The Problem of Evil

• Logical problem of evil


  A version of the problem of evil (Mackie)
• Mackie's argument


  • An all-powerful God would be able to stop evil
  • An all-loving God would be motivated to stop evil
• Logically, something can't exist if there's a being with the power and motivation to eliminate it
• If evil exists, then God cannot exist
• Evil, omnipotence & omnibenevolence form an inconsistent triad – meaning they cannot all exist
• Evidential problem of evil

  A version of the problem of evil (Hume or Rowe)
• Hume's argument


  • It is actually logically possible for God and evil to exist
  • Evil is evidence against God's existence
  • The evidence of evil that we see in the world means belief in God is not justified
• Augustine's theodicy


  A response to the problem of evil
• Augustine's explanation of evil

  • God allows evil because we deserve it
  • Evil is either sin or punishment for sin
  • The 'fall' of humanity due to Adam & Eve disobeying God caused original sin – a corruption in human nature giving us an irresistible temptation to sin (moral evil)
  • As punishment, God banished us from the garden of eden into this fallen world, which explains natural evil – evil resulting from the workings of the natural world e.g. disease and natural disasters
• Original sin


  Violates moral responsibility & incompatibility with omnibenevolence
• It cannot be fair or loving for God to punish us for the actions of Adam and Eve, as their disobedience was not our fault
• Augustine argues we aren't punished for their actions, we are punished because we are sinful beings – because we are born with original sin
• God allows evil to occur as part of His plan for human freedom and growth.
• Evil exists because humans have free will and make choices that result in negative consequences.
• Human freedom is necessary for morality and love
• God created humans free to choose between good and evil
• Suffering can lead to spiritual growth and development through self-reflection and seeking comfort in God.
• Theodicy - Justification of God’s goodness despite the existence of evil
• The existence of evil does not mean there is no God; it means that He has given humans the power to create evil through their own choices
• Aquinas believes that God permits evil so that people can freely choose to do what is right rather than being forced into doing it by an all-powerful deity
• Augustine believed that suffering was necessary for salvation, as it allowed people to repent and turn towards God.
• Augustine vs the evidential problem

  There is lots of scientific evidence against the fall - evolution suggests we evolved
• The idea that sin is inherited is unscientific nonsense
• Evaluation of Augustine vs the evidential problem

  Maybe the fall story didn't happen - but there is still good evidence for original sin - look at how terrible humans are e.g. Nazis
• Irenaeus & Hick's theodicy


  God allows evil because it serves the good purpose of soul-making - character development
• To become good people and deserve heaven


  We must choose good over evil
• Evil is required for us to be able to develop into good people who deserve to go to heaven
• Irenaeus & Hick vs the logical problem

  Why didn't God just create us good to begin with..? This whole process of soul-making is unnecessary and evil
• Irenaeus/Hick argue


  God can't make us good. A good person is one who has freely chosen good over evil. If God makes us good - then we aren't really choosing good ourselves, and then we wouldn't really be good
• Soul-making is necessary
• Irenaeus & Hick vs the evidential problem

  There is lots of evil that does not help soul-making. E.g. a child who dies of cancer - they were too young to understand what was happening, there's no way that evil helped them become a better person - in fact it prevented that. Some evil is soul-breaking, causing people to become depressed etc - it's not soul-making
• Evaluation of Irenaeus & Hick vs the evidential problem

  Maybe other people could have learned lessons from the child dying. E.g. their parents
• Hick proposed the soul-making theory, which suggests that suffering helps individuals develop spiritually and become more like God.
• If humans were predetermined or compelled to follow God's commands, then they would be like robots and lack true humanity