Theme 2A: The problem of evil and suffering Flashcards
What is natural evil?
Evil that results from natural process, no human can be held morally accountable
What are examples of natural evil?
- Natural disasters
- Illness
- Disabilities
What examples of natural evil does Peter Hardy give?
- Pain of childbirth
- Natural disasters
- Poor design of the body
What does Hick say about natural evil?
Natural evil ‘is the evil that originates independently of human actions, in disease, in bacilli, in earthquakes, storms, droughts, tornadoes etc’
What are the two possibilities in response to natural does a religious believer has if they follow a God is omnipotent and benevolent?
- Evil is the fault of humanity or the devil, but not God
- God has a good reason to create natural evil.
What is moral evil?
- Suffering and harm that results from human actions
- Results from the misuse of free will on the part of some moral agent
What is an example of moral evil?
- Lying
- Murdering
- Dishonesty and greed
What does Swinburne say about moral evil?
‘Evil constituted by deliberate actions or negligent failure’
What does Hick say about moral evil?
‘Moral evil is the evil that we human beings originate: cruel, vicious, unjust and perverse thoughts and deeds’
How do theists explain moral evil?
Suffering which results from moral evil is not God’s fault but humans.
God gave us free will and allows us to make our own choice
What does Brian Hebblethwaite say about moral evil?
Even though moral evil can be blamed on mankind failings, we still need an explanation of why we are made in such a way that we feel pain and grief.
Who created the logical problem of evil?
Epicurus
When did Epicurus write?
Pre-christian era
What is meant by the term the ‘God of classical theism’?
- Creator
- Benevolent
- Omnipotent
- Omniscient
What is Epicurus problem of evil?
The existence of evil is incompatible with the ‘God of classical theisms’ attributes
‘If God can abolish evil, and God really wanted to do it, why is their evil in the world’
- Does God lack love or power
What is the personal problem of evil?
- Why me, why now, why this.
Why does the logical problem of evil make people doubt God?
It questions God’s morality
What did Mackie state about the solutions of the problem of evil?
- They limit God’s power
- God is subject to the causal laws which he made. So he’s not omnipotent as he has to introduce evil as a means of good
- God can’t be omnipotent as he has made things he cannot control - free will
- God is bound by logical necessities so can’t be omnipotent
What is Mackie’s omnipotence paradox?
Theodicies do not solve the problem of evil as they limit God
What are the three propositions according to Mackie’s triad?
- God is omnipotent as he created the universe
- God is benevolent - any loving being would wish to stop the horrors of evil and suffering
- Evil exists - we have direct experience of this
What is the conclusion of Mackie’s three propositions?
The three propositions are logically inconsistent
For Mackie the belief of God existing is positively irrational
What did Mackie state about an all loving God?
‘A wholly good being eliminates evil as far as it can’
What is the explanation for the solution ‘God is not omnipotent’ in response to Mackie’s inconsistent triad?
God loves creation but doesn’t have the power to prevent evil
What is the explanation for the solution ‘God is not benevolent in response to Mackie’s inconsistent triad?
God doesn’t care if his creation suffers, maybe God is malicious
