The Evidential Problem

• The Evidential Problem of Evil

  "Whilst evil and God can co-exist, evil makes it less likely that God exists"
• Scholars:

  William Rowe
• The evidential problem of evil is an inductive argument
• Two types of evils:

  1. Natural evil
  2. Moral evil
• William Rowe

  "Intense animal and human suffering is intrinsically evil"
• Quality and quantity of evil = pointless 


  • Quality of evil = the intensity
  • Quantity of evil = the amount
• Natural Evil

  Environmental suffering
• Natural Evil: Rowe's example

  Bambi: deer in a forest fire burned and lies in agony for days before dying
• Moral Evil

  Innocence being tortured
• Moral Evil: Rowe's example

  Sue: a 5 year old girl beaten, raped and strangled to death in 1986 on New Years Day