The Problem Of Evil Flashcards
What is ‘the problem of evil’?
The problem if evil is the fact that it would be impossible for evil to exist in a world being watched over by a God that is Omnibenevolent, Omnipotent and Omniscient.
David Hume pointed out that only three possibilities can exist:
1. God is not Omnipotent.
2. God is not Omnibenevolent.
3. Evil does not exist.
Since evil does exist, there can only be one of the two remaining options. But since these do not fit in with traditional theist views of God, it cannot work. Therefore, God can not exist.
What is a theodicy?
A theodicy is a logical theory that justify the existence of existence of evil and suffering in a world with a perfect God.
What is Augustinian theodicy?
Augustinian theodicy, developed by St Augustine, uses the narratives of Genesis 1 - 3 in order to argue that God did create a world that was perfect and devoid of evil and suffering. Augustine described evil as a privation of good, and since it is not an entity in itself God could not have created it. The existence if free will actually comes from free will possessed by humans which was used in order to turn away from God, as described by ‘the fall’ in genesis. Since he is a ‘just God’, and we are all decedents of Adam and Eve, God does not intervene with evil and suffering in the world as it is punishment for original sin.
What are the criticisms of Augustines theodicy?
Schleiermacher’s critique of this theodicy comes from him belief that it is a logical contradiction to make the claim that a perfect world could go wrong due to the fact that evil could not create itself from nothing. Either the world was not perfect to begin with or God made it wrong. Therefore, God is to blame.
This theodicy also goes against evolution, as it works on the creation story in the Bible.
The view that we should all be punished due to Adam and Eves mistake raises the question, is God really just by making an individual suffer because of the sin of another?
What are the two types of evil?
Natural evil - The malfunctioning of the natural world e.g natural disasters.
Moral evil - the result of human immorality e.g genocide.
What is Iraneus’ theodicy
Free will defence:
• God created humans Imago Dei, and created them with freedom and Morality.
• He creates us imperfect.
• Evil is necessary for God’s purpose to be achieved, for Man to have a nobel soul.
• The world is a vale for soul making, and Christ gives us an example to follow.
Therefore evil and suffering is:
• Useful as a means of knowledge.
• Useful for character and soul building.
• Creates a predictable environment, so we know what evil is an how to counteract it.
Problems with Iraneus’ theodicy?
- Iraneus argument ensures that everyone goes to heaven. However, this is unjust. As evil, in the end, goes unpunished. Therefore, the whole idea of morality becomes useless - not orthodox America.
- Why does the idea of ‘soul making’ involve suffering? The whole idea of ‘suffering is good for you’ feels very unjust. Hume: Could we not have a more hospitable world in order to learn what we need? Could we not learn through pleasure as well as our pain? Swinburne provided a counter criticism for this, as our suffering is not only limited by our capacity to feel pain, but our lifespan.
- Can suffering be justified on the grounds of motive? How can we justify something such as ‘the holocaust’ with the idea of ‘soul making’ an a loving God.
Strengths of Augustinian theodicy?
- Plantinga: Supports the idea that if God created us in order for us only to choose to be ‘good’, we would not be free. God created us with free will.
- Accounts for Natural evil and Moral evil.
- Popular with Christians as it uses the creationist part of the Bible. (Genesis)
