Problem of Evil

Question 1

St Augustine theodicy

Answer 1

1=evil is the ‘privation of good’
2=evil is not a thing of itself and could not have been created by a perfectly good god
3=the existence of evil comes from free will
4=perfection was ruined by sin
5=difference of evil- natural and moral
6=god is just a fair god so cant prevent suffering

Question 2

who first formed the Problem of Evil

Answer 2

Epicurus

Question 3

problem of evil arises due to the fact that

Answer 3

god is all powerful so should eliminate all evil,
god is omnipotent
god is all good and all knowing
but evil still exists so one of these premises must be wrong

Question 4

what does Ivan Dostoyersky say

Answer 4

’ i hasten to return my ticket of admission’..’ it is not god that i do not accept but merely most respectfully return him the ticket’ - he can’t accept a world with so much suffering

Question 5

some argue that God did know about Evil how ?

Answer 5

thought heaven and hell - hell was to punish

Question 6

what does augustine say about people who do not sin

Answer 6

since there is happiness for thosse who do not sin the world is perfect

Question 7

what is the Aesthetic argument

Answer 7

the earth is a canvas - overall the canvas is good but up close it reveals problems (evils)

Question 8

John Hick argues that

Answer 8

we need to live in a world where there are challenges to allow the development of a person

Question 9

difference between theology and theodicy

Answer 9

theology - study of the nature of gods existence

theodicy - an attempt to explain the existence of evil

Question 10

Irenaean Theodicy

Answer 10

1= world of mankind created with free will but not perfect 
2= mankind created in image of god but not in the likeness of God 
3= life is a testing ground - man can grow into the likeliness as god or sin 
4= humans must have free will so that he can chose right and wrong

Question 11

process theology

Answer 11

developed by A.N Whitehead - unlike both Augustine and Iran - god is omnipotent
1= god creates order out od pre existing chaos therefore not a creator
2= god is a part of the unfolding process of creation
3= god tries to coax humanity into choosing good however he doenst possess total control
4= god suffers when the world suffers - during holocast J was suffering on the cross with the jews

Question 12

Plantinga believes that

Answer 12

this is the best possible world because if allows salvation through J the greatest story that could be told