Evil & Suffering Flashcards
What is Natural Evil?
Suffering caused by natural disasters.
What is Moral Evil?
Suffering caused deliberately by humans making bad moral decisions.
What is the Monistic view on the existence of evil and suffering?
The Universe is a harmonious unity and evil is only an illusion. Evil is simply the absence of good.
What is the Atheistic view on the existence of evil and suffering?
The existence of evil proves that there is no God. If there was an omnibenevolent, omnipotent, and omniscient God, why would he create a Universe full of evil and suffering?
What is the Buddhist and Hindu view on the existence of evil and suffering?
Evil is an illusion caused by the greed and selfishness of humans. Suffering is the result of evil committed in a past life. God is not responsible for evil.
What is the Monotheistic view on the existence of evil and suffering?
Evil is completely real. Suffering is an important part of life, to teach us to remain faithful to God.
Why does the existence of evil challenge a theistic belief in God? (Inconsistent Triad)
Because Theism states that God is omnibenevolent, omniscient, and omnipotent. Therefore, if he had all three of these attributes, he would know about, want to, and have the power to remove evil from the world. However, evil still exists, meaning that if God exists, he does not have all of these attributes.
Describe some of the Monotheistic explanations as to why evil exists.
- Punishment for Sin
- Evil is a test to prove faith to God – Suffering allows humans to develop empathy, love, and courage, bringing them closer to God
- Evil exists to oppose good
- Suffering allows God to show that he is loving
- Knowledge of evil was given to mankind when Eve ate the Forbidden Fruit
