Issues of Good and Evil

Question 1

Why Fundamentalist Evangelical Christians support justice, retribution and vindication.
(3 biblical passages)

Answer 1

1. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” Leviticus
2. “Let justice roll down like a river.” Amos.
3. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” Jesus

Question 2

Why Some Christians argue that forgiveness is not always appropriate. (Julie Nicholson-vicar whose daughter was killed in a terrorist bomb attack) (3 biblical passages)

Answer 2

1. Sometimes, only God can forgive some crimes-on the cross, Jesus says “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
2. Mary never openly forgave Jesus’ killers
3. Repentance is a key part of forgiveness and reconciliation. If the criminal is not sorry maybe they should not be forgiven e.g. in the prodigal son parable, the father forgives the son because he was sorry.

Question 3

Why do Fundamentalist Evangelical Christians support Capital punishment? (3 biblical passages)

Answer 3

1. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” Leviticus
2. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” Genesis.
3. “Let justice roll down like a river.” Amos.

36 Capital offences in the Old Testament

Question 4

Why are Liberal Protestant Christians against capital punishment. Must give criminal the chance to reform because (3/4 biblical passages)?

Answer 4

1. Jesus forgave the adulterous woman and gave her a second chance “Go and sin no more.”
2. Lord’s prayer-if Christians want to be forgiven, then they must forgive others and give them a second chance “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”
3. “Hate the sin, love the sinner.” Jesus
4. Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7 times.

Question 5

Why do liberal Protestant Christians support reform? (3/4 biblical quotes)?

Answer 5

1. Jesus forgave the adulterous woman and gave her a second chance “Go and sin no more.”
2. Lord’s prayer-if Christians want to be forgiven, then they must forgive others and give them a second chance “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”
3. Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7 times.

Question 6

What are the aims of punishment?

Answer 6

1. Deterrence
2. Reparation
3. Vindication
4. Reform
5. Retribution
6. Protection

Question 7

What are the examples of forgiveness? (Amy Biehl)

Answer 7

Amy Biehl’s parents.

• murdered in a racist attack whilst helping to fight for equality in South Africa
• parents spoke up at the trial of the convicted and enabled a pardon.
• met with the two of the convicted men-got to know them and their families. Two men were able to say they were sorry and the parents helped them get on with their lives-restorative justice.
• parents set up the Amy Biehl foundation to give black youth after school clubs and opportunities-stop the falling into gangs

Question 8

What are the examples of forgiveness? (Anthony Walker)

Answer 8

Anthony was killed in a racist attack and stabbed to death. His mother and sister forgave the killers- his mother thought that carrying unforgiveness around was too much of a burden for her and she had to forgive his killers. As a Christians he followed the Bible- Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7.

Question 9

Why do some Christians believe that you should always forgive? (3 biblical passages)

Answer 9

1. Jesus forgave the adulterous woman and gave her a second chance “Go and sin no more.”
2. Lord’s prayer-if Christians want to be forgiven, then they must forgive others and give them a second chance “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”
3. “Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7 times.

Question 10

What is relative morality?

Answer 10

What is the right or wrong way to behave changes according to either time, culture or a situation

Question 11

What are examples of relative morality?

Answer 11

1. Utilitarianism - greatest happiness for the greatest number
2. Situation ethics - always do the most loving thing in any situation
3. Virtue ethics - follow the virtues and which virtue is required will change according to the situation e.g patience if someone is being difficult, bravery in a dangerous situation. Christians try to follow the virtues of Jesus

Question 12

What is absolute morality?

Answer 12

What is the right or wrong way to behave does not change and stays the regardless of time, culture situation

Question 13

What are the examples of absolute morality?

Answer 13

1. Natural Moral Law - God has revealed human purpose in nature. Anything that goes against this is wrong
2. Divine Command - follow God’s rules 10 Commandments

Question 14

What are non religious arguments for capital punishment which have support from sources of authority?

Answer 14

For - it is a good deterrent, it protects society, it shows retribution, it upholds the law, it is cheaper - reference the law of the country

Against - innocent people have been hanged, it is never right to kill a person (humanists) it is the easy way out as life imprisonment is worse. Amnesty internationl

Question 15

What are the names of the 2 prison reformers?

