The Problem of Evil

Question 1

Augustine’s definition of the problem of evil

Answer 1

‘Either God cannot abolish evil, or he will not; if he cannot then he is not all-powerful; if he will not then he is not all good.’

Question 2

The Inconsistent Triad

Answer 2

The existence of evil is not compatible with God’s characteristics, omnipotence or omnibenevolence.

Question 3

David Hume, in relation to the Inconsistent Triad

Answer 3

Hume argues in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion that either: God is not omnipotent
or God is not omnibenevolent
or evil does not exist
Hume concludes that evil does exist and as the idea of God must include omnipotence and omnibenevolence, therefore God cannot exist.

Question 4

Natural evil

Answer 4

Suffering caused by natural disasters, such as a tsunami killing people and animals and destroying homes

Question 5

Moral evil

Answer 5

Suffering caused by humans, such as the holocaust

Question 6

Free will

Answer 6

the ability to make your own decisions and make free choices between possible actions

Question 7

Original sin

Answer 7

the first sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, which Christians believe has lasting effects. it is seen as an inbuilt tendency to do wrong despite having good intentions.

Question 8

Soul-deciding

Answer 8

Relating to our free choice to decide whether to be good or bad and ultimately whether our souls go to heaven or hell.

Question 9

The basis of the theodicy of Augustine

Answer 9

His theory is based on two key Bible passages - Genesis 3 (the story of the Fall) and Romans 5:12-20 (St Paul describes how Jesus’ crucifixion wipes out the sin committed by Adam and Eve)

Question 10

The origin of moral evil, according to Augustine

Answer 10

God, at the time of creation, created the world as good and evil is not an entity itself but is a ‘privation of good’ - like blindness is a privation of sight. Evil came as a result of Angel misusing their free-will, as they turned away from God and tempted Adam and Eve - this is the origin of moral evil.

Question 11

The origin of natural evil, according to Augustine

Answer 11

All humans are born of original sin as all humans are ‘seminally present in the loins of Adam’ - natural evil is the punishment for sin/’penal consequences of sin’

Question 12

Augustine’s soul-deciding theodicy

Answer 12

Humans are given a choice whether or not to obey God. according to Christian belief, there will be a Judgement Day at the end of time, when the good will go to heaven and the bad will go to hell. So God can be seen as perfect ultimately, because evil is punished.

Question 13

Child of God

Answer 13

We will evolve from the image of God into the likeness (cild) of God.

Question 14

Soul-making

Answer 14

Relating to our ability to grow and develop into the likeness of God

Question 15

Irenaeus’ Soul-making Theodicy

Answer 15

Irenaeus believed that there were two stages of creation. First humans were created as an immature being that had yet to grow and develop, after which there was a period of change, in which man responds to situations in life, eventually becoming a child of God. Morality developed through hard work is more valuable than pre-programmed robotic morality and moral and spiritual growth comes through response to challenges

Question 16

Irenaeus and the origin of moral evil

Answer 16

According to Irenaeus we were created imperfect, and we can freely chose to become good. Moral evil was the result of having freedom to grow and develop into a child of God. Evil is necessary to aid such development.

Question 17

Irenaeus and the origin of natural evil

Answer 17

Natural evil, such as famine helps us develop qualities such as compassion. Evil is a necessary part of life and makes us better people. Irenaeus saw salvation as open to all but he states clearly that those who reject God will be punished.

Question 18

Epistemic distance

Answer 18

The phrase used by John Hick to explain the idea that God’s existence is not so obvious and overwhelming that humans just have to believe in him.

Question 19

Eschatological

Answer 19

A theological term, concerned with death, judgement, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.

Question 20

John Hick’s version of the theodicy of Irenaeus

Answer 20

Humans are created in the image of God but are spiritually immature and need to grow into the likeness of God, enabling them to have a relationship with God. We are made at a distance from God, a distance of knowledge - epistemic distance. Moral evil was the result of having our freedom to grow and develop.

