Evil

• What is Evil


  That which is considered extremely immoral, wicked and wrong, a force that makes people do wrong
• What are the two types of evil?

  Moral Evil and Natural Evil
• What is moral evil?

  -Result of human actions and is often caused by humans acting in a way that is considered morally wrong
• What is natural evil?

  -Events that have nothing to do with humans and which are to do with the way the world is

  -E.g natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, floods, disease and earthquakes
• How can natural evil and moral evil work together?

  Looting after a natural disaster

  Burning fossil fuels, contributing to global warming to rising sea levels causing flooding
• What are Christian attitudes to evil?

  -Many argue God created people with free will and choose between good and evil, when evil is chosen suffering happens

  -Some argue evil is necessary for soul making

  -Catholics believe evil comes from humans, Adam and Eve

  -Evil happens as life is a test

  -Evil is beyond human understanding

  -Suffering helps us understand Jesus

  -Evil is just the absence of good
• What is 'soul-making'


  the theory that evil has to exist so that humans can develop their souls by living and becoming good, moral people. It gives humans a chance to learn from suffering and develop moral virtues as we are not born instinctively knowing
• Who is Saint Irenaeus?

  -Father of early Christian Church

  -Argued that humankind was not created perfect and required growth, soul making, to be perfect and moral

  -Argued evil was for soul making

  -Also argued God didn't interfere with human affairs to prevent evil as that interferes with free will
• Who is John Hick?

  -Someone who agreed with Iraneaus' theory

  -Believed if natural evils didn't exist we wouldn't have the means to develop

  -We are also born distanced from God so soul making involves struggle to find religious faith
• Why do Catholics believe evil comes from humans, Adam and Eve

  -As when they were banished from the Garden of Eden in the Fall as they disobeyed God

  -Bringing sin into humanity people have been born with the ability to commit acts of evil

  -In Catholic Tradition all babies are born with Original Sin
• What story reveals that life is a test and suffering is beyond human understanding?

  The story of Job
• How does the story of Job show that life is a test?

  -Shows how suffering comes to anyone no matter how holy and good-living you are

  -Still maintains faith through suffering and is rewarded when suffering is brought to an ends
• How does the story of Job show that evil and suffering is beyond human understanding

  -When Job questioned God, almost doubting his faith the Lord responds to him saying 'Who is this that obscures my plans

  with words without knowledge?'

  -Suggesting God is omniscient and transcendent and our suffering is part of his greater plan we have yet to understand
• How does suffering help us understand Jesus?

  -Jesus endured pain and suffering to achieve greater good

  -His death and resurrection was a promise of everlasting life in heaven

  -This brings us closer to Jesus to understand his suffering and a way to bring good
• Who argued that evil was just the absence of good and how?

  St Augustine as things were created good but free will enabled things to grow away from good and become evil, example of Adam and Eve
• What are Muslim attitudes to evil?

  -Suffering and hardship happens due to God's will, purpose and greater plan for humanity that we won't understand

  -Life is a test

  -it's a greater good to resist temptation and follow the right path

  -Evil comes from Shaytaan
• Why does Shaytan exist?

  -Refused to bow down to Adam on Allah's command

  -As a result of pride and disobedience he was banished from heaven and exists to tempt people to do wrong
• Why do Muslims believe in God's plan?

  One of the 5 articles of Sunni Islam is Al-Qadr which is predestination suggesting a greater plan that Allah has
• Why do Muslims believe life is a test?

  -Humans are given the gift of life by Allah

  -All deeds are noted by Angels Raqib and Atid to be judged like a test
• Why do Muslims believe it's a greater good to resist temptation and follow the right path

  -Example set of Prophet Muhammad who was a humble and kind man

  -God is known to have good qualities, some of the 99 names of Allah: 'The Generous', 'The Compassionate' and 'The Merciful