Answer 15

John Howard and Elizabeth Fry

Question 16

What did the prison reformers do (4 points)?

Answer 16

• education for prisoners
• clean running water
• doctor
• separation of women from men

Fry - taught women the Bible and how to sew to earn a living

Question 17

What do prisons have now?

Answer 17

All that Elizabeth Fry and John Howard achieved as well as basic human needs:
- drugs
- rehabilitation
- education
- medical care

Question 18

What do prison chaplains do? (at least 3 points)?

Answer 18

• counsel inmates and help their emotional needs
• counsel relatives
• carry out acts of worship with them e.g prayer

Question 19

Why do prison chaplains do what they do? Christian and Buddhist views

Answer 19

Christian:
- “Love one another as I have loved you”
- “Treat others as you would like to be treated”
- Example of Jesus with outcasts

Buddhist:
- Metta
- Karuna
- Anatta
- 8 Fold Path
- Development of paramitas

Question 20

What is meant by moral good?

Answer 20

• bringing about the greatest for the greatest number
• always doing the most loving thing
• following the virtues of Jesus and the virtues of St Paul

Question 21

What is meant by moral evil?

Answer 21

• not bringing about the greatest happiness for the greatest number
• not doing the most loving thing
• following vices rather than virtues
• going against the purposes created by God observable in nature

Question 22

What is Natural Evil + example?

Answer 22

Evil caused by nature e.g tsunami

Question 23

What is moral evil + example?

Answer 23

Evil caused by humans e.g murder

Question 24

Christianity - where does goodness and evil come from?

Answer 24

Goodness - from creation
Evil from the fall and human abuse of free will, potentially from the devil

Question 25

How do they know what goodness is? Christians

Answer 25

God has revealed it through 10 Commandments. Example of Jesus and his virtues e.g compassion, bravery, love for all

Question 26

For Buddhists, where do goodness and evil come from?

Answer 26

Goodness from skilful acts driven by metta and karuna. Evil from unskilful acts driven by tanha and leading to the three poisons

Question 27

How do Buddhists know what goodness is?

Answer 27

From the dharma - 8 Fold Path, 5 Precepts and 6 Paramitas

Question 28

3 reasons why Christians believe God is omnipotent (biblical references)

Answer 28

Miracles-parts the red sea for Moses. Sent 10 plagues to the Egyptians. Creation-creates everything from nothing. Jesus rose from the dead.

Question 29

3 reasons why Christians believe God is benevolent. (biblical references)

Answer 29

Gave his only son to save humans from sin. Example of Jesus-cured blind, loving towards outcasts. Through Jesus, taught forgiveness.

Question 30

Epicurus’ inconsistent triad: What is it? Why is it inconsistent?

Answer 30

God is omnipotent and benevolent yet evil exists. If God is loving he would want to stop evil Perhaps he is not powerful. If he is powerful, he could stop evil, perhaps he is not all loving. Or perhaps God does not exist or evil does not exist. Epicurus concludes God does not exist.

Question 31

Augustine’s response to Epicurus-6 key points. (Catholic) and 2 weaknesses.

Answer 31

God created a Perfect world Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This is the original sin and referred to as the Fall (the fall from God's grace (love) Adam and Eve's sin was Inheritted by everyone else so all people are born inherently evil. When Adam and Eve Sinned, they upset nature and let natural evil into the world as well. God is benevolent and so has sent Jesus as a sacrifice for this sin-he took the punishment for it so humans could be made at one with God again. Those humans who turn to God and recognise what Jesus did will go to heaven. Weaknesses  A perfect world cannot go wrong. Price of free will is not worth it. God created hell so knew his world would go wrong. Assumes humans are free-what if they are not?

Question 32

Irenaeus/Hick’s response to Epicurus (Liberal Protestant). Four key points and 2 weaknesses.

Answer 32

God makes an imperfect world so it was made with natural evil. God gives humans free will so that humans can develop into God’s likeness.- This earth is a Vale of soul making- There needs to be challenges so humans can develop and make choices. Some abuse this free will and this is where moral evil comes from This development continues in life after death so all humans will eventually go to heaven (Hick). For Irenaeus however some people will develop and use their free will well, others will abuse it, become hardened to God's love and go to hell. Weaknesses Free will not worth the price. What if humans are not free. Could gain virtues with less evil.