Unit 4 Evil And Suffering

Question 1

What is responsibility?

Answer 1

Duty, the idea that we are in charge of our own actions

Question 2

What is natural suffering?

Answer 2

Suffering caused by nature eg. Because of an earthquake

Question 3

What is moral (or man made suffering)?

Answer 3

Suffering caused by the actions of humans eg war or crime

Question 4

What four Ds cause suffering?

Answer 4

Disaster, disease, decay and death

Question 5

What is intentional human action called that results in suffering?

Answer 5

Commission

Question 6

What is inactive human action that causes suffering called?

Answer 6

Omission

Question 7

What is free will?

Answer 7

Having the ability to choose or determine ones own actions

Question 8

What is just?

Answer 8

Fail or right

Question 9

What is unjust?

Answer 9

Unfair or not right

Question 10

What is an impersonal force (nature or evil)?

Answer 10

The idea that evil is a power outside of people that draws them to evil

Question 11

What is omnipotent?

Answer 11

All powerful

Question 12

What is omniscient?

Answer 12

All knowing

Question 13

What is omnibenevolent?

Answer 13

All loving

Question 14

What is omnipresent?

Answer 14

Always present/ everywhere

Question 15

What is the God of classical theism?

Answer 15

Theistic religions (ones that believe in God, all six except Buddhism) God is described as ring omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipresent.

Question 16

What is the inconsistent triad?

Answer 16

An atheist argument that stars God can’t exist if evil and suffering do because the existence of suffering and evil means he cant be all knowing, all powerful, all loving or all present.

Question 17

Why does suffering go against God being omnipotent?

Answer 17

He should be powerful enough to stop evil and suffering

Question 18

Why does suffering go against God being omnibenevolent?

Answer 18

If he is all loving then why would he create and allow both evil and suffering to happen

Question 19

Why does suffering go against God being omniscient?

Answer 19

If he is all knowing then he must know that evil happens and still allows it

Question 20

Why does the existence of suffering God against God being omnipresent?

Answer 20

If he is everywhere then he witnesses evil and suffering but doesn’t intervene

Question 21

What’s the problem with God being all of the omnis?

Answer 21

God has to be all of them and if he’s not ALL of them then by definition he cannot be God and cant exist

Question 22

What would some religious believers argue about the inconsistent triad?

Answer 22

Evil and suffering doesn’t exist because of God but because of humanity’s free will. We commit sins and we are supposed to learn from these and commit good acts in the future

Question 23

What is evil?

Answer 23

It could be an action but mostly is used in relation to people. It is a deliberate intentional act to cause harm or hurt others

Question 24

What is suffering?

Answer 24

When people have to face and live with unpleasant events or conditions

Question 25

Argument about evil being caused by the devil?

Answer 25

Devil is in Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It is said he causes people to misuse their free will - Adam and Eve ate the fruit

Question 26

Argument for evil being a psychological phenomenon?

Answer 26

Argued that upbringing, parenting, school life, friends and society and media will influence actions of someone. If they are surrounded by bad behaviour which is passed off as the norm they can react the same way

Question 27

Argument for evil being caused by an impersonal force?

Answer 27

Addicts say their behaviour is because of addiction which can be described as a force beyond their control. Evil acts as a magnet pulling them towards evil things

Question 28

Buddhism on evil

Answer 28

- evil comes from human selfishness and three poisons - evil actions cause suffering which is bad karma causing suffering in future - attempt to reduce bad karma

Question 29

Christianity on evil

Answer 29

- believe in free will and they experience suffering because of tests - evil because of breaking Ten Commandments - not because of God because we have free will

Question 30

Judaism on evil

Answer 30

- believe in creation story and free will - believe God has control of everything and this includes evil - if evil happens it is because it is an opportunity tor humans to follow him or not

Question 31

Buddhists solution to evil

Answer 31

- believe in eightfold path and five moral precepts teaching Buddhists not to harm others and if they follow them they will avoid evil - in order to resist temptation of evil they should follow the "right mindfulness" from eightfold path

Question 32

Christianity's solution to evil

Answer 32

- Jesus says all Christians should treat others as they would like to be treated - in order to prevent evil we should be kind - forgiveness - don't seek revenge - to get rid of evil dedicate yourself to Jesus and his teachings

Question 33

Judaisms solution for evil

Answer 33

- through your history there has been various promises or arrangements with God and their ancestors - they are called covenants and they can't be broken - if promises kept evil won't succeed - Jews must stand up for what's right

Question 34

What is suffering?

Answer 34

It is an unpleasant feeling and causes the individual a great pain and they question the cause of suffering.

Question 35

What is the argument that suffering is a test?

Answer 35

By suffering we are being taught a lesson. eg. If you burn yourself on an oven you won't do it again. We are learning from mistakes. God has a plan and we should trust he as he knows what he is doing.

Question 36

What is the "it develops us as a person" argument for suffering?

Answer 36

By learning from our mistakes we are growing as people. Suffering exists so we can grow and overcome it and become stronger. Some suffering is necessary- pain in body go to a doctor

Question 37

What is natural suffering?

Answer 37

It is not caused by humanity it's just the way the world works. Humanity still steps in to try and lessen the impact and by not doing that it could cause moral suffering

Question 38

What is a religious argument against God causing natural suffering?

Answer 38

Nature isn't gods fault he created the earth but doesn't control it now

Question 39

What is moral suffering?

Answer 39

It is linked to human actions or inaction and usually falls under two categories - commission is when humans intentionally harm someone Omission is the inaction of humans to prevent suffering (witnessing a murder but not trying to stop it£

Question 40

What is an argument against God letting moral suffering happen?

Answer 40

Human beings have free will so god cant be held accountable for the existence of moral suffering

Question 41

Buddhism on suffering

Answer 41

Believe that humans inability to get away from the three poisons (greed, ignorance and hatred) causes suffering. This materialistic nature causes suffering to exist as humans are greedy and never satisfied with what they have

Question 42

Christianity on suffering

Answer 42

- book of job as an explanation to suffering - job Is dedicated to god but devil argues that job will "curse his name" in relation to God - God takes everything from job (wife, children, crops) but job. Doesn't "curse gods name" - he stayed faithful to God so he is rewarded - believe suffering is a test

Question 43

Judaism on suffering

Answer 43

- Suffering could exists because of free will - There is also an alternative reason to why suffering exists - God may use suffering to ensure obedience from his followers and make sure they keep the covenants to him

Question 44

Buddhists solution to suffering

Answer 44

- caused by bad karma from selfishness and obsession with materials if values - must get good karma by overcoming these - follow eightfold path and 5 moral precepts - care for those who suffer

Question 45

Christianity's solution to suffering

Answer 45

- have faith in God and from suffering you will be rewarded | - following teaching of Jesus reduces suffering

Question 46

Judaism's solution to suffering

Answer 46

- taught by prophet amos that selfishness and greed will cause suffering - therefore charity work and selflessness will create good chooses and reduce suffering - shouldn't belittle the lives of those in need