The problem of evil strengths and weaknesses

Question 1

Original sin- W

Answer 1

If God is omniscient and knows everything then he must have known that original sin would happen. why then must he not stop this if he can?

Question 2

John Mackie - W

Answer 2

Free will is not an adequate explanation. An omnipotent God could have created free moral agents who would always do the right thing.

Question 3

Ockham’s Razor - W

Answer 3

The simplest explanation is the most satisfactory and most likely. However, when Augustine introduces original sin, seminal presence from the loins of Adam and fallen angels.. he simply over complicates the problem of evil.

Question 4

Science/evolution - W

Answer 4

Augustine’s idea that the world was made perfect and was then damaged by humans is contrary to the theory of evolution, which asserts that the universe has been continually developing from a state of chaos.

Question 5

Adam and Eve (seminal presence)/fallen angels - W

Answer 5

Such concepts in the 21st century are no longer considered credible. This leaves this theodicy out of date.

Question 6

Alvin Plantinga- S

Answer 6

Actualizing a world in which certain free choices must be made contradicts the whole idea of true freedom. Because God is benevolent free will was granted and humans made the choice that led to evil.

Question 7

Richard Swinburne- S

Answer 7

The creation story may by some not be accepted as accurate, but the general point of first humans choosing evil is still possible.

Question 8

Soul searching - S

Answer 8

The ability to reject God or accept God is an important part of making meaningful choices. it’s through suffering that people can find God.

Question 9

Schleiermacher - W

Answer 9

The theodicy is flawed contraction. Either the world was created imperfect or God allowed it to go wrong.

Question 10

Hell - W

Answer 10

The existence of hell as a place of eternal torment challenges the notion of an all loving God. Can God be all loving when he created hell? a world that will go wrong? This implies a malicious God not an all loving one.

Question 11

Privation - W

Answer 11

To say evil doesn’t exist and is the absence of good some may just find offensive to those suffering from natural disasters and terminal illness.

Question 12

God’s likeness- W

Answer 12

Is it really necessary to have to undergo suffering in order to become more like God. Surely we can grow into God’s nature and virtue without great suffering.

Question 13

John Hick- S

Answer 13

The world is the vale of soul-making and what may appear as pointless suffering now will be compensated in the next life.

Question 14

We need both- S

Answer 14

‘How if we had no knowledge of the contrary could we have instruction in that which is good’ (Irenaeus)

Question 15

Romans 5:3- S

Answer 15

“We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, character; and character hope”. To suggest we could learn values without suffering is mere speculation.

Question 16

Premature deaths- W

Answer 16

Taking Gregory S Paul’s point a lot of suffering is ‘dysteleological’ and seems to have no real end purpose. What does a six year old child who starves to death learn from this process of “God’s likeness”? This cannot be the plan of a benevolent God.

Question 17

Swinburne- S

Answer 17

Great travesties such as the holocaust have achieved positive outcomes in the end such as the holocaust memorial day. Meanwhile anti-antisemitism is now recognized an evil prejudice and the dangers of racism is better understood. Evil allows for us to grow closer to God by overcoming evil.

Question 18

D.Z- W

Answer 18

Allowing evil to continue can never be an expression of love.

Question 19

Heaven- W

Answer 19

Irenaeus argues that everyone goes to heaven so long as they accept God in the end. This seems unjust as immortality is not punished. It is consisted wit orthodox Christianity as it denies the fall, and Jesus’ role is reduced to a moral example.

Question 20

Losing faith- W

Answer 20

Suffering leads to some people losing faith which in turn does not provide in soul-making.

Question 21

Baby analogy- S

Answer 21

Just like a baby has to learn and grow into a fully developed human. The same applies to us and God. Humanity begins in a state of immaturity, all humans need to learn and grow into the likeness of God. Evil helps in this process of growing into God’s likeness.