Problem Of Evil Flashcards

1
Q

Definition of epistemic distance

A

A gap in knowledge between us and God

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2
Q

How does Augustine justify moral evil

A

The world was once perfect and free from evil, but our original sin causes us to use our free will to cause suffering and evil. Evil is not a substance but a ‘privatio boni’ (lack of good)

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3
Q

How does Augustine justify natural evil

A

The Fall of Angels caused a loss of harmony in nature, and God is just so he allows it to occur as punishment

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4
Q

How does Augustine prove that God is still omnibenevolent

A

He sent jesus which gives us a choice to follow God, he predestines some to go to heaven though none are deserving, and he gave us free will

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5
Q

How does Hick explain epistemic distance

A

God uses epistemic distance to ensure that we can make free choices of whether to believe in him, otherwise our love would be forced and not genuine

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6
Q

How does Hick explain natural evil

A

God allows natural evil because it provides opportunities for people to grow in God’s likeness

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7
Q

How does John Hick explain moral evil

A

God does not intervene with moral evil as that would prevent people from learning, and interfere with free will

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8
Q

How is John Hick’s view more scientifically compatible than Augustine’s

A

It accepts a metaphorical interpretation of Genesis, allowing Darwin’s theory of evolution to be accepted

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9
Q

What analogy does irenaeus use to show why God doesn’t make us all in his likeness to begin with

A

A mother could feed her baby solid food, but she knows it wouldn’t be good for the child, so she feeds them milk, Similarly, God knows we will benefit more if we grow into his likeness

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10
Q

What are the tools given by God that we can use to become his likeness

A

The ability to reason, free will, the ability to be moral

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11
Q

What did William Rowe say about the problem of evil

A

Some suffering is seemingly pointless e.g a fawn dying in a forest fire

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12
Q

What does it mean to say that Augustine’s theodicy is soul deciding

A

Our actions determine the extent of evil and suffering

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13
Q

What is a theodicy

A

Argument proposed to defend God

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14
Q

What is Hick’s view of the afterlife

A

He rejects the traditional idea of hell (place of eternal suffering) because it contradicts God’s benevolence, instead we go to a purgatory-like place where we suffer until we become ready for heaven

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15
Q

What is Irenaeus’ views on the afterlife

A

We can only grow into God’s likeness when we are in the afterlife, and everyone eventually becomes the likeness of God (universal salvation)

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16
Q

What is moral evil

A

Evil and suffering caused by deliberate human free will

17
Q

What is natural evil

A

Evil and suffering caused by natural events which humans have no control over

18
Q

What is the ‘vale of soul making’

A

Hick’s idea that God deliberately gave us a world in which evil and suffering exist to develop us into better, more moral individuals

19
Q

What is the ao1 spec?

A

Logical and evidential aspects of the problem of evil, Augustine, John hick and the Iranian theodicy

20
Q

What is the ao2 spec

A

Augustine’s view of moral and natural evil, John Hicks ‘vale of soul making’, logical vs evidential, is it possible to defend monotheism in the face of evil

21
Q

What is the evidential aspect of the problem of evil

A

Inductive, we can see the extent and inequality of suffering

22
Q

What is the inconsistent triad

A

The idea that God’s omnipotence, God’s omnibenevolence and evil are each corner of the triangle, and they cannot co exist

23
Q

What is the logical aspect of the problem of evil

A

Deductive, evil is a problem because it challenged the nature of the God of classical theism

24
Q

Who created the inconsistent triad

A

JL Mackie

25
Q

Who is irenaeus and when did he live

A

2nd century Christian, many Christians were persecuted at this time

26
Q

Who is JS Mill and what did he say about the problem of evil

A

20th century philosopher and utilitarian
Said that natural evil is a greater challenge to belief as it causes far greater suffering which can’t be explained by free will, so either there is a sadistic God or no God at all

27
Q

Who said the logical problem is the ‘rock of atheism’

A

David Hume, 18th century Scottish philosopher

28
Q

Why do we have original sin

A

It was passed on through reproduction, as we were ‘seminally present in the loins of Adam’ when he disobeyed God

29
Q

Why does Hick argue God still needs to give us free will

A

Goodness would mean nothing without free will, as to be truly moral, there has to be a choice between right and wrong options