Lesson 9 - Problem of Evil and Suffering

Question 1

What are the differences between a defense and theodicy?

Answer 1

1. ) Defense - a negative argument that the existence of God is not incompatible with evil
2. ) Theodicy - a positive argument that seeks to give explanation of why God allows evil.

Question 2

What are the various ways the Bible presents theodicies? Include specific Biblical references.

Answer 2

1. ) Gen. 1-3 (God created everything good; evil didn’t always exist; doctrine of the fall)
2. ) Job 1-2, 42 (1While some evil is the consequence of sin, not all suffering and evil is; vindiciation of Job and his righteousness, trusting in God through suffering)
3. ) Psalm 119: 67, 71 (evil, suffering, pain helps discipline and disciple Christians)
4. ) Luke 13:1-5 (These evil actions serve as a warner of God’s judgment that is coming to sinners who don’t repent.)
5. ) Romans 5:3-5 (suffering helps us grow in our faith)
6. ) Romans 8:18-23 (suffering that happens now will be outweighed by the glory that is to come)
7. ) Romans 8:28-30 (God works all things according to good)
8. ) Revelation 21:1-8 (New Heaven and New Earth; where all this is going)

Question 3

What is the deductive argument from evil?

Answer 3

1. ) Deductive Argument – it is not logically possible for God and evil to exist together
   - - Argument stated
   a. ) If there were an all-good and all-powerful God, then he would not allow evil to exist.
   b. ) Evil exists.
   c. ) Therefore, there is no all-good and all-powerful God.

Biggest Problem – morally sufficient reasons (gets into the next argument)

Question 4

What is the Probabilistic Argument from Evil?

Answer 4

Argument Stated

1. ) There are no particular instances of evil and suffering that appear to be gratituous (no justification, not a morally sufficient reason)
2. ) If there are instances of gratuitous evil and suffering, then there is no all-good and all-powerful God.
3. ) Therefore, most probably there is no all-good and all-powerful God.

Question 5

What are the alternative worldviews to Christianity when it comes to the problem of evil and suffering? What are the weaknesses of these worldviews?

Answer 5

1. ) Darwinian Naturalist view - There is no objective moral good or evil because there are no objective morals.
   - - Basic solution: strive to avoid, and ultimately eliminate pain
   - - Limitations
   a. ) No hope to solve the problem
   b. ) No objective standard to make pleasure good and pain bad
   c. ) No distinction between human beings and animals
   d. ) Worldview cannot explain altruism
2. ) The Pantheist View – All is God; There is no objective moral good or evil since all is one, Our experience of evil is just an illusion
   - - Basic solution: gain enlightenment by recognizing that evil and suffering are mere illusions.
   - - Limitations
   a. ) Says enlightenment is a good thing, but there’s no distinction between good and evil, so shouldn’t be a distinction between enlightenment and non-enlightenment.
   b. ) Pain is an illusion – is coherent.
3. ) Process Theist View
4. God is all good, but not all powerful.
5. God cannot control evil, but can strive against it.
6. Work with god to overcome evil.