weaknesses of soul-making
1) some suffering results only in suffering and seems pointless
2) people can develop good qualities without suffering
What is the term for the argument put forward by Alvin Plantinga?
The Free Will Defense
What does ‘process’ in process theodicy refer to?
Where the world is understood to be dynamic and constantly changing and evolving.
In what way is gods omnipotence limited in process theodicy?
Ass god is part of the worlds processes and, therefore, constrained by them, god cannot control the world, only influence and persuade other entities
