Unit 3 - The Problem of Evil and Suffering Flashcards
1
Q
What is natural evil?
A
Evil not directly under the control of human beings eg. volcanoes, earthquakes, flooding, disease
2
Q
What is moral evil?
A
Evil caused by human beings eg. murder, rape, abuse
3
Q
What does Christianity say about the origin of evil?
A
- Many Christians believe that evil is the result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. They ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Their punishment from God was to endure suffering in life. This is known as the fall
- Some Christians believe that all people inherited the tendency to sin and ability to cause suffering from Adam and Eve. This belief is called original sin
- Evil is related to free will - Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit
- Adam and Eve were tempted to eat the fruit by Satan, a power for evil, said to be an angel thrown out of heaven for rebelling against God.
4
Q
What do Christians believe about evil and suffering?
A
- Evil is the result of free will - some humans choose to obey God and love each other, others abuse their free will and use it to harm others
- God has a plan for people’s lives that isn’t always understood, but Christians should trust and have faith in God
- God wants Christians to follow the example of Christ and help those who are suffering
- Evil and suffering is preparation for heaven - it gives humans the chance to become better people
- Evil and suffering is a test of faith (eg. Abraham and Isaac)
5
Q
How do Christians respond to evil and suffering?
A
- By praying to God to either remove sources of evil and suffering or to help them bear evil and suffering
- By helping and caring for those who are suffering
- By forgiving those who commit evil
6
Q
What does Hinduism say about the origin of evil and suffering?
A
- Evil is a natural part of life and happens as the result of karma - good actions have good effects, bad actions have bad effects, whether it is immediate or in a later life
- This means that bad things happen to innocent people because of their actions in a previous life - however it is not about “deserving” suffering, rather it is having the opportunity to learn from your mistakes
- Natural evil is said by some to be a “play of the gods”, something beyond human understanding, or necessary for the balance of the earth, for example volcanic eruptions making fertile soil, or even punishment for acting evilly towards the earth
7
Q
How do Hindus respond to evil and suffering?
A
- People suffering should always be treated with compassion and kindness, otherwise they may suffer bad karmic consequences themselves
- The Bhagavad Vita encourages people to appreciate that everything is part of an eternal cycle - Hindus must do as little harm and as much good as possible to escape this cycle
- Most Hindus believe that they should act with non-violence to all living things - this belief is called ahimsa
8
Q
A
9
Q
What are the points of the Inconsistent Triad argument?
A
- If God cannot prevent or destroy evil then God is not omnipotent
- If God chooses not to prevent or destroy evil then God is not omnibenevolent
- If God is both omnipotent and omnibenevolent then evil does not exist
- However evil does exist, so either God does not exist or he is not worthy of worship
10
Q
Who set out the Inconsistent Triad?
A
Epicurus
11
Q
What are the weaknesses of the Inconsistent Triad?
A
- Epicurus assumes that evil has no purpose
- Epicurus assumes that God is responsible for the existence of evil
- Epicurus labels evil without having a standard of good to measure it to (see Moral Argument)
12
Q
What are the theistic reasonings for the existence of natural evil?
A
- Natural evil is not evil in itself as its source has no conscience
- Many occurrences considered natural evil bring benefits for human beings eg. volcanic eruptions providing fertile soil
- In many instances humans place themselves in danger by living in earthquake zones, floodplains, etc.
13
Q
What is a theodicy?
A
A justification for the existence of an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God despite the reality of evil and suffering
14
Q
What is Augustine’s Theodicy?
A
- Evil exists because God gave humans free will, which some abuse to commit evil acts
- For instance, Adam and Eve abused their free will and brought evil into a perfect world
- How humans use their free will determines whether they will go to heaven or hell
- God enables humans to be saved from sin (Jesus’ death) but it requires them to accept the rescuer
- This is referred to as a soul deciding theodicy
15
Q
What is Irenaeus’ Theodicy?
A
- Evil exists because God wants humans to respond positively to suffering to become more like God
- Humans are “made in the image of God” (Genesis chapter 1) but are unfinished and imperfect
- Suffering throughout one’s lifetime is intended to make one fit for heaven
- This is referred to as a soul making theodicy
16
Q
What are the problems with Augustine’s Theodicy?
A
- It only explains moral evil and not natural evil, suffering which mankind cannot control
- It suggests God made humans flawed
- It is incompatible with modern scientific ideas
17
Q
What are the problems with Irenaeus’ Theodicy?
A
- It does not justify the full extent of suffering that humans experience eg. catastrophic events like the Holocaust, as well as the fact that some experience more suffering than others
- It does not have room for free will
- Suffering often happens to children too young to learn from it (The Brothers Karsmazov by Dostoyevsky, The Plague by Albert Camus)
