The Problem of Evil

Question 1

Cosmological Argument

Answer 1

The universe must have a first cause, which is God. But the universe could be eternal or self-caused, not necessarily by God.

Question 2

Teleological Argument

Answer 2

The complexity and order in the universe suggest a designer, God. However, natural processes like evolution can explain complexity without a designer.

Question 3

Moral Argument

Answer 3

Objective moral values suggest the need for a moral lawgiver that tells us right from wrong, which is God. But morality can be understood through social or evolutionary processes without invoking God.

Question 4

Epicurus

Answer 4

• Epicurus thought that the problem of evil as a logical challenge and If God is all-powerful and all-good, why does evil exist? If God cannot prevent evil, He is not omnipotent (having unlimited power.); if He does not want to, He is not omnibenevolent (all loving.). This challenges the idea of a God with these attributes.

Question 5

David Hume

Answer 5

Hume argued that the existence of the inconsistence triad suffering contradicts the idea of a God who is omnipotent, omnibenevolent and evil exists. If such a God existed, h]
‘?e would prevent all evil, so the existence of evil suggests that God might not exist or lacks these attributes.

Question 6

If God is omniscient (all knowing), omnibenevolent (completely good), omnipresent (always present) and omnipotent (all powerful), how do we explain the existence of utterly gratuitous evil and suffering in the world?

Answer 6

If God is omniscient, omnibenevolent, omnipresent, and omnipotent, the existence of gratuitous evil and suffering presents a serious challenge. An all-knowing God would be aware of all evil, an all-good God would want to eliminate it, an all-powerful God could eliminate it, and an always-present God would have the ability to intervene. The presence of unnecessary suffering thus raises questions about whether such a God exists or possesses these attributes as traditionally understood.

Question 7

Augustine’s Theodicy

Answer 7

Augustine believed that all humans were created perfect and that they were given free will. However, humans use that free will to turn away from God and chose to sin. Augustine’s theodicy bases the origin of evil and suffering on humanity and takes that responsibility away from God.

Question 8

Irenaean Theodicy

Answer 8

God made humans imperfect and is therefore partly responsible for the existence of evil. By creating imperfect humans, individuals are given the chance to develop and grow through a soul-making process into children of God.