good and evil Flashcards
what is evil?
- evil is the absence of good and the impulse to seek are own desires at the expense of the good others, often results in suffering.
- evil is privation of good
what is free will
- the decision making part of the persons mind. a will is free the they can choose night from wrong without being controlled by other forces.
- god gave humans free - will
what is suffering
- pain which harms human beings
- moral evil or natural evil can cause suffering
what are the 2 ways catholics respond to evil?
(explain free will, original sin)
- free will
gift from god, choose between night or wrong, bad decisions cause suffering - original sin
Adam + eve disobeyed god, ate forbidden fruit, introduced death + sin into a perfect world
what are the 3 things st Augustine says about suffering
- existence of evil helps people appreciate the good in the world
- evil is the privation of good. God does no cause or permit evil because evil isn’t a thing
- god allows suffering because he is omnipotent and good. Good is always able to bring a greater good out of suffering
evidence that we appreciate good when evil exists
(st augustine)
“for we enjoy and value the good more when we compare it with evil”
what is goodness
- quality of being like god
- seeking the well- being of others
what is privation
- loss or absence of a quality that is normally present.
- evil is the privation of good
who came up with the inconsistent triad
David Hume
what is the inconsistent triad
evil exists
>—-<
god is omnibenevolent
>—<
god is omnipotent
>—<
what did Hume conclude from the inconsistent triad
either god doesn’t exist or he isn’t worthy of worship
what does Stephen fry say about evil
“bone cancer in children”
“mean-minded, stupid God”
“maniac”
John hick proposes the idea that through free choices, we can learn to make the correct choices.
what is this called?
what are the 2 best ways for humans to develop?
soul building
suffering and evil is the best way for humans to develop
John hack believes that humans were made in the image of God but we are not…
we are not perfect
what does soul building explain
soul building explains why god allows natural evil to exist
what does natural evil allow humans to do
allows humans to grow and become better people
for jews how is evil and suffering not created and created
not created by people born evil but evil and suffering are consequences of humans wrong choices
how do jewish people believe people are born
people are born free. however with inclinations to do good (Yetzer ha tov)
and to do bad (yetzer ha ra)
how is the goodness of god linked with the goodness of the created world
” the beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the creator” ccc
how does Jesus share in our suffering
he was fully human “made flesh”
he experiences suffering and so understands it
what type of feeling do catholics have towards suffering
ambivalence
how can catholics share their suffering
by sharing in Jesus’ suffering. offering it up to god in mass, god will use it to bring about good
Jesus died on the cross to save humanity
his suffering brought about good
how do jews interpret the “suffering servant”
they suffer in order to redeem the wicked of humanity
what is Jesus’ suffering a demonstration for
this immense love for us
what does salvifici Doloris mean
“the saving power of suffering”
evidence for sharing in Jesus’ suffering
” those who share in Christs suffering have before their eye the paschal mystery”
What evidence supports the doctrine
of the Trinity?
St Augustine: 1 John ‘God is love’ to explain that God is the perfect example of unity and used an analogy of love: love lover and beloved. The Trinity is 3 persons united together in love. His analogy reminds us of the goodness of God. He also said that all parts of the Trinity are equal to each other and dependent upon each other as a result.
The Baptism of Jesus/ The Nicene creed/ The great commission ‘go baptise all nations in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’.
how does the CCC describe conscience
‘the Voice of God in our hearts’
The existence of conscience is a ____ from God and it is one of the ways God ____________ what he wants
the existence of conscience is a gift from god and it is one of the ways god communicates what he wants
why do catholics believe you should always obey your conscience
Catholics also believe that
a person should always obey their conscience, the conscience can sometimes be wrong so
it’s important to educate our conscience by listening to the moral teaching of the
what are jewish attitudes towards conscience
There is no reference to conscience (matzpun) in the Tanakh or Talmud. Many Jews would consider conscience as the ‘small voice’ which guides actions but that it is the Torah that represents the ‘powerful voice’ directing actions. The inclinations of yetzer ha tov and yetzer ha mean Jews have the ability to make their own choices, and will all
be held responsible for them. Humans are given free will whether to keep the mitzvot of the Torah or not
Why do Catholics say God is good?
Genesis: ‘God saw what he had made and it was good’
God is still involved with creation
(immanent) through answered prayers, numinous experiences and miracles Conscience and Natural law are evidence of God’s goodness/ omnibenevolence
What challenges are there to God’s
goodness?
Natural disasters/ the problem of evil – the fact that evil and suffering exists
(inconsistent triad)/ John Mackie’s arguments/ Unanswered prayers