Strengths and weakesses of John Hick's theodicy Flashcards
Strength - support from Ireneaus
Iraneaus also argued that without evil, good with have no meaning, without the contrast between good and evil, humans would be robots, rather than morally free beings.
Strength - Gil Edwards
He argues that it is only through suffering that qualities such as courage, trust and tolerance have an opportunity to come out to the fore. This supports Hick’s argument that evil is essential for ‘soul-making’
Strength - accepting Hick’s theodicy
If we accept that human perfection must be developed rather than ready-made, then other aspects of Hick’s argument must be accepted. For if we are to be able to develop: 1) We had to be created imperfect, 2) we had to be distanced from God and 3) the natural world could not be a paradise.
Strength - God of classical theism
The theory provides a rational explanation for why the God of classical theism who is omnipotent, omni-benevolent and omniscient permits both natural and moral evil
Strength - advantage over Augustine’s argument
It is in line with the scientific theory of evolution as humans are developing from one stage into another and there is no insistence on a former period of perfection.
Weakness - everyone going to heaven
The concept that everyone will go to heaven seems unjust. This calls God’s justice into question, it contradicts religious texts which promises punishment for the unrighteous, and it makes moral behavior seem pointless as it doesn’t matter how you live as you will go to heaven regardless.
Weakness - the extent of evil
Although Hick’s theodicy gives an explanation for evil, it fails to justify the extent and severity of evil/suffering in the world.
Weakness - the counter factual hypothesis
Even if we accept the counter factual hypothesis demonstrates that soul-making could not take place in a paradise, does it really need to be plagued with such evil? to the extent that suffering is pointless and thus, unjustifiable.
Weakness - God favoring some people
If suffering is used for the benefit and development of people, then it would suggest that God thinks more highly of some people than others. Could be argued then God is racist - slavery…
God favoring people - response
It is not God who chose to do all this, God has given us all free will and so God cannot interfere. Hick argues that there would be no point in creating finite beings unless they have genuine freedom.
Weakness - Inconsistent distribution of suffering
Hick fails to explain why some people suffer enormously and others very little. If suffering is essential to human development, surely it would be unfair that some of us miss out on the benefits? This further suggests that people can develop in another way and so suffering is unnecessary.
Weakness - animal suffering
Hick fails to account for animal suffering. How is it justifiable for animals to suffer but for only humans to get the benefits?
Hick response to animal suffering
Such events result from the workings of natural law provided for the purposes of soul-making.
Support for Hick’s theodicy
Scholars who support Hick’s theodicy would respond by pointing out that these critics have missed the point of the soul-making theodicy. God’s purpose for humanity is soul-making so that everyone can get the rewards of becoming ‘children of God’.
