problem of evil

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

inconsistent triad
natural evil
moral evil

Question 2

logical problem of evil

Answer 2

Mackie
- incoherence of evil and benevolent god

however. ..
- plantinga, free will defence. need to be free for our actions to be significant. only moral if free.
- james martin. need suffering to grow. if god were to constantly intervene, mans life would be a nightmare.
- Martin. freedom involves risk of error e.g. riding bike. god allows it because he loves us

Question 3

evidential problem of evil

Answer 3

William rowe
too much suffering in world which omnipotent god could have prevented
meaningless suffering e.g. fawn dying in forest fire

Question 4

augustinian theodicy

Answer 4

-before the fall
gen 1:26 (union with god). potential state of Adam vs. actual state
body in line with will. Adam and eve had harmonious relationship

fall gen 3

• massa damnata
• chose sin freely
• epistemic distance
• driven by lust. concupiscence, romans 7

privatio boni

• e.g. cold is absence of warmth
• evil is an absence of good
• unable to see the bigger picture

+ Rabbi Daniel Polish who claims, ‘I do not believe in a God whose will or motives are crystal clear to me’

Question 5

hick theodicy

Answer 5

world is not perfect, but contains potential.
must freely choose to come closer to god. if world was perfect, humans could not grow (counter factual hypothesis)

need to flourish. vale of soul making. choices must be genuine. some values only developed through suffering, if these were imposed on humans without cost, they would be meaningless

indiscriminate suffering. essential to provide opportunities for moral growth in others. humans will flourish and come to god.

+simone weil, experiences god most in suffering
+ teresa of Avila
+ consequentialist view
- too much suffering
+ james martin. need suffering to grow. if god were to constantly intervene, mans life would be a nightmare.
- Philips, cannot in anyway justify evil because it may lead to development