Theme 2A: The problem of evil and suffering Flashcards
What is natural evil?
Evil that results from natural process, no human can be held morally accountable
What are examples of natural evil?
- Natural disasters
- Illness
- Disabilities
What examples of natural evil does Peter Hardy give?
- Pain of childbirth
- Natural disasters
- Poor design of the body
What does Hick say about natural evil?
Natural evil ‘is the evil that originates independently of human actions, in disease, in bacilli, in earthquakes, storms, droughts, tornadoes etc’
What are the two possibilities in response to natural does a religious believer has if they follow a God is omnipotent and benevolent?
- Evil is the fault of humanity or the devil, but not God
- God has a good reason to create natural evil.
What is moral evil?
- Suffering and harm that results from human actions
- Results from the misuse of free will on the part of some moral agent
What is an example of moral evil?
- Lying
- Murdering
- Dishonesty and greed
What does Swinburne say about moral evil?
‘Evil constituted by deliberate actions or negligent failure’
What does Hick say about moral evil?
‘Moral evil is the evil that we human beings originate: cruel, vicious, unjust and perverse thoughts and deeds’
How do theists explain moral evil?
Suffering which results from moral evil is not God’s fault but humans.
God gave us free will and allows us to make our own choice
What does Brian Hebblethwaite say about moral evil?
Even though moral evil can be blamed on mankind failings, we still need an explanation of why we are made in such a way that we feel pain and grief.
Who created the logical problem of evil?
Epicurus
When did Epicurus write?
Pre-christian era
What is meant by the term the ‘God of classical theism’?
- Creator
- Benevolent
- Omnipotent
- Omniscient
What is Epicurus problem of evil?
The existence of evil is incompatible with the ‘God of classical theisms’ attributes
‘If God can abolish evil, and God really wanted to do it, why is their evil in the world’
- Does God lack love or power
What is the personal problem of evil?
- Why me, why now, why this.
Why does the logical problem of evil make people doubt God?
It questions God’s morality
What did Mackie state about the solutions of the problem of evil?
- They limit God’s power
- God is subject to the causal laws which he made. So he’s not omnipotent as he has to introduce evil as a means of good
- God can’t be omnipotent as he has made things he cannot control - free will
- God is bound by logical necessities so can’t be omnipotent
What is Mackie’s omnipotence paradox?
Theodicies do not solve the problem of evil as they limit God
What are the three propositions according to Mackie’s triad?
- God is omnipotent as he created the universe
- God is benevolent - any loving being would wish to stop the horrors of evil and suffering
- Evil exists - we have direct experience of this
What is the conclusion of Mackie’s three propositions?
The three propositions are logically inconsistent
For Mackie the belief of God existing is positively irrational
What did Mackie state about an all loving God?
‘A wholly good being eliminates evil as far as it can’
What is the explanation for the solution ‘God is not omnipotent’ in response to Mackie’s inconsistent triad?
God loves creation but doesn’t have the power to prevent evil
What is the explanation for the solution ‘God is not benevolent in response to Mackie’s inconsistent triad?
God doesn’t care if his creation suffers, maybe God is malicious
What is the evil doesn’t exist explanation?
Evil is our perception that is at fault
God’s view may be different from ours
Toddler example
What is Humes response to evil doesn’t exist?
Evil is felt to widely for it to be dismissed
Who created the intensive human and animal suffering as evidence of God not existing?
William Rowe
What does William Rowe accept in regards to evil and suffering?
If it resulted in ‘some greater good’ that could be achieved by its presence then the suffering might be justified
What are the premises of William Rowe argument?
- There exists instances of intense suffering that an omnipotent, omniscient being could prevent
- An omnipotent omniscient being would know intense suffering was taking place
- A omniscient, benevolent God would prevent intense suffering unless it could not do so without losing so greater good
What is the conclusion of William Rowe argument?
There probably does not exist an omnipotent, omniscient, wholly good being
What is an example of human suffering (and moral evil) which Rowe highlights
A five year old girl was raped and severely beaten before she was murdered.
This is not neccesary as it doesn’t lead to a greater good
What hypothetical animal suffering example does Rowe use?
Lightning strikes a dead treat causing a forest fire, a fawn is trapped, horribly burned and is in pain for days before it dies
Could have died quickly not suffered for days
Who came up with the premature deaths argument?
Gregory Paul
How many children have died naturally before reaching what Paul calls ‘the age of mature consent’?
50 billion
What are the premises and conclusion of Pauls argument?
- Millions of innocent children suffer and die every year, from both natural and evil causes
- Children are too young to make choices about God - no free will
- No all loving, powerful being would allow such suffering
- So God doesn’t exist
Gregory Pauls work is a critique of what?
Those who claim that there is one intelligent creator who is perfect in moral terms when they possess the power needed to prevent extensive suffering
What are some statistics to support the premature deaths argument?
Total lived to maturity = 50 billion
Totally deceased = 350 billion
Around 300 billion prenatal deaths
What does Gregory Paul state about prayer?
No historical evidence that prayer from Christians has reduced suffering by children in Christian majorities
What does Gregory Paul state about heaven and the afterlife?
- In order to be prepared for heaven, imperfect humans must undergo experiences that make us perfect
- We need a level of maturity hat children do not have
- Either children who die before maturity are incapable of entering heaven or they go to heaven without choosing
