Evil And Suffering

Question 1

What is the evidential problem of evil

Answer 1

Focuses on the evidence of evil and suggests it is improbable that the classical theist God could exist. Quality and quantity of evil. God could allow evil for unknown reasons but we have no empirical evidence of these reasons

Question 2

What is example William rowe uses about the evidential problem of evil

Answer 2

A fawn dies painfully in a forest fire. This death has no benefit and does not bring about any goodness. “Pointless evil”

Question 3

What are quotes from Hume about the evidential problem of evil

Answer 3

“The rock of atheism”
“There cannot be a God as there are so many misfortunes in the world”

Question 4

what is quality and quantity in the evidential problem of evil

Answer 4

the sheer quality and quantity of evil and suffering is overwhelming evidence god does not exist or he does and is cruel and spiteful

Question 5

what is the logical problem of evil

Answer 5

-an argument against the existence of god
-existence of god is incompatible with the existence of the classical theist god.
-Gods existence is logically incompatible with the existence of evil

Question 6

what is the epicurean paradox

Answer 6

is he willing but not able he is not omnipotent, if he is able but not willing, he is malevolent, if he is both able and willing then whence cometh evil, if he neither able nor willing then why call him god

Question 7

what is the inconsistent triad and who created it

Answer 7

It is a theory by J.L Mackie that evil and god being omnipotent and omnibenevolent cant coexist together. so one of gods qualities is false and does not exist

Question 8

what are the 3 Theodicies to the problem of evil

Answer 8

1. Deny Gods Existence
2. denying gods omnibenevolence
3. deny evil exists

Question 9

what is the theodicy to deny gods omnipotence

Answer 9

God can’t control evil so he can’t be blamed for its existence in the world

Question 10

what is the theodicy to deny gods omnibenevolence

Answer 10

Most christians think this is unthinkable. The belief that god is good and loving provides comfort to those suffering

Question 11

what is the theodicy to deny evil exists

Answer 11

evil is not real it is just the absense of good (privatation) so there is no problem to solve

Question 12

what is agustines soul deciding theodicy

Answer 12

• we are made in the likeness of god
• man has true moral autonomy
• freedom leads to the fall
• evil is part of an aesthetic pattern
• Evil is a privation
• we all started perfect (anti-evolution)

Question 13

what was Schleirmacher’s theory

Answer 13

-if god has created a perfect world then it could never go wrong
-if human could chose evil it must have existed in the first place
-if it already existed, then the world was not perfect, so god is to blame

Question 14

what are the criticisms of augustines soul deciding theodicy

Answer 14

-in nature suffering is vital for survival (survival of the fittest)
- god is unjust for letting all humans be punished for adams sin
-the existence of hell contradicts an all-loving God
-if hell was part of the universe design god knew something would go wrong
it is morall, scientifically and logically flawed

Question 15

what is St Irenaeus theodicy (upward soul making)

Answer 15

• God deliberatly created an imperfect world
  -humans can develop through trail and adversity into perfect beings
  -humanity is on a learning curve
  “a world without problems and perils would be morally static”

Question 16

what is a quote by St Irenaeus about his theodicy

Answer 16

“A world without problems would be morally static”

Question 17

what is hicks soul making theodicy

Answer 17

further developed Irenaeus theodicy and called it the vale of soul making. Said humans were created imperfect so they can grow and develop into the likeness and image of god. Hardships of life develop virtues

Question 18

Why does hick think Augustine’s soul deciding theodicy is no longer credible

Answer 18

it isn’t compatible with the classical theist god. He points out logical, scientific and moral flaws. Augustine blames evil on the fall and we pass down this evil.

Question 19

what does hick say about Augustine’s theodicy

Answer 19

“utterly unacceptable”

Question 20

what does hick say is about us being children of god

Answer 20

we didn’t fall from perfection we are created imperfect. God gave us the freedom to develop to become children of God. he says we can choose right of wrong. harshness of world allows for character development

Question 21

why does hick say about creation being a 2 step process

Answer 21

two steps in development in the creation of the universe. the “bios” physical human life and “zoe” the personality and characteristics of humans. god allows us to develop the zoe

Question 22

what does hick say about remaining at an epistemic distance

Answer 22

humans must exist at a distance of knowledge because of we knew he was real would do whatever he wants. By not knowing we make the decision to develop virtues and avoid evil

Question 23

what is the counterfactual hypothesis

Answer 23

a world with benefits and challenges allow us to have an incentive to do anything. life gives us the stimulus for development

Question 24

what are the strengths of Hicks soul making theodicy

Answer 24

-fits with current scientific thinking on evolution
-idea of being at an epistemic distance justifies all kinds of evil
-more meaningful relationships with god
-optimistic view of humanity
-coincides with free will

Question 25

what are the weaknesses of Hick’s soul making theodicy

Answer 25

-if humans are evolved animals, how are we the image of god
-insinuates it is beneficial to suffering but people can become bitter and resentful
-why wouldn’t an all powerful god create a world where humans could develop but not need to suffer

Question 26

what is the free will defence

Answer 26

god justified in allowing evil to exist in the universe because evil is needed to allow humans to understand and prefer the good

Question 27

what does Alvin Plantinga say about the free will defence

Answer 27

-god can co-exist with evil
-god is omnipotent but can only do what is within the realms of possibility
-it is impossible to give us free will and not bring evil
-god cannot intervene or we would not be truly free
-a genuinely free world is more valuable
“goodness of robots”

Question 28

what does Swinburn say about the free will defence

Answer 28

-without free will we would be robots
-a more meaningful relationship with god is freely entered
-a world with death is better
-a limited life focuses attention
-stops the old dominating the young
“he would be like an overprotective parent”

Question 29

what does Mackie say in favour of the free will defence

Answer 29

-There are first order goods/evils (happiness, pain)
-there are second order goods/evils (spite, cruelty)
-the third order good is free will as it allows humans to choose second order g/e
-need to feel hurt to understand compassion

Question 30

What does Mackie say in criticism to his defence of the Free will denfence

Answer 30

-why couldn’t god create us with an understanding of evil but not able to choose it
-if god was omnipotent we could have free will and no evil
-god either lacks the power of lacks the love