Foundational Catholic theology: Good and Evil Flashcards
Goodness
The quality of being like God. Putting the needs of others before your own
Evil
The absence of good that results in suffering
Suffering
The pain and loss that harms human beings
Privation
The absence of something, Catholics believe evil is the privation of good
Free Will
The God given ability to choose right from wrong freely without being controlled
Incarnation
Means to ‘be made flesh’. The believe that God became human in the form of Jesus Christ
Natural Law
A belief that there is universal right and wrongs that apply to all humans at all times
Conscience
God given feeling of right and wrong
Who says the inconsistency Traid
John Mackie
What does the inconsistency triad say
God cannot be both omnipotent and omnibenevolent if evil exists
John Mackie says if God is omnipotent then he should have the power to stop evil
John Mackie says if God is omnibenevolent then he should love us enough to stop evil
John Mackie says if evil exists then one of these must be false
What does St. Augustine say about evil
“Evil is necessary as an opposite for good”
“Evil helps us become better people”
How does John Mackie try to disprove what augustine says about evil
“There is far more evil than is nessisary”
What does John Hick say about evil
Free will explains why evil exists
How does John Mackie try to disprove what John Hick says about evil
He says “Why can’t God create free humans that always choose good”
What examples does William Rowe use to disprove God
Fawn in a forest fire
Abuse of a 5 year old child
Who says intense “human and animal suffering disproves God”
William Rowe
What is the Catholic response to the problem of evil and suffering
Free will is a gift from God and abuse of this gift from God cannot be blamed on God
All humans are tainted by ‘original sin’ which is inherited from Adam
Augustine says
1. Evil is necessary as an opposite to good
2. Evil is simply a privation
3. God brings the greater good out of evil and suffering
What would be a liberal (protestant) Christian response to evil and suffering
John Hick uses St. Ireanus
God is aware of evil occurring in the world however allows it to happen to build us spiritually and mentally. This is Soul Making
Jewish response to problem of evil and suffering
Believe they are born with free will and are born with an inclination to do either right or wrong
God is the ultimate judge and judges all evil and uses the Torah to teach how to not commit evil
Rosh Hashannah and Yom KIppur show a remorse for evil
What do Catholics believe is the meaning behind suffering
Bring about greater good- suffering of Jesus
Suffering allows those to be helped and gives people vocations
Suffering is a mystery, Book of Job describes complexity of suffering
Salfici Doloris by Pope John Paul II
“The beauty of suffering” Pope John Paul II describes how if we all share out our suffering good can come from it
Catholic beliefs about the Trinity
Trinity is a mystery
Shown in Jesus baptism
Glory Be
Nicene Creed
3 persons 1 being
St. Augustine says To Love to be loved to love itself
Jewish beliefs about Trinity
Breaks covenant with Abraham
Breaks first commandment
Hear O israel
God is one in person and essence
“Spirit of the Lord” is just God
Catholic beliefs about incarnation
Meaning ‘in the flesh’
Describes how God became human through virgin Mary
Nicene creed
Jesus has 2 natures of fully God and fully human
Gospel of John
Kenosis from St. Paul meaning God emptied himself of power to be Jesus
Jewish beliefs about incarnation
Shema as well as first commandment
There will be one resurrection at the end of time with everyone
How can a Man be God?
Covenant with Abraham
