Evaluations-The Problem of Evil

Question 1

What is in support of the Logical Problem Of evil?

Answer 1

-God can’t be omnibenevolent as he wouldn’t have created a world with evil, suffering and natural disasters and prevent it.
-God cannot be omnibenevolent as he would care enough to prevent it.

Question 2

What are points against the logical problem of evil?

Answer 2

-W.P Alston, we cannot understand God because our experience is limited ,we only perceive half of the full picture.
-Plantinga, God chooses to limit himself in order to allow free will
-There are good reason of allowing evil to exist to allow the development of sympathy, courage

Question 3

What are points in support of the Evidential Problem of Evil

Answer 3

-Hume, observation of evil and suffering in the world leads to question God’s benevolence, it is the quantity of pain which poses a challenge to the belief
-DOSTOYEVSKY, a God which allows evil and suffering in the world isn’t a God worth worshipping

Question 4

What goes against the evidential Problem of evil?

Answer 4

-Swinsburne, evidential problem is difficult as it provides greater motivation to find cures for diseases
-Logical problem of evil is a grater challenge as it highlights the inconsistency of the nature of the GOCT (irrational and Contradictory)

Question 5

What are strengths of Augustine?

Answer 5

-Aquinas, natural evil may only be evil due to the way we perceive the world e.g. Cat eating a mouse
-Mccabe, talking about something bad is usually when it’s something which doesn’t live up to our expectation e.g. bad grape vs Bad deckchair.
>Augustine’s theodicy is internally incoherent

Question 6

What can go against Augustine’s view of the Problem of evil?

Answer 6

-Modern scientific advances
>not possible for all human beings to be biologically present in the loins of Adam
>Must reject evolution to accept the literal interpretation of Genesis
-Difficult to see that angelic disobedience caused plate tectonics e.g earthquakes
-It doesn’t help/explain anything.

Question 7

What are strengths of John Hick?

Answer 7

-Evil is a tool used by God, not a result of God failing to anticipate the result of free will
-It gives purpose to natural evil
(KARL MARX, religion glorify suffering)

Question 8

What are weaknesses of John Hick’s theodicy?

Answer 8

-Babies and those with disabilities are unable to use suffering in a development way
-Doesn’t take into account animal suffering or the planet
>some say this is suffering on a greater scale
-Doesn’t explain the imbalance of suffering between different people neither innocent suffering.