The Problem of evil

Question 1

The inconsistent triad

Answer 1

if there is an all loving and all powerful God why does evil exist. this is a logical issue , the argument is a priori there is no need for evidence .

Question 2

Epicurus Quote

Answer 2

” is God willing to prevent evil , but not able he is no omnipotent … is he able but not willing then he is malevolent …

Question 3

Rock of atheism

Answer 3

Hume calls the inconsistent triad the rock of atheism

Question 4

J L Mackie quote

Answer 4

” problem of evil only is a problem for someone who believes that there is a God who is both omnipotent and wholly good .. it is a logical problem.

Question 5

John Stuart mill

Answer 5

” if the maker of the world can do all that he will , he wills misery “
nature is guilty of crime that mankind is punished for ‘nature impales men’ it kills and tortures e.g potato famine

Question 6

Free will defence

Answer 6

evil comes from the moral choices that humans make therefore God had to choose between a morally perfect world or a world where humans had the ability to freely make their own choices but this does not explain natural evils ?

Question 7

Mackie response to FWD

Answer 7

God could have had the opportunity to create a world have free will but always choose good but without the existence of evil we would not know good and would it really count as free will ?

Question 8

Natural evil

Answer 8

evil and suffering from the world e.g earthquakes

Question 9

Moral evil

Answer 9

evil and suffering from human choice e.g war

Question 10

Peter Vardy - Brothers Karamazov

Answer 10

” a young girl wets her bed at night .. her mother covers her in her own excrement and locks her naked in the outside privy all night and cries to God . Ivan asks Alyosha if heaven can amount to this girls suffering .Ivan returns his ticket to heaven he wants no part in a heaven or God who allows such suffering to take place.

Question 11

Privation of good Augustine

Answer 11

evils exist but it is not natural . God created the world good so any evil that we percieve is merely a privation of good , a misconception derived from our lack of knowledge of God’s plan

Question 12

‘Natural’ evil according to St Augustine

Answer 12

St Augustine denies that any evil is natural, asserting that evil arises from a privation of good.

Question 13

What does St Augustine believe about God’s creation?

Answer 13

God created the world good, and any perceived evil is a misconception due to our lack of knowledge of God’s plan.

Question 14

How does Augustine interpret natural evils?

Answer 14

Natural evils are attributed to our self-interested perspective and are not evil when understood within the context of God’s plan.

Question 15

What implication does Augustine’s view have on the free-will defense?

Answer 15

If Augustine’s position is maintained, the free-will defense can extend to cover both moral evils and natural evils.

Question 16

What is the Free-Will Defence in relation to natural evils?

Answer 16

The Free-Will Defence suggests that natural evils (like earthquakes and epidemics) are the result of free will, similar to moral evils.

Question 17

Who led the rebellion against God according to Augustine?

Answer 17

Satan led the rebellion against God, causing some angels to fall and take the created order with them.

Question 18

How did Augustine view the origin of evil?

Answer 18

Augustine believed that evil entered the world through the fall of the angels, as described in his City of God.

Question 19

What does Augustine argue about the creation of angels?

Answer 19

Augustine argues that all angels were created perfect, but some received less grace and were able to fall.

Question 20

How is the fall of angels related to humanity according to Augustine?

Answer 20

The fall of angels is repeated in human terms in the Garden of Eden, where humanity became imperfect due to Satan’s temptations.

Question 21

What is Augustine’s view on the nature of all evils?

Answer 21

Augustine’s defence suggests that all evils, including natural evils, result from the choices of free agents and are thus moral.

Question 22

What is Augustine’s belief regarding natural suffering?

Answer 22

Augustine believes that natural suffering is either a result of sin or a punishment for sin in a fallen world.

Question 23

What will God do according to Augustine’s beliefs?

Answer 23

God will judge people based on their behavior, sending most to hell and some to heaven.

Question 24

St Ireanus

Answer 24

Irenaeus was a very early Christian. He argued that God allows evil and suffering to exist.
Irenaeus argued that humans were made in God’s image but that humans have to grow into the likeness of God.

Question 25

Iraneus free will

Answer 25

Irenaeus said that free will is an important part of being made in the image of God. Humans have the option to choose to commit evil and suffering. By choosing to be good, humans can develop into a freely chosen, mature relationship with God.

Question 26

Ireaneus importance of evil

Answer 26

Irenaeus argued that evil had to exist in the world in order for us to appreciate goodness.
In the afterlife, humans can continue to grow into the likeness of God.

Question 27

Hick

Answer 27

Hick rejected the mythology of the Garden of eden story instead he argues that evil and suffering is part of God’s plan to help us to grow into a loving, free relationship with God.
God keeps himself at an epistemic distance from human beings and the term fall is used to describe how far apart God and humans are to ensure that we make free choices and are not forced to do good deeds.

Question 28

Hick soul making

Answer 28

Hick argues that the world exists to shape our moral character. He argues that the world has a ‘vale of soul-making’.
By making good moral decisions and learning from suffering, humans can turn to God freely.
In the afterlife, our spiritual journey towards God continues and we are able to achieve salvation. for hick this does not work without heaven