Response to E&S-Process theodicy

Question 1

What dos david griffin reject about the universe

Answer 1

David Griffin rejects crration as ex nihilo,God did not create the universe from scratch,he made existing chaotic matter into an ordered universe.God is not omnipotent.The universe already existed so god does not have control over it.

Question 2

How does god and the universe co-exist

Answer 2

Both god and the universe have necessary,pantheistic existence the universe is ‘in’ god.just as the human mind can not dictate the body,god can not control the universe-solves problem of evil

Question 3

What does A.N Whitehead suggest that God is affected by

Answer 3

God is affected by ‘‘temporal processes’‘.He can change over time-goes against classically theist belief of god as unchanging.

Question 4

What does god have the power over in humanity

Answer 4

God has the power to influence humanity but can’t control people’s behaviour.He can only persuade them to do good.

Question 5

How does God suffer with us

Answer 5

God is intimately involved in the world,A.N whitehead-‘‘god is the fellow sufferer who understands’‘.Griffin argues that god has suffered more than anyone else because he has experienced all the moral and natural evil that human kind has ever commited and witnessed.

Question 6

Why does evil exist

Answer 6

Moral evil exists because humans choose to do evil as we were created imperfectly,natural evil exists as the world has the potential to go wrong.

Question 7

What are strengths of process theodicy

Answer 7

1-Rejection of God’s omnipotence means there is no conflict between existence of an all-loving god and the reality of evil.
2-Concept of god as a ‘‘fellow sufferer’’ -The universe being ‘in’ God means that those who suffer have assurance that god understands what they are going through.
3-fits in with current scientific knowledge and biblical criticism.

Question 8

What are weaknesses of process theodicy

Answer 8

1-For many theists,such a God is unworthy of worship,It does not address the challenge relating to the amount and pointlessness of evil and suffering.
2God as a ‘‘fellow sufferer’ does not apply to animals,whose suffering is equally as great as humans
3-Some theists claim that we can not be sure of the correct translation and interpretation of Genisis.