evil and suffering Flashcards
what’s moral evil
evil caused by humans such as rape or murder
whats natural evil
evil caused by chance and through nature such as tsunami or hurricane
whats a good example of a natural evil
destruction of habitat. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake killed about 70,000 people and left around 5 million or more homeless.
why is natural hard for christians to accept
because its done by nature and cant be put down to free will. also its normally blamed on their god because he should be able to stop it
whats an example in the bible that god demonstrated power over the natural world.
plagues that were intended to persuade the Egyptian Pharaoh to let the Hebrew slaves go free (Exodus 7:8–11:10)
whats a good example of extreme moral evil
In 1994, the Rwandan genocide was an attempt by the Hutu population (85 per cent) to exterminate the Tutsi (14 per cent), and between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Tutsi (and moderate Hutu) were slaughtered.
the Holocaust/Shoah, the 1941-1945 genocide brought about by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany which exterminated 6 million Jews (about a million of whom were children) together with around 3 million other so-called ‘undesirables’.
who’s a survivor of the holocaust who you can reference
Jack Adler
whats the logical problem of evil
that if god is omnipotent, omnibenevolent and just then why is there evil in the world
who makes the logical problem of evil and what’s his quote
Epicurus quote-contradiction: “ls God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?”
What’s one way that we can overcome the logical problem of evil
Denying gods omnipotence
explain denying gods omnipotence
if we take away gods omnipotence then he cant be blamed for evil because its not in his hands. however this would make god unworthy of worship for many Christians.
what’s another way of solving the logical problem of evil
denying gods omnibenevolence
explain denying gods omnibenevolence
For most Christians, this solution is unthinkable. 4. Denying God’s omnibenevolence. For most Christians, this solution is unthinkable. The belief that God is both good and loving supports those who experience evil and is the basis or the future hope of heaven.
what does Freud say about gods omnibenevolence
is a case of wish-fulfilment: there is no all-loving God, only the desire for one. However, the desire for all-loving God does not negate the existence of one so Freud’s argument does not work.
what’s another way to solve the logical problem of evil
denying that evil exists
explain denying that evil exists
solution was proposed by Augustine of Hippo
argues that evil is privatio of evil meaning a privation of good
this means that evil is just the absence of good so it doesn’t exist
what’s eschatology
the theology of what will happen at the end of the universe
what’s Alvin Plantinga’s free will defence
he argues that in order for god to sustain free will then he has to allow evil to exist.
we have to be free to choose the opposing vice of hatred
what’s Jhon Hick’s eschatology solution
. According to Hick, God has all the time he wants in which to bring people to freely love the good, so in the end everybody will reach heaven. This is universalism. In this case, evil is a necessary part of the process by which we become fit for heaven.
what’s a free will defence
arguing that god has given full control over humans
why is JUST giving free will not sufficient to bring development
we must also be placed in situations that require us to make decisions and learn about their consequences.
who was Jhon Mackie
he was an Australian philosopher (1917-1981)
tell me about Jhon Mackie
he was an atheist who opposed the free will defence in his work miracle of theism
so he made his own version of free will defence to show that it doesn’t work however it turns out his was the clearest example
explain Jhon Mackie’s Free will defence
For humans to have genuine moral responsibility, they must have free will; the ability to choose between good and evil
a world with free will, even with the potential for evil, allows for the greater good. The capacity for individuals to choose good over evil can lead to virtues like courage, compassion, and self-sacrifice, which would not be possible in a world of pre-programmed beings.
explain Jhon Mackie’s criticism of free will defence
He argues God could have made it possible for humans to always freely choose good.
13. The essence of what Mackie is saying here is this:
§ It is logically possible for a person to make free, good choices, all of the time.
§ God could have created humans so that they would only make free, good choices.
§ God did not do so because he lacks power, love or does not exist.
§ Therefore, the Free Will Defence fails.
explain Alvin Plantinga’s response to Jhon Mackie
. God could not eliminate much of the evil and suffering in this world without thereby eliminating the greater good. Plantinga wants to show that there is no possible way that god could have created humans who always do the right thing
what’s libertarianism
Libertarianism is the view that causal determinism is false so we can make choices that are genuinely free.
what does Plantinga say about natural evil
He says it a punishment from Adam and Eve in Genesis
how can we justify natural evil using free will
if we are falling from a great height for example and gods stops us mid air then he is intervening with nature and therefore humans don’t have free will anymore.
Who primarily influenced Process thought?
Alfred North Whitehead
Whitehead was an English philosopher and mathematician known for his interest in quantum mechanics.
What is the main point of Griffin’s theodicy?
Creation ex nihilo is based on a mistranslation of Genesis 1:1-3
Griffin argues that the traditional interpretation of creation from nothing is incorrect.
What does Griffin argue about the universe’s existence?
The universe is uncreated and eternal
Griffin asserts that God creates order from chaos, implying the universe already exists.
What are the two types of power that chaotic materials have, according to Griffin?
- They partially determine themselves
- They can influence each other
What must be considered when developing a theodicy according to Griffin?
- Seek the most probable view of reality
- Abandon revealed theology if it doesn’t make sense
- Accept common ideas about existence
In what kind of relationship does Griffin assert God and the universe exist?
Panentheistically
This means that God is seen as the soul of the universe, existing together with it.
What implication does the belief in creation from nothing have for the problem of evil?
It implies transcendence, omnipotence, and divine intervention
Griffin critiques this belief for contributing to the problem of evil.
How does Griffin view God’s power in relation to the physical universe?
God is powerful but not omnipotent
God cannot control the physical aspect of the universe but can persuade it over time.
What does Griffin believe about God’s responsibility for evil and suffering?
Responsibility lies with God for setting chaotic matter on the road to complexity
However, Griffin argues that we cannot blame God for the existence of evil.
What does A.N. Whitehead say about God in relation to suffering?
God is the fellow sufferer who understands
This emphasizes God’s empathetic nature towards suffering.
What entities does Griffin believe cause natural evils?
Low-grade entities such as electrons, atoms, and molecules
These entities change slowly and are difficult for God to affect.
Fill in the blank: Griffin insists that the translation of Genesis implies that God called the universe into existence from _______.
nothing
True or False: Griffin believes that God can intervene directly in the physical universe.
False
Why does Griffin believe God creates?
To produce good and add value with free creatures
God’s intention was not to avoid suffering but to enhance the world.
