The Problem of Evil

Question 1

What is the problem of evil?

Answer 1

the idea that God’s traditional qualities such as being all powerfull, all loving anf all knowing are undermined by the existence of evil and suffering

Question 2

Moral evil

Answer 2

evil caused by human choice/actions

Question 3

Natural evil

Answer 3

evil or suffering within the natural world, not caused by human action

Question 4

Logical Problem of Evil:
What is the inconsistent triad?

Answer 4

a triangle has three sides - one is God is omnipotent, another is God is omnibenevolant and the last it evil exists

God cannot be omnibenevolent and omnipotent if evil exists

Question 5

Logical Problem of Evil:
What are the four things that Epicuris says about God and the existence of evil?

Answer 5

1. is God willing but not abe to prevent evil? then he isn’t omnipotent
2. is God able but not willing? then he is not omnibenevolent
3. if God is both able and willing, then why is there evil?
4. if God is neither able nor willing, then why do we call him God?

Question 6

Logical Problem of Evil:
Is the theory a-priori or a-posteriori?

Answer 6

a-priori

Question 7

Logical Problem of Evil:
Is the theory deductive or inductive?

Answer 7

deductive

Question 8

Evidential Problem of Evil:
Is the theory a-priori or a-posteriori?

Answer 8

a-posteriori

Question 9

Evidential Problem of Evil:
Is the thoery deductive or inductive?

Answer 9

inductive

Question 10

Evidential Problem of Evil:
What are Hume’s 4 observations?

Answer 10

1. animal suffering. why shouldn’t nature be created such that animals feel less pain, or indeed no pain at all
2. creatures have limited abilities to ensure their survival and happiness
3. why does nature have extremes which make survival and happiness more difficult?
4. why doesn’t God intervene to prevent individual natural disasters

Question 11

Evidential Problem of Evil:
What are the premises and conclusions Hume comes to?

Answer 11

P1- we are only justified in believing what evidence suggests
P2- we only have evidence of imperfection
C1- we are only justified in believing that imperfection exists
C2- so, belief in a perfectly good being is not justified

Question 12

What is Augustine’s theodicy?

Answer 12

its based on the story within Genesis. he explains the existence of evil within the world and defends God by using this story

Question 13

How does Augustine attempt to solve the problem of evil?

Answer 13

• God created the world originally perfect as confirmed in Genesis. Any evil in the world is corruption of or lacking of this originall goodness not a result of God creating the world that way
• original sin shows how evil is a rejection of God, and not again caused directly from God
• we have the free choice and will to do good or bad. Responsibility for evil is not the consequence of God’s choices but our own

Question 14

Strengths of Auguestine’s theodicy?

Answer 14

• God can be seen as omnibenevolent because he didn’t create evil
• its biblical which is strong source of authority fror Christians
• God’s qualities still remain
• supports that evil doesn’t exist - proves the inconsistent triad to be wrong

Question 15

Weaknesses of Auguestine’s theodicy?

Answer 15

• depends on a literal and scientifically inaccurate understanding of Gesesis
• if evil is a continual punishment for original sin then why are some people more punished than others?
• if creation was perfect then it wouldn’t have the opportunity to go wrong- if it can be corrupt then it cannot be perfect
• Augustine claims we are partly to ignorant to overcome sin entirely, so how can we then be held responsible for it

Question 16

what does imago dei mean?

Answer 16

made in the image and likeness of God

Question 17

What is Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 17

• thought that although humans are made in the image of God we are not made completely perfect
• we are made in a likeness and therefore are not completely the same as God. we have lesser versions of God’s qualities
• we have moral immaturity, our sense of what is good and bad is not yet fully developed, therefore we commit evil actions

Question 18

For Irenaeus, why does moral evil exist?

Answer 18

• exists as a result of our poor choices. we are morally and spiritually immature, we are yet to grow fully into the likeness of God
• we don’t know yet what is right and wrong
• in order ro develop our soul we have to actively choose good over evil, but we have the free will to choose evil
• the consequences of moral evil help us to learn and develop our sense of what is right and wrong

Question 19

For Irenaeus, why does natural evil exist?

Answer 19

• it is not a test or consequence of original sin
• natural evil provides further opportunity for soul making and to develop our sense of goodness

Question 20

What is a theodicy?

Answer 20

an attempt to explain how an omnibenevolent, omnipotent God can co-exist with evil

Question 21

What is a soteriology?

Answer 21

study/theory of religious beliefs about salvation

Question 22

What is Hick’s soteriology?

Answer 22

• God wants a genuine relationship with us based on our own choice to follow and worship God
• there must be real rewards for the human choice to foloow God and real consequences
• by experiences suffering we learn and develop qualities we need to be good humans
• the world is ‘instrumentally good’

Question 23

Strengths of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 23

• offers a theological justification of why the problem of evil does not illistrate that there is no God
• provides a recognisable and achieveble goal for humanity that gives relevance and value to our lives here on earth

Question 24

Weaknesses of Irenaeus’ theodicy?

Answer 24

• doesn’t explain why some people suffer more than others

Question 25

Strengths of Hick's theodicy?

Answer 25

* seems to overcome many of the weaknesses in the Augustinian theodicy * allows a non-literal approach to Genesis * incorporates suffering, a very real thing that people experience, into its approach * it gives a purpose to natural evil that other theodicies find difficult to explain

Question 26

Weaknesses of Hick's theodicy?

Answer 26

* why is the epistemic gap so great and why is the world so full of suffering? * surely there are ways other than pain, suffering and evil, for God to develop humanity? * some people, such as babies or those with disabilities, are unable to use suffering in a developmental way - is it fair for them to suffer at all?