the problem of evil

Question 1

The problem evil can be what two problems?

Answer 1

The problem of evil is both a logical and evidential problem.

Question 2

explain the problem of evil as a logical problem

Answer 2

The problem of evil as a logical problem consists of the inconsistent triad argument. These three beliefs cannot all be held at the same time without contradiction. That evil exists, that God is all-powerful and that God is all-loving.

Question 3

what did Epicurus conclude?

Answer 3

He concluded that God is either not all-powerful or not all-loving or just doesn’t exist.

Question 4

what questions are raised in the inconsistent triad?

Answer 4

1) if God is able to prevent evil but doesn’t want to, is he truly omni-benevolent?
2) if God wants to stop evil but can’t, is he truly omni-potent?
3) if there is evil and suffering in the world, an all-loving and all-powerful God can’t be a real being

Question 5

what type of reasoning is the logical problem of evil?

Answer 5

A priori - using logic & reason to knowledge.

Question 6

what type of reasoning is the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 6

A posteriori - gaining knowledge through our sense experiences.

Question 7

explain the evidential problem of evil

Answer 7

The argument states that there is too much evil and suffering in the world for there to be a God. The extent and nature of evil we observe in the world makes it unlikely that such a God exists.

Question 8

where did Hume’s state his belief about the existence of God in this world?

Answer 8

In ‘dialogues concerning natural religion’

Question 9

What did David Humes say?

Answer 9

He said that God is not all-powerful or God is not all-loving because evil does exist.

Question 10

what did David Humes conclude?

Answer 10

He concluded that there is too much evidence that evil does exists, so either God is impotent or malicious. This is not of the christian God so he must not exist.

Question 11

what did Humes belief lead John Stuart Mill to say?

Answer 11

Humes argument led J S Mill to say that “The God of classical theism does not exist.” He argued that the extent of evil and suffering in the world does not suggest a good God, but a malevolent creator.

Question 12

3 people that say that there is ‘no problem’

Answer 12

1) Buddhists say that suffering is part of existing. They don’t believe in a God but say that evil and suffering is just apart of life and part of our journey.

2) Bertrand Russell, an athiest, says that we should stop blaming God and how evil and suffering is just apart of nature.

3) Aristotle’s prime mover concept states that the prime mover has no understanding or recognition of our existence

Question 13

what is Augustine’s theodicy

Answer 13

Augustine believed that humans were created perfect and that they were given free will, however humans and angels used that free-will to turn away from God and choosing sin.

Question 14

Who was Augustine’s theodicy influenced by and what did they believe?

Answer 14

The Manichees believed that the world was divided between forces of good and forces of evil.

Question 15

who originally disobeyed God and what did this cause?

Answer 15

Angels originally disobeyed God by misusing their free-will causing natural evil.

Question 16

How did Adam and Eve cause evil to enter into the world?

Answer 16

Adam and Eve misused their free will by eating from the apple of knowledge of good and evil.

Question 17

What did Adam and eve do to the perfect world God created and what did it result in?

Answer 17

They corrupted and destroyed God’s natural perfect order creating disharmony and resulting in natural evil.

Question 18

According to Augustine, how is God not responsible for evil?

Answer 18

In the Genesis creation stories, God stated that he created everything in creation perfectly.

Question 19

what document did Augustine talk about God not being responsible for evil?

Answer 19

The enchiridion

Question 20

What did Augustine state evil is?

Answer 20

Augustine stated that evil is the privation of good. Evil is the absence of goodness.

Question 21

What does evil being an absence of goodness mean for those blaming God for evil being in the world, according to Augustine?

Answer 21

According to Augustine, God can’t be blamed for evil since evil is not a substance (not a ‘thing’) , but an absence of good.

Question 22

According to Augustine, why did God give us freewill?

Answer 22

God gave us freewill so that we can freely choose him instead of being obedient followers.

Question 23

what are the three criticisms of Augustine’s theodicy?

Answer 23

1) the scientific view
- scientists believe that the evolution theory undermines the Genesis creation stories.
- also the belief that we are seminally present in Adam & Eve but biologically we do not all share the same DNA.

2) moral
- how could a good God let us suffer for what Adam and Eve did?

3) some question God’s omniscience and wisdom because how did he not know that we would misuse our free-will.

Question 24

one more person that criticisised Augustine’s theodicy

Answer 24

Schleiermacher said that a perfectly created world shouldn’t have gone wrong. The world must have not been perfect to begin with if it was brought down by an apple.

Question 25

How was moral evil brought into this world?

Answer 25

It was brought into the world through the misuse of freewill, made by angels who chose to disobey him.

Question 26

how was natural evil brought into the world?

Answer 26

Natural evil is a result of moral evil and only exists because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience.

Question 27

How is God not responsible for evil?

Answer 27

Evil is an absence of goodness so God did not create evil.

Question 28

According to Bonhoeffer, how did God allow evil to be in the world?

Answer 28

He argued that God allows evil to exist because humans have the free will to choose between good and evil. This freedom is important for a genuine relationship with God.

Question 29

How did Bonhoeffer say christians should confront evil?

Answer 29

Bonhoeffer said that christians must confront evil by doing something, instead of passively (just accepting something) accepting it.

Question 30

why did Bonhoeffer say suffering is important?

Answer 30

Bonhoeffer believed that suffering could have a purpose in deepening one’s relationship with God.

Question 31

what did Bonhoeffer that God is?

Answer 31

He said that God is the key answer to the problem of evil, he offers redemption and salvation for everyone if they are willing to accept.