Problem of Evil

Question 1

Problem of Evil:

What are the two problems that challenge belief in God?

Answer 1

• Logical problem of evil
• Evidential problem of evil

Question 2

Problem of Evil:

What is the logical problem of evil?

Answer 2

Highlights inconsistencies between God’s qualities and the existence of evil.

Question 3

Problem of Evil:

Explain the inconsistent triad.

Answer 3

• God is wholly good but not all-powerful
• God is all-powerful but does not care
• God is both all powerful and wholly good so evil is not real

Question 4

Problem of Evil:

Which three philosophers provide possible solutions to the logical problem of evil?

Answer 4

• Hartshorne and Whitehead
• Dostoyevsky
• Baker

Question 5

Problem of Evil:

How do Hartshorne and Whitehead solve the logical problem of evil?

Answer 5

Process theology - choose to remove God’s omnipotence, making him an empathetic fellow sufferer

Question 6

Problem of Evil:

How does Dostoyevsky solve the logical problem of evil?

Answer 6

In ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ his character states that God must be malevolent and unworthy of worship

Question 7

Problem of Evil:

How does Baker solve the logical problem of evil?

Answer 7

Says that pain, evil and sickness are illusions and are not real

Question 8

Problem of Evil:

What does Alston say in defence of God against the logical problem of evil?

Answer 8

We cannot understand God because human perspective is limited

Question 9

Problem of Evil:

What are two defences of God against the logical problem of evil?

Answer 9

• There are good reasons for evil to continue
• Good cannot exist without evil

Question 10

Problem of Evil:

What is the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 10

Concerned with the sheer amount of suffering in the world
- especially needless and pointless suffering like that of babies and natural disasters

Question 11

Problem of Evil:

What does Rowe say about the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 11

Asks why God in His qualities would allow seemingly pointless human and animal suffering
- concedes we might not understand but holds that belief in a theistic God seems irrational

Question 12

Problem of Evil:

Who provides a possible solution to the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 12

Hick

Question 13

Problem of Evil:

Give one possible solution to the evidential problem of evil.

Answer 13

God may be preventing something worse, or a greater good is achieved than could be done without it

Question 14

Problem of Evil:

How does Hick respond to the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 14

The end justifies the means, true courage and empathy can be developed only in the experience of true suffering

Question 15

Problem of Evil:

What does Swinburne argue that the evidential problem does?

Answer 15

Provides motivation for us to find cures for diseases

Question 16

Problem of Evil:

What three theodicies attempt to defend God against the problem of evil?

Answer 16

• Augustine’s theodicy
• Hick’s irenaean theodicy
• Irenaeus’ theodicy

Question 17

Problem of Evil:

What is Augustine’s theodicy?

Answer 17

• Asserts that God created a perfect world
• Each part of creation has its own scale of goodness
• Evil occurs when something does not live up to expectations - privation
• God cannot be blamed as he cannot create a lack of something

Question 18

Problem of Evil:

How does Augustine’s theodicy deal with moral evil?

Answer 18

• The Fall: Adam and Eve code to disobey God
• The first sin corrupted human nature
• Because of original sin, everyone deserves to be punished

Question 19

Problem of Evil:

How does Augustine’s theodicy deal with natural evil?

Answer 19

• The Fall of the Angels: caused disharmony and imbalance in nature
• God is just as it serves as another punishment

Question 20

Problem of Evil:

How does McCabe support Augustine’s theodicy?

Answer 20

Agrees that evil means that it did not live up to its expectations

Question 21

Problem of Evil:

Give three evaluation points of Augustine’s theodicy.

Answer 21

• Augustine did not believe that the Fall was historical, it’s purely a metaphor
• Genuine free will requires the possibility to choose evil
• If God created a perfect world, where did evil come from?