catholic, christian and jewish beliefs about good, evil and suffering Flashcards
what does catholics believe in one god who is?
Omnipotent (all-powerful)
Omnibenevolent (all-loving)
Omniscient (all-knowing)
what is the problem caused by evil and suffering?
that if God has these different qualities then he should want to end suffering and would have the power to end suffering.
As suffering continues to happen then Catholics ask the question: Why does the world contain so much evil and suffering?
what do catholics believe free will is from?
it is a gift from god
why is free will from god?
God created humans with the ability to choose between good and evil. When humans choose the wrong thing it causes suffering
why are humans blame for suffering and not god?
They have abused their gift.
Poor choices have caused suffering.
Humans are not programmed robots.
what does free will only provide an answer to?
existence of moral evil
what is the original sin?
The story of Genesis tells how the world was created. Adam and Eve decided to eat the forbidden fruit going against God’s wishes
what is the original sin also known as?
the fall
what was introduced into a perfect world?
why?
as a result of moral suffering, natural suffering was introduced due to that time all humans have original sin, the tendency to go against God
what is original sin a symbol of?
that we all share some responsibility for the evil and suffering in the world
what is in the Enchiridion?
St Augustine which gives three answers to the question of suffering
what does st augustine state that the existence of evil helps people to do?
to appreciate the good in the world. For example, being unwell helps us to appreciate when we are healthy
what does st augustine state that evil is?
the absence of good things.
This is called privation.
God does not cause or permit evil because evil isn’t even a thing.
why does st augustine state that god allows suffering and evil?
allows suffering because he is omnipotent and good.
allows evil because in his goodness and power, he is always able to bring a greater good out of suffering.
suffering can be beneficial
what is the source of authority from st augustine’s Enchiridion about the universe even which is called evil?
“And in the universe, even that which is called evil, when it is regulated and put in its own place, only enhances our admiration of the good; for we enjoy and value the good more when we compare it with”
what is the source of authority about god allowing evil and suffering from st augustine?
“He can bring good even out of evil.”
what did john hick developed the ideas of?
St. Irenaeus
what does john hick believe about humans?
made in the image of God, but they and the world itself were not made perfect.
They need to grow to become spiritually perfect.
what is the best way for humans to develop according to john hick?
Suffering and evil
why did john hick argue that god allows evil and suffering?
because God allows evil and suffering to happen so that people can grow and develop in how they respond to
it. Natural evil is one part of God’s creation which allows humans to respond and grow spiritually.
what is john hick’s source of authority about the world?
” world without problems, difficulties, perils and hardships would be morally static”
why do jews not believe that people are born evil?
do not share the Christian concept of Original Sin
what do jews believe that humans were born as?
born free with the feeling to do good or to do evil
what does the torah teaches about free will?
God has given human beings choices and that it is important to struggle against the feeling to do evil actions by obeying to God
what has jews been provided with?
guidance through the Torah and mitzvot which are actions that Jewish people should perform or avoid. By being obedient to the Torah and mitzvot Jews can avoid evil.
why do jews believe it is not possible to hide evil actions from god?
each year during the festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Jews apologise (make up for or make good) for the times when they have followed their feeling to do evil
what do jews see evil and suffering as?
seen as a consequence of human beings’ wrong choices
