Problem of Evil

Question 1

Inconsistent triad

Answer 1

the omnibenevolence and omnipotence of God, and the
existence of evil in the world, are said to be mutually incompatible

Question 2

Theodicy

Answer 2

an attempt to justify God in the face of evil in the world

Question 3

Natural evil

Answer 3

evil and suffering caused by non-human agencies

Question 4

Moral evil

Answer 4

the evil done and the suffering caused by deliberate misuse of human free will

Question 5

Privatio boni

Answer 5

a phrase used by Augustine to mean an absence of goodness

Question 6

Free will

Answer 6

the ability to make independent choices between real options

Question 7

Epistemic distance

Answer 7

a distance in knowledge and understanding

Question 8

Logical problem of evil

Answer 8

• The inconsistent triad is an argument against the concept of an all-powerful and all-loving God while evil persists. It states that these three beliefs cannot exist at the same time. The logical form of the argument states that an all-powerful God would be able to stop evil and suffering and an all-loving God would want to stop evil and suffering. The argument concludes that God cannot have these qualities given the fact that evil and suffering do exist.

Question 9

Answers to the logical problem of evil

Answer 9

Some scholars may choose to solve the logical problem of evil by stating that evil serves a good purpose despite the fact it appears to be bad. In addition, some may suggest that God is not totally powerful or not totally loving.

Question 10

Evidential problem of evil

Answer 10

This argument states that there is too much evil and suffering in the world for an all-powerful and all-loving God to exist.
The extent of evil and suffering throughout human history cannot be explained by the existence of God. Supporters of this argument state that the extent of evil and suffering in the world does not suggest a loving God.

John Stuart Mill suggests that evil and suffering in the world suggests a cruel, malevolent creator.

Hume would be inclined to agree with Mill.

Question 11

Augustinian Theodicy

Answer 11

• Augustine defined evil as a ‘privatio boni’ or absence of good. Augustine believed that evil was not a substance or force.
• Augustine believed that God created a perfect world which was full of variety and goodness. This variety meant that some things will have more capabilities than others.
• As angels were created with variety, some received less grace from God and were less able to worship God. This meant that some angels fell into sin as a result of misusing their free will.

Adam, Eve and Original Sin
Adam and Eve chose to disobey God by misusing their free will. They were tempted to disobey God by a fallen angel.
This act of disobedience corrupted the natural world and the human soul. As a result, natural and moral evil entered the world.

Question 12

Irenaean Theodicy

Answer 12

• Irenaeus was a very early Christian. He argued that God allows evil and suffering to exist. Irenaeus argued that humans were made in God’s image but that humans have to grow into the likeness of God.
• Irenaeus said that free will is an important part of being made in the image of God. Humans have the option to choose to commit evil and suffering. By choosing to be good, humans can develop into a freely chosen, mature relationship with God.
• Irenaeus argued that evil had to exist in the world in order for us to appreciate goodness. In the afterlife, humans can continue to grow into the likeness of God.

Question 13

Hick on Irenaeus

Answer 13

• Hick argues that evil and suffering is part of God’s plan to help us to grow into a loving, free relationship with God.
• God keeps himself at an epistemic distance from human beings to ensure that we make free choices and are not forced to do good deeds.

Question 14

Hick and morality

Answer 14

• Hick argues that the world exists to shape our moral character. He argues that the world has a ‘vale of soul-making’.
• By making good moral decisions and learning from suffering, humans can turn to God freely.
• In the afterlife, our spiritual journey towards God continues and we are able to achieve salvation.

Question 15

Critique of Augustinian Theodicy

Answer 15

• Augustine’s understanding of evil as privation is inadequate.
  Examples of evil, such as the suffering of innocent children, genocide or natural disasters, cannot be understood as merely a lack of goodness.
• Augustine recognises the role of humanity and misuse of free will as the cause for a lot of evil and suffering which we see in the world today.
• Augustine relies on a literal interpretation of the Genesis text. This doesn’t appeal to twenty-first-century beliefs about the origin of human beings.
• Augustine’s theodicy raises issues with God’s omniscience.
  If God knows everything, why did God not anticipate the misuse of free will?
• Augustine’s theodicy undermines God’s omnipotence.
  For example, if God was all-powerful, he would be able to remove the damage caused by evil and suffering.

Question 16

Strengths of Augustinian Theodicy

Answer 16

• Augustine’s theodicy is successful in preserving God’s omnibenevolence. God does not want evil in the world and it was not part of his original creation.
• Augustine’s use of biblical text to support his understanding of the origin of evil appeals to a Christian audience.

Question 17

Weaknesses of Irenaean Theodicy

Answer 17

• Iranaeus’ theodicy fails to recognise the fact that some people suffer a lot more. Examples of evil - such as innocent people killed in terrorist attacks or childhood cancer - do not always allow for a ‘vale of soul-making’.
• Suffering can make people worse, rather than better or stronger. Suffering does not always lead to spiritual maturity. Suffering can lead to a lack of faith, bitterness and resentment.

**D.Z Phillips **argues that it is wrong to suggest that God planned evil as part of his initial creation. For Phillips, this suggests an evil God who was willing to let humans suffer so that free will is preserved.

Question 18

Strengths of Irenaean Theodicy

Answer 18

• Irenaeus’ theodicy is appealing because it provides comfort and purpose to those who are suffering. It allows us to recognise that evil and suffering allow us to develop as human beings.
• The idea of ‘soul-making’ appeals to our past experience that suffering enables us to grow as human beings.
• Irenaeus’ theodicy recognises free will as the means for which we can develop morally and spiritually.

Question 19

Omnipotence and religious language

Answer 19

• The belief that an omnipotent God would be able to remove evil and suffering relies on the assumption that an all-powerful God can do everything.
• Swinburne argues that omnipotence is misunderstood. God can only do what is logically possible. It is a logical contradiction for God to allow human freedom while also not allowing for evil and suffering to occur.

Question 20

Evil is necessary

Answer 20

The belief that an omnibenevolent God would seek to remove evil and suffering relies on the assumption that it is always better to have no evil than to have evil in the world. Scholars such as Hick and Swinburne argue that evil is necessary for us to develop and into a free relationship with God.