Augustine Theodicy Flashcards
His understanding of Evil
Evil isn’t a substance but a lack or absence of Good. Like blindness. Therefor God couldn’t have created it
Augustines belief on God and the world
God is all-good and created the world without defect
Genesis: ‘God was pleased with what he saw, for it was Good’
Therefor evil was unknown
Free will: angels and Humans
Angel and humans have the choose to serve God.
Genesis 3: Adam and Eve
And the devil( a fallen angel) as there tempter
His idea as evil as a consequence
Deserved consequence of human sin. Natural evil is present due to the loss of order after the first sin. Upsetting the balance of the world ; removed God from it
Augustines idea of a perfect world and the effects of free will
God created a perfect world. Humans actions(free will) changed it. Therefor God became distant from.
Augustine theory on why we suffer
Suffering is punishment for sins.Suggesting all humans deserve to suffer. ( even young babes) everyone was present in the loins of Adam. So we inherit the guilt of disobedience.
Criticisms: biological difficulties- our presence in Adam
The theory that all where simultaneously present In Adam is rejected. And a biological flaw. Therefor we aren’t guilty of the original sin. Meaning the justice of God can be questioned, allowing us to suffer for someone else.
Criticism: moral difficulty - hell
Hell appears to be part of the design of the universe. Meaning God anticipated the world would go wrong and have accepted it. The eternal punishment contradicts the all- loving God.
Criticisms: the logical problem - evils relationship with God
Evil must be an attribute of God. Either God didn’t create a perfect world or God enable it to go wrong. E.g.
In a perfect world the angels would have chosen good.
Support: the origin of moral evil(free will)
Moral evil is due to deliberate act by humans and choice. Deviate from the nature God intended for man.
Support: the Goodness of God
Aquinas states that God is good and that evil is not from God.
‘ God is light and in him there is no darkness at all ‘ 1 john 1:5
