Evil and Suffering - Key Terms

Question 1

Casual Determinism

Answer 1

The view that every event is determined by antecedent (preceding) events and conditions and by the laws of nature, so humans do not have free will.

Question 2

Compatibilism

Answer 2

Determinism and free will are compatible where there are no external constraints on a person’s actions, in which case a person is free to act within the constraints of their own motives and desires.

Question 3

Libertarianism

Answer 3

In the free will debate, this is the view that although some aspects of human existence are determined by physics, biology and chemistry, humans nevertheless have a degree of free will and so can be held morally responsible for their actions.

Question 4

Millenarianism

Answer 4

A belief in a thousand year reign of Christ on earth, concluding with a universal resurrection, judgement and the consignment of the just to heaven and the damned to hell.
Millenarian groups arise typically during times of intense evil and suffering.

Question 5

Panentheism

Answer 5

The view that ‘all is in God’.
In Process Theology, that God is the soul of the universe, so doesn’t transcend the universe.

Question 6

Parapsychology

Answer 6

The investigation of paranormal and psychic phenomena that lie outside the province of scientific psychology.

Question 7

Transcendent

Answer 7

The idea that God is above and beyond space and time - as opposed to immanent, existing within space and time.