The Problem Of Evil Flashcards
Natural evil
Evil which is naturally occurring in the world
Eg. Earthquakes, tsunamis
Moral evil
Evil caused by humans/ as a result of human action
Eg. Murder, theft
Inconsistent triad
God is ‘omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent’
Yet evil still exists
This is inconsistent
Influenced by Mackie, Hume, Epicurus
Theodicy
An argument that defends God in the fact of the existence of evil and suffering
It suggests that God is right to allow it because in some way it is necessary
Epistemic distance
God keeps a distance from humanity in order to not overwhelm it
This is Hick’s view of our relationship with God
Omniscience
All knowing
An attribute of the God of Classical Theism
Omnipotence
All powerful
An attribute of the God of Classical Theism
Omnibenevolent
All loving
An attribute of the God of Classical Theism
Transcendent
An idea that God is above space and time
Free will
The belief that God gave human beings the ability to be free and make their own choices in life
Libertarianism
The belief that humans have a degree of free will and so can be held morally responsible for their actions
Casual determinism
The view that every event is determined by preceding events and conditions of the laws of nature
Humans do not have free will
Compatibilism
The view that a person is free to act within the constraints of their own motives and desires
Determinism and free will are compatible
Panentheism
The view that ‘all is in God’
In Process Theology, God is the soul of the universe, so is not transcendent
Parapsychology
The investigation into paranormal and psychic phenomena
Millenarianism
The belief in an 1000 year reign of Christ on earth
It concludes with universal resurrection and judgement - the just go to heaven, the sinful go to hell
Where is the origin of evil in Christianity
The Garden of Eden in Genesis where Adam and Eve disobey God
This is original sin
How do Christians believe their sin is ‘made up for’
Paul says it is made up for by Jesus dying on the cross and rising again
The Logical Problem of Evil
The inconsistent triad - God cannot be omnibenevolent, omnipotent and omniscient AND evil exist
The Evidential Problem of evil
- The sheer extent of evil in the world + pointless evil
2. God’s omniscience - he knows about this evil
Epicurus quote on the inconsistent triad
‘Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence evil?’
Hume on the inconsistent triad
Either God is not omnipotent/omniscient
Or God is not omnibenevolent
Or evil does not exist
Since evil does exist, then God does not.
Mackie on the inconsistent triad
1 God is A) omniscient/omnipotent AND B) omnibenevolent
2 However, evil exists
3 this means that either A or B Must be logically inconsistent and therefore wrong
Quote from The Brothers Karamazov
‘I hasten to give back my entrance ticket. It’s not God that I don’t accept - only I most respectfully return Him the ticket’
‘But the children haven’t eaten anything and are so far innocent. They too suffer horribly on earth…. The innocent must not suffer for another’s sins, and especially such innocents!’