Question 21

John Hick and the afterlife

Answer 21

Iranian theodicy states that people only become made in the image of God after death. Hick suggests that after death, some of us will proceed to heaven. Hick’s theodicy has an eschatological accept as those who have not, will complete their soul-making journey after death but may then enter heaven. Hick supports universal salvation - he does not believe in hell.

Question 22

Arguments against Augustine’s theodicy - Schleiermacher

Answer 22

Augustine’s theodicy was flawed in the Christian Faith. He proclaimed it a logical contradiction to say a perfectly created world had gone wrong, as it would mean evil had created itself ‘ex nihilo’ which is impossible - either the world was created imperfect or God allowed it to go wrong.

Question 23

General arguments against Augustine’s theodicy

Answer 23

In a perfect world there is no knowledge of gd. or evil, therefore how could there be freedom to obey or disobey God? Adam and Eve and angels disobeyed God meaning there was prior knowledge of good and evil. Is Augustine’s interpretation of the tree of knowledge flawed?
Augustine’s ideas are contrary to the theory of evolution - universe has been continually developing from a state of chaos.
The existence of hell as a place of eternal torment challenges the notion of an all loving God - implies a malicious God not an omnibenevolent one.

Question 24

General arguments for Augustine’s theodicy

Answer 24

The idea that evil comes from a misuse of free will is defended by Richard Swinburne, who argues that the imagery of the Fall is valid even if the story is taken as myth.

Question 25

General arguments against Irenaeus’ theodicy

Answer 25

Hick’s version - everyone goes to heaven - unjust? Immorality is not punished, and it is inconsistent with orthodox Christianity, denying the Fall and Jesus’ role is reduced to a moral exp.
The quantity and extremity of evil seems unacceptable in soul-making. (Was the HOLOCAUST necessary?)
D.Z.Philips - allowing evil to continue can never be an expression of love

Question 26

General arguments for Irenaeus’ theodicy

Answer 26

Heaven could be open to everyone because if life just ended, God’s purpose would never be fulfilled.
Heaven could justify the enormous amount of suffering on earth.

Question 27

Moltman - criticism of the problem of evil

Answer 27

Because Christ suffered on the cross therefore God has suffered so when we suffer we can relate to God and feel a connecting, God did not suffer for nothing so it cannot be EVIL - basically evil doesn’t exist, God created a world where suffering exists but suffering isn’t evil.

Question 28

Swinburne

Answer 28

Theologian, who argued for Irenaeus’ theodicy and was an advocate of the free will defence – Many of the moral virtues we admire as humans – only possible in an imperfect world. ‘We would never learn the art of goodness in a world designed as a complete paradise’
– Virtues are in proportion to the severity of the suffering experience.
– Compassion – pain
– Generosity – poverty
– Selflessness – corruption
God mustn’t intervene as if he did it would restrict our genuine free will - the existence of God as an observer.

Question 29

Mackie - Australian Philosopher

Answer 29

The Free will defence proposes that god only had 2 options in creation - to create a world with maximum pleasure, but no free will or a world with absolute free will - resulting in pain and suffering. BUT God could’ve had a more appealing option, surely an omnipotent God could’ve had the best of both worlds; world with genuine free will and the minimization of pain, meaning humans who always do well. God was open to the possibility of making humans who act freely but always go right, however the lack of evidence that such a decision was carried out is inconsistent his being both omnipotent and wholly good -Supporters of the free will defense would write this off as being logically impossible, as humans that always do good but are genuinely free creates a implausible paradox.

Question 30

Free will defence

Answer 30

The free will defense claims that God created humans so that they could respond in faithfulness, love and obedience to him and that this is expressed in separate ways in different religions. The general consensus is however, that humans must have genuine free will to be able to freely respond to God how they want, thus consequently it becomes necessary that we live in a world with both good and evil.