Problem Of Evil Flashcards
What is the logical problem of evil?
inconsistency in beliefs about God because a God that is all powerful would be able to prevent evil and suffering
What is inconsistent triad?
is a version of logical problem of evil has 3 elements
omnipotence,omnibenevolence and evil exists
What is the evidential problem of evil?
sheer amount and extent of evil and suffering in the world that can be observed
-In natural world the need to survive causes huge amounts of suffering for animals,innocent children experience pain, and there is indiscriminate evil
W.Rowe support Evidential problem of Evil
He ask why an omnipotent,omniscient and wholly good being would allow ‘seemingly human and animal suffering’ using example baby deer (fawn) dying i forest fire
What is Augustine theodicy?
- In Genesis 1 God creatio ex nihilo (Created the world from nothing) this would mean there was no evil because God creation is all good and perfect
- When human were created (Adam and Eve) they were given free will but they were tempted by lucifer to eat the forbidden fruit
- Eve pride to eat the fruit because she believes she will be all knowing like God this is how Privato Boni (Absence of Good) came from which led to natural evil which means human had the fall from God which means they left paradise instead Adam and Eve suffered because of their misue of evil
- Humans had to suffer for their action e.g. male had to suffer hard work and women had to suffer the pain of childbirth also human had lost their immortality and became mortal
- Jesus was the one who had to sacrafice himself to ask for Gods forgivness and get rid of sin
What is the strength of Augustine Theodicy?
- An explaination where God (really) doesn’t want evil in world-and is not to blame for evil
- Augustine’s view is based on stories from Bible
- He explains why jesus had to sacrifice himself
- The idea that evil comes about when people use their free will fit in with what we can see in the world around us
- We are not as good as God. It makes sense that evil come from us not God
What is the weaknesses of Augustine Theodicy?
- Privatio Boni:Evil seems worse than just an absence of good (abuse)
- Angels (and human): if God made them perfect wouldn’t they use there free will perfectly?
- Bible: it doesn’t say anything about original sin and seminal presence in the Bible
- Omnisicience:if God knows everything then he knew Adam and Eve would do wrong.Couldn’t he have made a world where that didn’t happen? it seem unfair for him to punish them when he has designed a situation where they couldn’t help but do it
- The idea of seminal presence seem really unjust ‘‘the son shall not suffer for the inquity of the father… The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself’’
Irenaues explains the purpose of evil?
God allow evil and suffering in the universe For Irenaeus the world is deliberatly created with a mixture of goodness and evil:
1) Evil is necesssary to know what is good
2) Suffering leads to growth
3) Better to not be puppets/robots
4) Part of being good is an effect of will
5)Suffering is part of God’s plan
6) Analogy of a mother feeding a new born child
What is Irenaues explanation of Evil is necesssary to know what is good?
There has to be evil in order to appreciate good-e.g. can we appreciate the warmth of the sun unless we know what it means to cold
Irenaeus-‘‘How if we had no knowledge of the contrary could we have have instruction in that which is good’’
What is Irenaues explanation of suffering leads to growth?
Analogy the world ‘gym for soul we grow as individuals through tackling problems making mistakes and being patient because all the problems are trials (Vale of soul making)
What is Irenaues explanation of Better to not be puppets/robots?
When God created humans ‘In his image and likeness’ this included free will
* Human must have the freedom to make choices bad or good If God had not given human freedom they would have been puppets or robots to do what God wish
What is Irenaues explanation Part of being good is an effect of will?
If God stepped in every time a person made a mistake to prevent evil this will remove our free choice and humans would not learn from their mistake
What is Irenaues explanation Suffering is part of God’s Plan?
For Irenaeuse evil and suffering is a necessary parts of God’s plan for humanity e.g. Jonah who suffered by being swallowed by Whale it was ultimately all for the good
What is Irenaues explanation Analogy of a mother feeding a new born child?
Irenaeus argued that when people were created they were in a state of immortality,all humans need to learn and grow into the likeness of God ‘‘In his own image’‘-In the likeness of God
Soul making justifies the amount of evil in the world?
-Hick argues that God is justified in allowing the amount of evil to avoid limiting free will. Empistemic distanceallow human to have complete freedom
-world is vale of soul making so it allows to develop character e.g 2004 tsunami I’m south East Asian allowed for courage and compassion in response to suffering
-Swineburne argues that if God limited suffering then it would be a ‘toy world where things matter but not very much’.God would be like an overprotective parent not allowing his child out of his sight for a moment
