The problem of evil Flashcards
Why is the problem of evil and suffering often described as a logical problem?
-These traditional attributes of God seem to be incompatible with the continued existence of evil and suffering. Omniscient God would know about evil and suffering in the world and know how to create a world without this, omnibenevolent God would care enough to want to avoid evil and an omnipotent God would be able to prevent evil and suffering.
Possible solutions to the problem of evil
-It is possible to avoid these contradictions between the attributes of God by concluding that this type of God would not be worth worshiping, cannot exist, or our understanding of what God is like needs to change.
Evaluate whether the problem of evil challenges belief
(-)Good cannot exist without evil
(+)Secular society- less people believe in God and the presence of evil and suffering further challenges beliefs in God.
(-)There may be good reasons for allowing evil to continue, e.g. there may be a good outcome from the results of evil. Pain and disease are necessary for the development of sympathy, courage and cures. Hick argues that the end justifies the means in that true courage and empathy can be developed only in the experience of suffering.
(+)Do we need to experience this amount of evil ad suffering to ‘teach us a lesson’
(+)The imbalance of natural and evil suffering between people, and innocent people.
What is meant by theodicy?
A defence or justification of God in the face of evil and suffering
what is meant by ‘privation’?
Evil is not a substance itself but it is a privation, or a lack of goodness
What is Augustines theodicy?
Starts with Genesis 1, before the fall, where humans were perfectly good. He claims that God cannot be blamed for evil because God cannot create a privation or a lack of something.
What reasons does Augustine provide for the existence of moral evil?
-The fall of humans: Adam and Eve disobeyed God
-The first sin corrupted human nature, so that bad choices, wrong actions and death are now part of being human. Seminally present, so evil continues
-Because of original sin and immoral choices, everyone deserves to be punished. God is justified because he is not to blame for the poor choices of humans
What reasons doe Augustine provide for the existence of natural evil?
-The fall of the angels, caused disharmony and imbalance in nature. The imbalance led to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis
-God is just in allowing it to continue as it acts as a punishment for original sin.
Limitations of Augustine’s theodicy
(-)If God created a perfect world, then where did evil come from?Why would anyone rebel in a perfect world?If they chose evil, it suggests they must have had knowledge of it, so God may be partially responsible
(-)Modern science contradicts the theory that Adam is seminally present in all of us
(-)His explanation for natural evil, caused by the fall of angels, is not compatible to modern thinking, especially in an increasingly secular society.
Hicks theodicy
-Value of soul making > nautural and moral evil have a purpose, to allow humans to develop into the likeliness of God
-Universal salvation > everyone will eventually be saved or welcomed to heaven after death
-Epistemic distance > allows complete freedom to develop character and genuine love for God
Weaknesses of Hick’s theodicy
(-)Value of soul making - Hume asks whether our world could be a bit more hospitable and still teach us and allow us to develop virtuous characteristics
(-)Universal salvation - Jesus died to save us from sins, was this ineffective in saving us?
(-)Epistemic distance - many people may question their love for God if they are living in a world surrounded by evil and suffering.
