W9: Youtube videos Flashcards
Who is the Irenaean Theodicy named after?
St Irenaeus
Irenaeus believed that humans must _____ into the likeness of God, developing our _____ ________ to be like God.
grow
moral natures
How does Irenaeus explain why humans are not made perfect?
because morality developed through hard work is more valuable than pre-programmed robotic morality
How does Irenaeus justify the existence of evil?
Genuine moral development is only possible in a world where pain and suffering are real.
In a world with no pain, our actions have no moral consequence.
Irenaeus quote on life’s problems:
A world without problems, difficulties, perils, and hardships would be morally static. For moral and spiritual growth comes through response to challenges, and in a paradise there would be no challenges.
Swinburne: “Many of the moral virtues we admire are only possible in an imperfect world.”
What suffering must exist for these three moral virtues to be possible?
Compassion
Generosity
Selflessness
Pain
Poverty
Corruption
What term does John Hick use to describe the process of moral growth?
soul-making
Why does John Hick believe God makes his existence uncertain
because if we knew for certain God was always watching, we would behave out of fear, and not virtue
Criticisms of the Irenaean Theodicy
- Do the ends justify the means?
- why is it ok for God to create an imperfect world for a higher goal? - Does all suffering result in moral growth?
- Is suffering the only way to create moral growth?
- Is universal salvation fair?
- if everyone makes it to heaven, what is the motivation to be moral?
What is the free will defence?
Humans must be genuinely free to choose how they want to respond to God.
Therefore, humans must have genuine free will.
The consequence of this is a world with good and evil
What mustn’t God do for free will to be genuine?
God must not place limits, or intervene. If God did, this would restrict our freedom.
Swinburne’s reasons why a world with death is better than a world without it
Without death a person cannot make the ultimate sacrifice
A limited life focuses attention
It stops the old dominating the young
Death limits the suffering one person can take
Swinburne’s defense for why God allows so much suffering?
Asking for less suffering would be asking that God should make a world where things matter, but not very much.
Criticisms of the free will defence
J.L. Mackie: An omnipotent God could create a world with genuine freedom and the minimization of pain. Humans could act freely, but always do right.
