John Hicks soul making

Question 1

what is the kep idea of Hicks soul making theodicy

Answer 1

the key idea is that human freedom and development requires evil

Question 2

what is the epistemics distance

Answer 2

the epistemic distance is the nessesary gap in knowledge between humans and God

Question 3

why is the epistemic distance nessesary

Answer 3

The epistemic distance is nessesary because without it Gods presence would lead to our moral decisions being influenced - whith the existance of an epistemic disatance we are able to make genuine choices

Question 4

how does Hick link evil and development

Answer 4

Hick believed that in order for us to grow and develop we must face some sort of moral or natural evil

Question 5

what did Hick believe in instead of hell

Answer 5

Hick believed in universal salvation and the idea that we become closler and closer to God over lifetimes

Question 6

list two strengths of Hicks soul making theodicy

Answer 6

• One main strength of Hicks soul making theodicy is the concept of the ‘epistemic distance’ as this can be used to justify any evil - we can never know due to the epistemic distance

-Hick can justify bascially any evil as it is nessesary for soul making

Question 7

give one weakness of Hicks souls making theodicy

Answer 7

Hick does not provide a good explanation for animal suffering as animals cannot under go character development