Good and Evil - Key Terms

Question 1

What is Good?

Answer 1

• What is morally right
• What enables humans to flourish in accordance with God’s will
• What helps others

Question 2

What is Evil?

Answer 2

• What is morally wrong
• What causes suffering
• What prevents humans from flourishing in accordance with God’s will

Question 3

Explain Christian beliefs about the Devil (Satan)

Answer 3

• Symbol of evil in the Christian tradition
• Fallen angel (Lucifer)
• Enemy of God

Question 4

What is Free Will?

Answer 4

• The ability to make moral choices

- Given to humans by God according to Christians

Question 5

What is the Fall?

Answer 5

• The name given to the account of Adam and Eve’s sin and its consequences (Genesis 2-3)

Question 6

What is Original Sin?

Answer 6

• The sin made by Adam and Eve that first brought evil and suffering into Creation

Question 7

What is Redemption?

Answer 7

• The forgiveness of sin offered to all humans by Jesus

- The promise of reconciliation with God

Question 8

What is Natural Evil?

Answer 8

• Suffering resulting from natural events

- Eg. Tsunamis, Earthquakes, etc

Question 9

What is Moral Evil?

Answer 9

• Suffering resulting from human actions

- Eg. Bullying, murder, etc

Question 10

What is a Theodicy?

Answer 10

• Religious attempts to answer of explain the problem of evil

Question 11

Define Suffering

Answer 11

• The experience of pain and distress
• Can be physical (broken leg, etc)
• Can be psychological (bereavement, etc)

Question 12

What is Conscience?

Answer 12

• The ‘internal’ voice helping us decide between right and wrong
• ‘God given’ according to Christians
• The source of our feeling of guilt

Question 13

What is Humanism?

Answer 13

• The belief that humans, not God, determine what is right and wrong
• (Secular - non-religious - view)