problem of evil

Question 1

omnipotence?

Answer 1

all powerfull

Question 2

omniscient?

Answer 2

all knowing

Question 3

omnibenevolent

Answer 3

all loving

Question 4

what is the inconsistent triad?

Answer 4

the omnipotence and omnibenevolence of god, and existence of evil said to be mutually incompatible

Question 5

what is a theodicy?

Answer 5

attempt to justify god in the face of evil in world

Question 6

what is natural evil?

Answer 6

evil/suffering caused by non human intervention

Question 7

what is moral evil?

Answer 7

evil/ suffering caused by deliberate misuse of human free will

Question 8

what is privatio boni?

Answer 8

phrase used by Augustine absence of goodness

Question 9

what is free will?

Answer 9

make independent choices

Question 10

what is epistemic distance?

Answer 10

distance in knowledge/ understanding

Question 11

what is the problem of evil?

Answer 11

if god can prevent evil because of his power and omnibenevolence/omniscience why is there suffering in world

Question 12

how is the problem of evil a problem of logic and evidence?

Answer 12

• logically a god of finite power do nothing to prevent evil then a god described by such religions does not exist.
• evidently- it is debatable whether the world contains sufficient evidence of the power and love of god to make belief tenable, given evidence of evil and suffering

Question 13

what did Irenaeus argue?

Answer 13

god wants to learn/grow spiritually= challenges and hardships to face out of love so that we could become people who freely choose to have relationship with him

Question 14

what did augustine argue?

Answer 14

evil came into world, god created perfect, angles made wrong choice, rebelled against god, fell from heaven. corrupt humanity Adam/eve sin corrupted world and threw into sin

Question 15

what did john hick argue??

Answer 15

Irenaeus’ ‘soul making theodicy’ challenges we face in this world help each free relationship with god.

Question 16

David Hume quote - dialogs naturaal R

Answer 16

“is he willing to prevent evil but not able? then is he impotent? is he able, but not willing? malevolent. is he both able and willing? whence then is evil.

Question 17

problem of evil as an evidential problem, what type of argument is it?

Answer 17

posterior (evidence)

Question 18

what does john s. mill say?

Answer 18

natural world= evil. argues against the goodness of god, evidence does not point to a good creator if a creator at all

Question 19

who is mill arguing against and why?

Answer 19

w. Paley- we only need to look at world to see created by a loving god- mill says no evidence

Question 20

what would mill say IF there was a god?

Answer 20

not all omnipotent- we cannot look at him as a guide for our own moral behaviour

Question 21

Augustine’s theodicy rests upon two assumptions what were they?

Answer 21

• evil did not come from god , gods creation perfect

- evil came from else where and god was justified in allowing it to stay

Question 22

give 2 strengths of Augustine’s theodicy?

Answer 22

• ‘deprivation of goodness (privatio boni) BRIAN DAVIES “gap between what there s and what there ought to be”
• evil not part of OG plan, god not responsible for mans evil choices

Question 23

give 2 weaknesses of Augustine’s theodicy?

Answer 23

• evil not lack of something- causes immense pain that cannot be ignored
• raises issues about his love and power would he have seen humans use their free will wrong and posses evil.

Question 24

for Irenaeus the world is a place of what?

Answer 24

soul making, goodness made from moral choices is better than ready made goodness

Question 25

give two strengths of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 25

• allows human responsibility of evil and suffering, we create evil through free will
• scripture to show gods purpose

Question 26

give two weaknesses of Irenaeus theodicy?

Answer 26

• some people suffer a lot more than others is he singling them out?
• why cannot god create a soul making world without evil?

Question 27

how did Irenaeus use the creation story?

Answer 27

serpent tempted. He argued that if God did not save humanity then the serpent would have triumphed over God

Question 28

give 2 strengths of Hicks theodicy?

Answer 28

• It is supported by traditional Christian teachings regarding the reward of heaven for those who do good.
• God needed to allow humans to develop themselves rather than creating them perfect

Question 29

give 2 weaknesses of Hick?

Answer 29

• Some people may become worse because of their suffering, not better.
• Some people suffer more than others. Does this mean that God only wants some to grow to spiritual maturity but not others?

Question 30

what are irenaeus’ 2 options?

Answer 30

1) a paradise with no pain or sin
2) the real earth with its pain and suffering, love and happiness, joy
heaven will render worthwhile all the pain and struggles of the long journey of human life