1.6 - The problem of evil

Question 1

The logical problem of evil

Answer 1

-a loving god would want to prevent evil
-if god can do anything then he would be able to prevent evil

Question 2

Inconsistent triad

Answer 2

-god is perfectly good
-god is all-powerful
-evil and suffering exist

Question 3

The evidential problem of evil

Answer 3

-a posteriori argument which finds the best explanation for our experiences
-uses the evidence of the human experience

Question 4

Mill’s evidential argument

Answer 4

-natural world full of evil, gives examples of suffering
-argues evidence points to a bad god not a good one
-if there is a god he isnt benevolent, cant use him as a guide for a good life

Question 5

What is a theodicy

Answer 5

-an attempt to justify god and show his good character

Question 6

What is a theodicy

Answer 6

-an attempt to justify god and show his good character
-first used by leibniz

Question 7

What is natural evil

Answer 7

-evil and suffering not caused by human wrongdoing
-eg earthquakes, illnesses

Question 8

What is moral evil

Answer 8

-evil and suffering caused by human wrongdoing
-eg war, bullying, greed, selfishness
-also caused by suffering due to lack of good done

Question 9

Problems with distinction between evil

Answer 9

-could be argued that all suffering is the result of moral evil, especially with the belief that the fall caused it all
-could also be argued all suffering is due to natural evil as we are made in a way that allows suffering

Question 10

Successes of distinctions between evil

Answer 10

-hard to blame humanity for natural evil so moral evil gives a different explanation

Question 11

Augustines views on evil

Answer 11

-evil is not a real quality its a privatio boni, a lack of good
-did not have its own existence was a falling away from goodness

Question 12

Augustine on variety

Answer 12

-part of the goodness and perfection of the world
-each part of creation is good in its own right even tho it is lacking certain qualities, doesnt make it evil
-it is inevitable that the world will be rich and varied

Question 13

The fall of the angels

Answer 13

-evil came into the world through the fall of the angels
-they were created perfect but some given less grace
-they then fell away from god due to their misuse of free will

Question 14

The results of the fall

Answer 14

-this was then repeated by adam and eve in the fall of humanity in the garden of eden
-all evil in the world came from this
-perfect angels fighting for good, the fallen ones pervert world

Question 15

The Irenaean theodicy

Answer 15

-god allows evil into the world and it was deliberately created to help humans grow and develop
-we wont appreciate good without evil, things we take for granted as good only exist as we have a comparative

Question 16

Irenaeus’ idea of free will

Answer 16

-when god made people in his image he must have given them free will as he has it himself
-there would’ve been no point in making humanity if they had no free will

Question 17

Irenaeus’ distinction between gods image and likeness

Answer 17

-god made us in his image but we have to grow into his likeness
-in gods image we have the choice to be moral agents
-in gods likeness we have to develop and mature to reach our potential

Question 18

Irenaeus’ views on good

Answer 18

-god gave us goodness when we were made + the other qualities which go with it, goodness obsolete otherwise
-part of being good is making the right conscious choice
-if god stopped every wrong choice then no free will

Question 19

Irenaeus on gods likeness

Answer 19

-humanity is not capable of gods likeness in this world only happens after death
-essential to Irenaean theodicy that everyone lives after death and continues their development

Question 20

Hicks views on the problem of evil

Answer 20

-evil and suffering are not an accident, they are problems god wishes he could solve but is unable
-god gave us the world where we could have the best relationship with him

Question 21

Epistemic distance

Answer 21

-distance in knowledge, god remains partially hidden from humanity does not make his existence obvious
-if god were to reveal himself then faith in him is not a choice, hick thinks god wants us to have that choice

Question 22

Hicks views on life after death

Answer 22

-hardships can only be justified if there’s an afterlife
-our ‘soul-making’ experiences are preparing us for it
-people continue with growth in the afterlife and everyone is saved in the end, regardless of faith

Question 23

DZ Phillips’ criticism of hick

Answer 23

-not right to suggest god allows evil and planned it to happen
-a god who allows that much suffering is evil