B602; Good & Evil Flashcards
Where does good come from?
Genesis 1: 31 “God looked at everything he had made and it was very good”. Good comes from God and the world was good until humans sinned.
Why did God give us free will?
That we choose whether to do good or evil. Our choice is made easier by Referring to the Bible. For example the 10 commandments (Exodus 20) help Christians understand that murder is wrong and that they should preserve life at all costs. Therefore if there was a war they may choose to do good and be a conscientious objector.
Where does evil come from?
Genesis 3: Adam and eve have free will, are tempted by the devil (snake) and commit the original sin. All descendants of Adam are sinners and must seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
What is said about how the Devil works?
The Devil works in a similar way in the world today and tempts us to do evil things (sin). Christians believe we have free will and therefore sometimes we choose to commit sins. Evil is present in the world because people choose to sin.
What are the different types of evil?
Human/Moral
Natural
What is Human/Moral evil?
Caused by man‟s bad decisions E.g. Murder of James Bulger
What is Natural evil?
Caused by nature E.g. Tsunami December 2004
What do Christians believe about God?
God is omnipotent = All powerful
God is omnibenevolent = All loving
God is omniscient = All knowing
What do Christians believe about the Devil or Satan?
The Devil is a fallen angel who tempts people to do wrong. The devil can take many forms and
presents him self as temptation to abuse our freewill. He appeared first in Genesis 3 where he tempts eve to eat from the tree of knowledge. The devil also tries to tempt Jesus in the desert after he has been baptised (Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus manages to resist each temptation.
How do Christians explain why is there suffering in the world?
Original sin: The world is now in a fallen state. Therefore humans inherit the first sin and must also be punished for it. Humans still make bad decisions which causes suffering and natural suffering is part of the punishment for the original sin.
Free will: Humans choose to do wrong.
The Devil: Tempts us to do wrong
How do people cope with suffering?
A Test: to test faith. If we put up with it and stay loyal to God we‟ll be rewarded.
God has a plan: we have to just accept God‟s plan. After much suffering Job questions God. In the
end he realises he just has to accept God‟s plan (Job)
God’s compassion: God carries and supports us through bad times (footprints)
Ultimate reward: in heaven there is no suffering for eternity. 10 years suffering is nothing compared
to an eternity of bliss.
How do Christians know how to be good?
Bible: 10 commandments, 2 greatest commandments (“Love God, Love your neighbour”), Good
Samaritan, Sermon on the Mount (“Blessed are the poor …”)
Example of Jesus – to live with compassion and a sense of justice, to be willing to sacrifice yourself
for the sake of others.
Conscience - to act “with knowledge” of what is right and wrong, what is taught, what are the
consequences.
Why be good?
Heaven is the ultimate reward!
What are some Christians thoughts on the Devil?
Not all Christians see the devil as a real being. Many believe the devil is a symbolic way of showing how
people struggle to do what is right – the temptation to do what is wrong. Therefore the devil could be seen as
an inner evil force showing the battle going on inside people to do the right thing.
Why is there evil? (St Augustine)
St Augustine – Evil is the sole responsibility of humans for making wrong choices e.g. Adam and Eve brought evil into the world by their disobedience
