Problem of Evil Flashcards
1
Q
What are the key ideas of the Problem of Evil & Suffering?
A
- Does the occurrence of evil & suffering show that there is no such thing as a loving God?
- Problem of evil, according to Hume, is the “rock of atheism”
- Swinburne claimed that evil & suffering were a challenge to religious faith
- The problem of evil challenges the concept of the all-loving, all-powerful God. Inconsistent Triad.
2
Q
What are some solutions to the Problem of Evil?
A
- St Augustine believed that humans carry the sin of Adam & must bear the consequences of his wrongdoing.
- An illusion. God is completely good, only goodness is real. Evil & suffering are simply the failure to understanding the loving nature of God.
- Perspective. If a volcano erupts it is the beauty of nature but if anyone is harmed by it it is a natural disaster.
-Test of faith. eg Job - God’s plan. He allows evil to exist as part of his greater plan of love.
3
Q
Augustinian Theodicy?
A
- god is good + created a world that is wholly good
- evil is the going-wrong of something that is good
- evil came from the decisions made by humans, not god
- adam and eve
4
Q
criticisms of augustinian theodicy?
A
- if god created perfect world, wouldnt go wrong
- if humans able to choose evil, should have existed in the first place
- suffering vital for survival in nature
- unjust for allowing punishment for adams sin
- existance of hell
5
Q
iranean theodicy
A
- god created imperfect delibaretly so humans could develop
- chance to develop to perfection
- for free will god must permit evil
6
Q
hicks additons to iraneus
A
- epistemic distance (god keeps distance in order not to overwhelm)
- develop positive qualities eg love courage
- counter-factual hypothesis (interfere, wont develop)
- soul-making
7
Q
crticisms iraneus
A
- suffering doesnt always result in positive
- extremes eg holocaust
- dz ohillips love can never be expressed by alowing suffering
8
Q
swinburnes free will defence
A
- world necesaryy place for humans to develop
- provides freedom of choice
- without such people would not be free
- world has natural laws that causes suffering
9
Q
monism + criticsm
A
- evil an illusion
BUT - evil is real
- why would god allow
- if illusion why bother be good
- how we know we being evil if an illusion
10
Q
A
