can god's attributes be reconciled with the existence of evil?

Question 1

atheism

Answer 1

evil exist and god does not exist

there is no god to stop any evil

Question 2

alternative theologies

Answer 2

evil exist and god also exist

evil cant be stopped as god is not omnipotent/ omniscient/ supremely good

Question 3

afterlife defence

Answer 3

evil exists and god exist

evil is balanced by an even greater good namely justice in the afterlife

Question 4

free will defence

Answer 4

evil exist and god exists

evil is the consequences of an even greater good, namely human free will

Question 5

soul making theodicy

Answer 5

evil exists and god exists

evil leads to a greater good namely humans fulfilling their potential

Question 6

responses 3,4,5 are examples of theodicies.

Answer 6

a theodicy is a solution which reconciles the existence of an omnipotent omniscient supremely good god with the existence of evil.

Question 7

john hick distinguishes between strong and weak theodicies

Answer 7

strong theodicy- which gives an explanation/ justification for why God permits the existence of evil eg soul-making

weak theodicy- which offers a defence of theism and aims to show why the existence of God is compatible with evil eg the free will defence