Problem of Evil Flashcards

1
Q

What is a theodicy?

A

A justifcation of God in the face of evil and suffering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Name three scholars who have theodicies

A

Augustine, Ireneaus and Hick

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How does Augustine’s theodicy begin?

A

God created the world perfectly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is evil, according to Augustine?

A

Evil is a privation or an absence of good

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a privation?

A

A lack of an essential characteristic or property

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is Augustine’s example of privation?

A

Blindness is a privation / absence of sight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What three key terms make up the Inconsistent Triad?

A

Onmipotence, omni-benevolence and evil exists

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Name two types of evil

A

Natural evil and moral evil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Give an example of moral evil

A

Murder, stealing, terrorist attacks, telling lies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Give an example of natural evil

A

Hurricane, tsunmai, earthquake, disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who/what does Augustine blame for natural evil?

A

The Fall of angels causing disharmony in the natural world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Who does Augustine blame for moral evil?

A

The Fall of mankind - Adam and Eve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the first sin called, committed by Adam and Eve?

A

Original sin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is God justified in punishing all humans?

A

Because all humans were seminally present in Adam and share in the original sin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does Augustine describe all evil and suffering?

A

Either sin or punishment for sin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

For Augustine, why does god send Jesus?

A

To rescue people from sin and to take their punishment on himself

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How do scholars’ describe Augustine’s theodicy?

A

Soul-deciding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is Scleiermacher’s logical argument against Augustine?

A

How could a prefect world go wrong?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How did Schleiermacher accuse Augustine of making a moral error?

A

Why did God create Hell? Did he know humans would choose evil?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How does Schleiermacher accuse Augustine of making a scientific error?

A

Biological error - all humans cannot have been seminally present in Adam;

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How does B. Davies support Augustine?

A

Evil is not properly a substance but “a gap between what there is and what there ought to be”

22
Q

How is free will used to support the Augustinian theodicy?

A

Genuine free will requires the possibility to choose evil

23
Q

How does Ireneaus suggest God created the world?

A

With evil and suffering; not perfectly

24
Q

How does Ireneaus suggest humans were created?

A

In the image of God but after his likeness (need to develop into the likeness of God)

25
Q

How do humans develop into the likeness of God?

A

By experiencing suffering, making good choices and developing character and virtues

26
Q

Give examples of virtues

A

compassion, charity, kindness

27
Q

Why did Adam and Eve eat the fruit from the forbidden tree, according to Ireneaus?

A

They were immature, like children, and made a mistake

28
Q

What example doe Ireneaus use of humans and God cooperating?

A

The potter moulding the clay

29
Q

Why does Ireneaus use the example of the potter?

A

Humans need to cooperate with God in order to develop

30
Q

How is Jesus seen by Ireneaus?

A

As sent by God as part of the learning process and also suffered

31
Q

What does Ireneaus envisage after death?

A

The traditional concept of God’s judgement and the separation of those who reject God and those who make peace with God

32
Q

Who developed Ireneaus’ theodicy?

A

John Hick

33
Q

What does Hick call the Irenaean Theodicy?

A

A soul-making theodicy

34
Q

How does Hick describe our world?

A

As a vale of soul-making

35
Q

Why does Hick describe our world as soul-making?

A

Because it seems purpose built to teach us and develop virtues / character

36
Q

What reasons does Hick give for God not making humans perfect?

A

They would be like robots and would not be free to choose to do good or to love

37
Q

What is epistemic distance?

A

God’s existence is not obvious to humans in order to allow free will.

38
Q

What is Peter Vardy’s example to support the idea humans need to be free to choose to love?

A

The King and the peasant girl

39
Q

Where does Hick argue everyone will end up?

A

In heaven

40
Q

What key term describes Hick’s idea that all will go to heaven?

A

Universal Salvation

41
Q

What is Mackie’s criticism of the Ireneaen Theodicy?

A

“could not our world be a little more hospitable and still teach us what we need to know?”

42
Q

How does Swinburne counter Mackie’s argument?

A

By saying this would be a “toy world where things matter, but not very much”

43
Q

Why does Dostoyevsky disagree with the Ireneaen Theodicy?

A

The suffering of innocents cannot be justified and God must be malevolent to allow it

44
Q

What does Ivan Karamzov decide to do at the end of Dostoyevsky’s novel?

A

To return his ticket to heaven

45
Q

How does DZ Phillips argue against the Ireneaen Theodicy?

A

True love does not use evil as a means to an end

46
Q

How does Process Theology seek to justify God?

A

God is not omnipotent, suffers alongside his creation and empathises with us

47
Q

How does Swinburne suggest that God limits suffering?

A

By allowing death to be part of the world, suffering is not infinte

48
Q

What argument can be used against Hick’s universal salvation?

A

That it seems unjust to allow both Mother Theresa and Hitler into heaven

49
Q

For Hick, why do we need natural laws?

A

It is part of the predictable universe

50
Q

Explain the Inconsistent Triad

A

God cannot be omnipotent (able to prevent evil) or God cannot be all loving (willing to prevent evil) or evil does not exist