Evil and Suffering Flashcards
(17 cards)
What issues does suffering raise for Catholics regarding God?
It raises questions about the nature of God and may lead some to examine or reject their belief in God.
What are the two forms of suffering?
Moral suffering and natural suffering.
What is moral suffering?
Suffering caused by humans, such as rape and murder.
What is natural suffering?
Suffering that has not been caused by humans, such as earthquakes and floods.
What attributes do Christians believe God possesses?
God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-benevolent.
What does Isaiah 45 say about God’s nature?
“I create both light and darkness; I bring both blessing and disaster…”
This passage illustrates God’s control over both good and bad events.
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church state about God?
“God’s very being is love”.
What is one difficulty people face when considering God’s existence?
Understanding why suffering happens.
For some, this is proof enough that God could not exist.
What is the problem stated regarding God and evil?
Why does God allow evil to happen?
What does omnipotent mean?
All powerful.
What does omnibenevolent mean?
All loving.
If God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent, what can we infer?
If God can stop evil and would want to stop it, then why is there evil?
What conclusion might one draw if evil exists?
It is likely God does not exist.
Who described the problem of evil as ‘the rock of atheism’?
The philosopher David Hume.
What did Hume mean by ‘the rock of atheism’?
The Problem of Evil was the best foundation for concluding God doesn’t exist.
Why may evil lead some Christians to question their own belief?
The existence of evil and suffering challenges Catholic beliefs about God being an all-loving creator. This may cause Catholics to question the whole teachings of their faith, especially in difficult times.
What do non-religious people argue about the existence of evil?
Non-religious people, such as Atheists and Humanists, argue that it is easier to imagine a world created by accident from the Big Bang rather than by a good God who would design a world with natural evils.
