evil and suffering Flashcards
Determinism
The idea that people’s behavior is produced primarily by factors outside of their willful control.
free will
The idea that human beings are free to make their own choices
free will vs determinism
To what extent are our behaviors freely selected rather than caused by factors outside of our control?
Free Will Defense
the claim that God could not create creatures (such as us) who have freedom of the will but who are incapable of doing evil
Inconsistent triad
the omnibenevolence and omnipotence of God, and the existence of evil in the world, are said to be mutually incompatible
soul making theodicy
God allows evil because it is necessary for us to develop virtue.
Nature of God
Omnipotent (all-powerful)
Omniscient (all-knowing)
Omnibonevolent (all-loving)
Natural Suffering
When nature is disrupted, humans have no/little control, natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis etc
Omniscient
All-knowing (God knows everything including things which have not happened yet)
Moral Suffering
- Caused by people
-selfish/cruel actions
-avoidable!!!!
Omnibonevolent
All-loving, God is completely good, always does right, always wants the best for people
The fall
The story of Adam and Eve creating original Sin
Original Sin
The Sin we are all born with as a result of Adam and Eves actions
Theodicy
A religious argument which defends the nature of God and proves He can exist along side Evil and Suffering
Sin
Going against Gods will
Freewill
The ability humans have to make choices to chose between right and wrong
Omnipotent
All powerful, able to do anything, do things we think are impossible
Ireneaus
Suffering gives you chances, suffering gives you the chance to turn to god, good can come from suffering, seeing others suffer means you can respond to them
Determinism
States that Freewill is an illusion and that we are not actually free to choose and do what we want. Criminology, biology, sociology and psychology challenges if humans are truly free in the modern day. OPPOSITE OF FREEWILL!!
Richard Swinburne
Efficacious freewill - means it is full acting or has the full impact. Suffering is always a part of life and the argument for evil and suffering is perhaps the existence of God. Said a loving God should limit suffering or intervene so that innocents shouldn’t suffer or there shouldn’t be large scale suffering
John Hick
Hick argues that God has a plan for all life and suffering has a purpose. Humans are limited in their knowledge and understanding so they cannot possibly understand Gods Plan. Suffering helps us become better people and purifies the soul - Makes our souls stronger for the afterlife.
St Augustine
The Augustine Theodicy (The Freewill Defence) Aims to take all responsibility for suffering away from God. Adam and Eve acted on behalf of the whole of humanity when they sinned which is why all humans suffer and the world itself is corrupted
