The problem of evil

Question 1

Moral evil

Answer 1

evil actions made by humans

Question 2

Natural evil

Answer 2

evil by natural processes e.g. tsunami’s

Question 3

Epicurus inconsistent triad

Answer 3

If God is willing to prevent evil but not able – not omnipotent
Able to but not willing to – not omnibenevolent
if he is able and willing to then why is there evil
If he is not able to and not willing to then why call him God?

Question 4

The logical problem of evil - J.L MACKIE

Answer 4

uses epicurus inconsitant triad as a deductive argument
belief in god is logically incompatible with the existence of evil

Question 5

The evidential problem of evil - HUME

Answer 5

it cannot be justified to believe in a perfect god when the only evidence we have of anything is imperfection
we only can experience imperfection

Question 6

Augustine’s theodicy

Answer 6

moral evil exists because of original sin
natural evil exists from the cosmic disorder of the fall and satan
we live in an evil world as punishment for adam and eve’s sin
evil existing alligns with God’s divine justice as we are justly ounished for our sins
evil is just the privation of good
evil is just a result of us moving away from God’s goodness

Question 7

Irenaeus and John Hick

Answer 7

God allows evil for it’s purpose of soul-making
to be good you must choose goodnes over evil
to get into heaven you must be good
Iraneus example of JONAH AND THE BIG FISH
Hicks epistemic distance - following god not out of obedience but out of virtueous soul-making development

Question 8

Plantinga

Answer 8

evil is a result of freedom
removing evil would remove free will
freedom> no evil
God cannot create a world where good choices are always made without forcing character and thus taking away free will