The Problem of Evil: Irenaeus Flashcards
(19 cards)
Who was Irenaeus and why is he important?
Irenaeus (c.130-200) was Bishop of Lyons, first great Catholic theologian, attacked Gnosticism, helped establish the Canon of Scripture, and developed the soul-making theodicy.
What is the main idea of Irenaean theodicy?
Humans are made in the image of God but must grow into the likeness of God through moral development and soul-making.
How does Irenaeus interpret Genesis 1:26?
He believes humans are created in God’s image (sharing characteristics like consciousness and morality) but must develop to be in God’s likeness (moral perfection).
What does it mean to be made in the “image” vs “likeness” of God?
“Image” refers to inherent qualities like intelligence and moral nature; “likeness” refers to becoming morally perfect like God through growth.
Why were Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden according to Irenaeus?
Because they were immature and needed to develop morally, having the form (image) but not the content (likeness) of God.
Why didn’t God create humans perfect initially?
Because morality developed through effort and free will is more valuable than programmed perfection.
What is the role of suffering in Irenaean theodicy?
Suffering is necessary for moral growth; it helps humans develop virtues and resist evil as part of soul-making.
What is meant by the “vale of soul-making”?
A phrase by John Hick describing the world as a place where souls are shaped and perfected through life’s challenges and suffering.
How does faith fit into Irenaeus’s theodicy?
Faith is a test where believers trust God despite uncertainty; this faith is a virtue developed through epistemic distance.
What is “epistemic distance”?
John Hick’s term meaning God’s existence is not obvious, allowing humans to freely choose faith rather than be forced.
How does Irenaeus view natural evil?
Natural evil results from predictable natural laws that sometimes cause harm; it has no moral dimension but is necessary for a stable world.
What happens if suffering leads to moral degradation?
Irenaeus acknowledges some suffer moral degradation, so the soul-making process may continue after death (universal salvation).
What is the idea behind universal salvation in this context?
Since not all achieve moral perfection in life, souls continue developing after death, ultimately leading to salvation.
What virtues are made possible by an imperfect world, according to Swinburne?
Compassion, generosity, and selflessness emerge in response to real suffering and pain.
Why does God maintain an epistemic distance?
To allow humans to choose belief and moral actions freely, rather than out of fear or certainty.
What criticisms exist of Irenaean theodicy?
It’s debated whether ends justify means, if all suffering leads to growth, if non-suffering methods could build morality (key moral precepts, SYNOPTIC LINK), and if universal salvation is fair.
What strengths does Irenaean theodicy have?
It aligns with evolution, explains moral and natural evil, justifies suffering as soul-making, and is supported by thinkers like Hick, Swinburne, and Basil Mitchell.
What is Origen’s “Hospital of Souls” idea?
Origen saw the world as a hospital where God, the physician, uses suffering to heal souls from sin, even before birth.
How does Origen describe suffering from God?
He said, “Everything that comes from God that seems to be bitter is advanced for instruction and healing, God is a physician.”
