The Problem of Evil - Key Words

Question 1

Moral Evil

Answer 1

Evil done as a result of human choices

Question 2

Non-Moral Evil

Answer 2

Evil, such as found in nature, which owes nothing to human choice. e.g earthquakes

Question 3

Suffering

Answer 3

Another term for non-moral evil

Question 4

Natural Evil

Answer 4

Any evil that arises in nature without reference to human agency, e.g earthquakes

Question 5

Inconsistent Triad

Answer 5

God is all-powerful, so he could prevent evil.
God is all-loving so he would want to prevent evil
Yet evil exists
How is it possible that these claims be true?

Question 6

Deism

Answer 6

The belief that there is a God who created the Universe but had no further interest in or connection with its affairs

Question 7

Abrahamic Religions

Answer 7

Judaism, Islam and Christianity, they trace their history back to the ancient figure of Abraham

Question 8

Theodicy

Answer 8

An attempt to justify the goodness of God given the fact of evil

Question 9

Heresy

Answer 9

An opinion, viewpoint or practice at variance with established teaching, particularly of a Church or religion

Question 10

Soul-deciding theodicy

Answer 10

Any theodicy, such as that of Augustine, which sees evil as a test of goodness and faithfulness to God

Question 11

Omnipotence

Answer 11

Literally ‘all-powerful’. In relation to God, this is understood to mean his ability to perform any possible action

Question 12

Original Sin

Answer 12

Universal tendency to commit evil

Question 13

Pelegianism

Answer 13

A heresy from the fifth century, denies the original sin and believes we attain heaven by our own unaided efforts, we do not depend on god
William Temple would call it ‘the only intrinsically damnable heresy’

Question 14

Dysteleological

Answer 14

Something that serves no purpose