The problem of evil Flashcards
The problem of evil - A logical problem
> Inconsistent triad (evil exists, God is all powerful, God is all loving) cannot all be believed without contradiction
A God like this would not want evil in the world
Evil and suffering = a God with these attributes can’t exist
A priori argument- if premises are true then conclusion follows
God is not totally powerful, God is not totally loving, Evil is an illusion, Evil is good for us
The problem of evil - An evidential problem
> A posteriori reasoning
There is too much evil and suffering in the world for the belief that there is an all powerful and all loving God to be the best possible explanation of the evidence
A better explanation might be that good and evil happen by chance
John Stewart Mill argued that the extent of evil and suffering in the world does not suggest a good God but suggests that if there is a creator behind the world then it is a malevolent creator
The problem of evil - Natural and Moral Evil
> Natural evil - that which causes suffering but does not come from any human wrongdoing
Moral evil - that which causes suffering as the result of human wrongdoing
The problem of evil - Theodicy of Augustine
> Influenced by his earlier Manichee beliefs that the world was divided between forces of good and forces of evil
Augustine argued that evil is a ‘privatio boni’ or absence of good
Variety is part of the rich goodness of God’s creation (things will have more abilities and strengths)
God create angels who were varied in their characteristics
Some angels received less grace
Some angels fell away from God (misuse of freewill)
Adam and Eve - temptation
Adam and Eve’s sin corrupted the human world and soul.
The problem of evil - Criticism of Augustinian theodicy
> Evil as absence of good doesn’t seem to be an adequate explanation of terrible crimes
Fails to explain why angels and humanity fell from grace if they were created perfect
Calls omniscience of God into question (didn’t anticipate misuse of free will)
Calls omnipotence of God into question (couldnt correct what was done)
Depends on a literal belief in angels and the fall as a historical event
The problem of evil - Theodicy of Irenaeus
> Very early Christian
Accepted that Evil exists and that God seems to allow it to continue
God allows evil and suffering so that people can develop into relationships with God
Has to be evil in the world for us to appreciate God
Have to be fewer good things in the world for virtues to exist at all
Made in Gods image to grow into Gods likeness
Free will is an important part of being made in the image of God
Could not have a genuine relationship with God unless we have options to chose otherwise
Complete spiritual development after death
The problem of evil - John Hick’s soul making theodicy
> Took an Irenaean approach
Described the world as a ‘vale of soul-making’ (words of John Keats)
Explores the theodicy in his book Evil and the God of Love (1966)
Hick saw the world as a place where our character and soul is shaped
Evil and suffering are not an unfortunate accident but a part of God’s loving plan to help us grow into a free relationship with him
God deliberately keeps himself partly hidden from us so that there is ‘epistemic distance’
Through tackling challenges we can learn to turn to God
After death we continue spiritual journeys towards a free choice to God (open to people of any belief)
The problem of evil - Criticisms of Irenaean thodicies
> Existence of evil being for our own good can seem self-contradictory (confusion between good and evil)
Some suffering is too great for God to have put it here to help us develop and grow
Idea that God’s love is difficult for us to comprehend present problems (trying to be more Godlike)
God having to allow evil as to allow free will = limitations on omnipotence
Hardships make some people lose faith (an omniscient God should know this)
Doesn’t give an explanation of why animals, babies or people with severe learning difficulties suffer
The problem of evil - Positives of Irenaean thodicies
> Could be comforting for those who suffer - there is a plan and it will turn out good in the end
We can relate to the idea that facing challenges helps us grow
The problem of evil - Positives of Augustinian theodicy
> Admired for presenting a response to the problem of evil that maintains Gods attributes
Makes use of biblical text
Makes humanity face up to it’s role in evil
