PoR - Evil and Suffering - A

Question 1

Peter Vardy’s examples of natural evil

Answer 1

The pain of childbirth, natural disasters, the poor design of the body

Question 2

Two types of evil

Answer 2

Natural Evil and Moral Evil

Question 3

John Hick’s examples of natural evil

Answer 3

‘Natural evil is the evil that originates independently of human actions, in disease, in bacilli, in earthquakes, storms, droughts, tornadoes, etc.’

Question 4

Brian Hebblethwaite on the problem of moral evil

Answer 4

Even though moral evil can be blamed on mankind’s failings, we still need an explanation of why we are made in such a way that we feel pain and grief.

Question 5

What is the problem of evil? (Epicurus)

Answer 5

The existence of evil is incompatible with the existence of the God of classical theism. As a result, it is logically inconsistent to accept that both exist together.

Question 6

Omnipotence paradox (J. L. Mackie)

Answer 6

Theodicies do not solve the problem of evil as they limit the omnipotence of God.

Question 7

Gregory S. Paul (Summary)

Answer 7

Gregory Paul argues that the death of so many innocent children challenges the existence of God. He estimates that over 50 billion children have died naturally and some 300 billion human beings have died naturally but prenatally. He argues:

millions of innocent children suffer and die every year, from both natural and evil causes.
these children are too young to be able to make choices about God – they have no freewill.
no all-loving, all-powerful being would permit such suffering.
Therefore God does not exist.

Question 8

William Rowe (Summary)

Answer 8

William Rowe in his work: ‘The problem of evil and some varieties of atheism’ (1979) argued that, whilst it seemed reasonable for God to allow some limited suffering to enable humans to grow and develop, he could not accept God allowing what he called ’intense’ suffering’ Animal suffering also seemed pointless. Rowe used the example of a fawn caught in a forest fire as an example of pointless animal suffering. He argues:

1) an omnipotent and omniscient being would know when intense suffering was about to take place.
such a being could prevent the suffering from happening.
2) an all-loving being would probably prevent all evil and suffering that had no purpose and was pointless and avoidable.
3) such evil and suffering does happen.
4) therefore, probably God does not exist.