RPS end of topic key vocab (The problem with evil and suffering)

Question 1

Gd

Answer 1

The supreme Being

Question 2

Omni(benevolence)/ OmniBenevolent

Answer 2

All-knowing,All-good;a quality of (a theistic) Gd NB usually means both kindness/mercy AND justice.

Question 3

Omnipotence/ Omnipotent

Answer 3

Almighty,having unlimited power; a quality of (a theistic) Gd

Question 4

Omniscience

Answer 4

Knowing everything; a quality of ( a theistic) Gd

Question 5

Omnipresent

Answer 5

All-present/ all-sustaining; a quality of ( a theistic) Gd

Question 6

Theist

Answer 6

A person who believes in Gd ( especially an omnipotent and omnibenevolent creator Gd)

Question 7

Atheist

Answer 7

A person who believes there is no Gd

Question 8

Agnostic

Answer 8

A person who neither believes nor disbelieves in Gd e.g because there is not enough evidence either way.

Question 9

Evil

Answer 9

The opposite of good, a force or the personification of a negative power that is seen in many traditions as destructive and against Gd

Question 10

Suffering

Answer 10

When people have to face and live with unpleasant events or conditions

Question 11

Natural suffering or evil

Answer 11

Suffering or evil NOT caused by human free will but BY physical world and its natural laws.

Question 12

Moral suffering or evil

Answer 12

Suffering or evil caused by human free will- deliberate actions or inaction.

Question 13

Problems with Evil/Suffering

Answer 13

Problems for THEISTS:
P1. Gd is all powerful (omnipotent) and therefore CAN prevent/ remove any evil/suffering.

P2.Gd is ALSO all loving (omnibenevolent)and therefore WOULD WANT TO prevent/remove any evil/suffering.

P3.Evil/suffering exists therefore Gd is not all powerful (omnipotent) and all loving (onmibenevolent); no such Gd exists

Question 14

Inconsistent Triad

Answer 14

Epicurus’ term for the logical incompatibility of these three claims:

Gd is omnipotent
Gd is omnibenevolent
Evil/suffering exists

Question 15

Theodicy (plural:theodicies)

Answer 15

A theistic response of the problem of evil/suffering; a way of making the inconsistent triad consistent

Question 16

Freewill

Answer 16

Belief that Gd gives people the opportunity to make decisions for themselves

Question 17

Afterlife

Answer 17

Belief in the existence of life in some form after the death of the physical body

Question 18

Heaven

Answer 18

A state of eternal happiness in the presence of Gd; the place of eternal peace ruled over by Gd

Question 19

Hell

Answer 19

The place of eternal suffering or the state of being without Gd

Question 20

Satan

Answer 20

Named for the devil- the power and source of evil

Question 21

Original Sin

Answer 21

Adam and Eve’s disobedience that brought evil and suffering into Gd’s perfect world

Question 22

Samara (in Buddhism)

Answer 22

Cycle of life, death and rebirth ( NOT reincarnation)

Question 23

Karma (in Buddhism)

Answer 23

A Persons actions;
the idea that good (skilful) actions result in happiness and bad (unskilled) ones in suffering immediately and in this life ( not just in future rebirths)

Question 24

Four Nobel Truths

Answer 24

The four noble truths that the Buddha taught about suffering:

We suffer;
We suffer due to our cravings(tanha);
We can overcome this suffering
By following the 8 fold path

Question 25

Eight fold path

Answer 25

Eight aspects that Buddhists practise and live by in order to achieve enlightenment

Question 26

Three Poisons

Answer 26

Greed,hatred and ignorance; the main causes of suffering

Question 27

Nirvana

Answer 27

Extinguishing the poisons-peace-no longer trapped in the cycle of Samara