Irenaeus' theodicy

Question 1

What was the first step of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 1

God aimed to make humans in his image so that they could grow into his likeness.

Question 2

Where did Irenaeus’ first step come from?

Answer 2

Genesis 1.26 - “God made man in his own image to be in his likeness” - people have to grow into his likeness, perfection cannot be ready made.

Question 3

What example does Irenaeus’ give to support his first step?

Answer 3

A baby cannot be given solid foods straight away.

Question 4

How does Irenaeus’ first step support the attributes of God?

Answer 4

Supports benevolence - God wanted humans to have his virtues and it shows omnipotence because God can create humans to be like him - he has the power and knowledge to do this.

Question 5

How does Mackie criticise Irenaeus’ first step? And what is the weakness of this criticism?

Answer 5

He argues that God is omnipotent and so should be able to make humans perfect from the start. However, if humans are created already with bravery, compassion etc. then they are not free to make decisions which go against those virtues.

Question 6

What was the second step of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 6

Genuine human perfection can only be created if humans are free. Irenaeus believed that God wanted humans to be able to be loving and the highest form of love is love that is freely chosen.

Question 7

How does the second step support God’s benevolence?

Answer 7

Because God wants humans to be free and freedom is a gift.

Question 8

How does Vardy support the second step?

Answer 8

By using the analogy of the King and peasant girl - in order for the peasant to freely choose to love him, he had to meet her disguised as a peasant man. If he had met her as the king, she would have been forced to love him and that would not be such a high form of love.

Question 9

How does Hick support the second step?

Answer 9

“A world which is to be a person-making environment cannot be a pain-free paradise but must contain challenges and dangers, with real possibilities of many kinds of accident and disaster; and the pain and suffering which they bring”

Question 10

How does Dostoevsky criticise the second step?

Answer 10

He would rather have no free will than the terrible innocent child suffering that occurs.

Question 11

How does Mackie criticise the second step?

Answer 11

Mackie also claims that if men are truly free, God is no longer omnipotent as he cannot control them.

Question 12

What was the third step of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 12

God created a world with imperfections on purpose. Natural evil was designed by God.

Question 13

How does Hick support the third step?

Answer 13

Without the presence of evil, qualities like courage, honour and love would not be possible and so people could not develop into God’s likeness.

Question 14

What was the fourth step of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 14

These imperfections in the world help humans to develop into God’s likeness by helping them to develop second order goods (virtues) e.g. a tsunami allows people to show compassion and bravery.

Question 15

How does the fourth step support God’s benevolence?

Answer 15

Because God wanted humans to develop virtues so the world must be created in a way that enables this.

Question 16

What example does Irenaeus give to support his fourth step?

Answer 16

Gives the example of Jonah and the Whale to support this idea that natural evil can develop virtues - Jonah was asked by God to go and tell the people of Nineveh to change their ways. He did not want to do it so he ran from God. He escaped on a ship but then there was a terrible storm. Jonah realised it was his fault and to the ship’s crew to throw him overboard. He was then swallowed by a while and spat out onto the shores of Nineveh.

Question 17

How does Hick support the fourth step?

Answer 17

Calls this world a “vale of soul making”. He says without the the presence of evil, qualities like courage, honour and love would not be possible and so people could not develop into god’s likeness.

Question 18

How would Mackie criticise the fourth step?

Answer 18

By arguing that people could develop virtues with less suffering than we have on earth e.g. you only need first order evil such as pain and misery for virtues, not second order evil e.g. cruelty - don’t need the extent of evil.

Question 19

How would Phillips criticise the fourth step?

Answer 19

Love can never be shown through making someone suffer.

Question 20

What was the fifth step of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 20

In making humans free, this allows for the possibility that some will abuse their freedom and cause suffering to others, disobeying God. God is justified in allowing evil to continue because it comes from abuse of free will. God cannot interfere, he must stand back or else he takes away free will.

Question 21

How does the fifth step support God’s benevolence?

Answer 21

Because God cannot take away free will

Question 22

How does Hick support Irenaeus’ fifth step?

Answer 22

With his view that God must keep an epistemic distance from humans so this means that humans cannot ever fully know and understand God or else they are not free. Genuine free will can only be truly achieved if God keeps at a distance. If God was too imminent then they may obey God because he was overlooking their every move. This explains why God has to allow suffering to continue and not intervene.

Question 23

Give an example to support the idea of what would happen if God was too imminent.

Answer 23

If the chief of the driving examiners was sat next to you whilst you were driving, then you would not drive as you usually do - you would not feel free.

Question 24

How does Mackie criticise the fifth step?

Answer 24

This restricts God’s omnipotence as God has to have evil to bring about goodness.

Question 25

What was the sixth step of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 25

During their lives people overcome evil and that helps them to develop.

Question 26

What was the seventh step of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 26

Some people use their free will to turn to God and these people will go to heaven. This justifies temporary innocent suffering. However, some people turn away from God and become hardened. These people will go to hell. The damned will be sent to hell as they refused the ‘workmanship’ of God.

Question 27

What does Irenaeus say about those who turn away from God? (Quote)

Answer 27

“Your ingratitude, ignoring his goodness in creating you human, will mean you have lost his work on you, you will lose your life” (Against Heresies 4:39-2)

Question 28

How does the seventh step support God’s attributes?

Answer 28

Benevolence - some people will go to heaven and justice is a part of benevolence so sending people to hell is also benevolent
Omnipotence - God can create hell

Question 29

What example does Irenaeus give to support his seventh step?

Answer 29

Uses the example of a potter being able to mould clay, it must remain flexible so that it can be moulded. Otherwise it hardens (like the people who abuse their free will and turn from God).

Question 30

How does Hick support Irenaeus’ seventh step and how does he criticise it?

Answer 30

Says that Heaven justifies the magnitude of suffering on earth. However, he argues that God’s benevolence can only be maintained if soul making continues for all after death and ultimately, everyone will be with God in heaven.