Evil and Suffering Flashcards
what are the two types of evil?
natural evil and moral evil
what is the definition of natural evil?
natural evil is evil that is apparent from the natural world e.g. tsunamis and earthquakes.
what did Epicurus say?
“…..god either wishes to prevent evil but is unable, or he is able but is unwilling……”
what is the problem of evil and suffering?
gods characteristics include, omnebelovence (all loving) omnipotence (all powerful) and omniscient (all knowing). if he was all loving he would rid the world of evil and suffering, and if he wants to but cannot then he is not all powerful and all knowing. evil and suffering exists, therefore god cannot be all loving, all powerful and all knowing.
explain the idea of the inconstant triad?
L J Makie proposed three proportions in the of each proportion being a corner of a triangle, these where gods omnipotence, gods all loving and evil exists. Makie said that when two of these proportions are combined it leads to negation of the other. therefore god cannot be all of the above characteristics.
who proposed the concept of the inconsistent triad?
L J Makie
where did Augustine believe evil came from?
god didn’t create evil, god is good. instead it was due to the fall of man.
what quote supported Augustine’s argument that god didn’t create evil?
genesis 7;31 “god saw what he had made and he thought it was perfect”.
as god didn’t create evil what is evil the result of according to Augustine?
the result of something perfect going wrong, the fall of man.
if evil didn’t come from god and was a result of those who made the wrong choices when given freewill. give Augustine’s example of this?
Adam and Eve-
Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, Adam disobeys god and ate the forbidden fruit that god specifically said not to do, due to this disobedience we are now, as sons of Adam and eve, experiencing our punishment through evil and suffering that is within the world.
evil is not a……….according to Augustine?
substance
why does god allow evil according to Augustine?
god allows evil as punishment for human sin, as god is a just god he must do so.
HOWEVER is god was just a ‘just’ god he would allow us to receive our rightful punishments in hell, but what did Augustine suggest god done which emphasis his all loving nature?
god sent down his only son Jesus to die on the cross as salvation for our sins and to give us a second chance to choose the path of god and regain a relationship with him.
what did Augustine say to justify natural evil?
he stated that we disrupted the order of the world in the garden of Eden and now due to this damage we experience natural evil.
what did Augustine say to justify moral evil?
moral evil happens due to the knowledge of god and bad that was discovered through disobedience to god.
