The problem of evil and suffering

Question 1

St Iranaeus

Answer 1

God made the world imperfect
Develop willingly
Requires free will
Free will =evil, must have a choice
"We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope" - Romans 5:3

Question 2

St Augustine

Answer 2

World was made perfect
"God saw all that he made and it was good"-Genesis
Evil is the privation of good
Misused free will
Adam &Eve
'Against Heresies'

Question 3

Richard Swinburne

Answer 3

Free will defense
Removing evil=removing free will
Meaningful relationship with God
"Over-protective parent"
Natural disasters stop people inflicting evil
'The existence of God'

Question 4

John Hick

Answer 4

‘Philosophy of Religion’
Iranaeus + goodness of robots
Epistemic distance
Develop positive qualities through an imperfect world