Problem with Evil and Suffering Flashcards
What does evil mean?
A deliberate action of humans that causes people to suffer e.g stealing
What is the problem with evil?
Christians all agree that god is omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient but there is still evil in the world. This gives Christians a problem which Epicurus called the problem of evil
What are the three problems of evil?
- God is able to prevent evil, but cannot -> God is not omnipotent
- God can stop evil and chooses not to -> God is not good
- God can stop evil in the world -> There would be no evil, but there is, so there is no God.
What is moral evil / suffering?
Evil that is caused by people
What is natural evil / suffering?
Evil that is caused by nature and is outside of human control.
What is the Christian belief about the origins of evil?
Christians believe that everything God create was perfect. Evil came into the world through Adam’s and Eve’s disobedience, sometimes called “the original sin”, of eating from the forbidden tree.
What is the Hindu belief about the origins of evil?
Evil is part of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Hindu scriptures tell stories of Gods fighting the forces of evil in the world. God is like the sun - all light and no dark - so God is not the source of evil.
The law of karma means that people can make up for evil actions in their previous life by living a good and dutiful life in the next.
Give three ways that Christians defend God against the problem of evil
- God gave us free will - People live their lives as they choose. Without free will we would all be ‘puppets of God’ without any control. When people make bad choices they cause evil not God
- Soul making - Irenaeus believed that god created evil and suffering in order for us to learn from it. He believed we were all born with an immature soul and by experiencing evil and suffering our souls can improve.
- St Augustine - He believe that God didn’t create evil as evil was not a ‘thing’ ; rather it is something that lacks goodness. Therefore God is not responsible for evil as he didn’t create it. HOWEVER this doesn’t explain why innocent people suffer.
Give 3 reasons why theist believe evil and suffering happens
Free will, impersonal force, human nature, psychological phenomenon, the devil
How does free will cause evil and suffering?
We choose to use our free will to make bad choices which results in evil.
How does an impersonal force cause evil and suffering?
It seems to take over people and make them act irrationally. Evil is like a magnet, people know they should avoid it but it draws them in and makes them do evil things.
How does human nature cause evil and suffering?
When people give into greed, prejudice or hatred.
How does a psychological phenomenon cause evil and suffering?
People are influenced by backgrounds, genes or peers.
How does the devil cause evil and suffering?
He is a personal being who is the source of all evil and tempts humans to follow him.
Give the 3 ways in which Christians respond to suffering?
- Empathise with Jesus’s suffering - Many Christians believe that suffering reminds us of the suffering Jesus endured and allows us to show empathy with him.
- Forgiveness - Christianity teaches we should forgive each other.
- Karma - A Hindu belief in which people should be punished for the evil they have committed. Either in this life or the next.
