Irenaean Theodicy

• Iranaean Theodicy - Developing toward perfection

  • argued that God did not create humans in complete perfection
  • we were created imperfect so that we could develop towards perfection
• Iranaean Theodicy - Distinguishes between 'image' and 'likeness' of God

  • there are 2 stages in the creation of human race
  • 'image' refers to the 'form'
  • 'likeness' refers to the 'content'
  • we are brought into the world in the 'image' of God but we develop over time into the 'likeness' of God
• Iranaean Theodicy - Free Will

  • argued that God gave humans free will so that they could willingly develop into the 'likeness of God' without coercion
• Iranaean Theodicy - God's plan

  • argues that God did not make a perfect world because evil has an important part to play in God's plan for humanity
• Iranaean Theodicy - Epistemic distance

  • John Hick developed this theodicy and emphasised the importance of human development
  • Hick argued that God created humans at a epistemic distance so that they could choose freely
  • if we are too close to the knowledge of God, we would have no choice but to believe and obey him
• Iranaean Theodicy - God partly responsible for evil

  • because his creation is imperfect - part of his plan for humanity
• Irenaean Theodicy - Everyone goes to heaven

  • Hick further argues in his development of this theodicy that if the perfection process is not developed in this life, then it will continue into the next
• Irenaean theodicy - Soul making

  • Evil has a purpose to help us grow and develop into moral and perfect beings
• Irenaean Theodicy A02

  + Allows for an evolutionary view of humanity

  • we develop into perfectly moral beings over time
• Irenaean Theodicy A02

  + Evil is teleological

  • doesn't come from nowhere, its purpose is to help us develop
• Irenaean Theodicy A02

  + God is not responsible for our evil choices - we each have free will
• Irenaean Theodicy A02 -

  +Richard Swinburne

  • argues that a 'world which includes suffering is the best possible world for humans'
  • God created a world in which humans could meaningfully contribute to the imperfect world in which they lived
  • eg. God could have created a world in which the cure for cancer was a prayer but this would take the opportunity away for humans to discover it themselves
  • opportunity and responsibility is far better for humans
• Irenaean Theodicy A02

  - Irenaeus and Hick suggest that God's creative work is imperfect which does not appeal to conservative Christians
• Irenaean Theodicy A02

  - DZ Phillips asks - is there too much evil?

  • argues that it would never be justifiable to hurt someone in order to help them
  • however Hick replies that process can only work if there is a large amount of evil
• Irenaean Theodicy A02

  - too optimistic

  • the idea of the soul making process continuing into the afterlife is unrealistic
• Irenaean Theodicy A02

  - Mentally disturbed people who produce evil?

  • cannot be held responsible