the problem of evil

    Cards (32)

    • natural evil

      evil which is the result of things beyond human control (disease, natural disasters, the suffering of animals)
    • moral evil

      the harmful acts humans carry out or human inaction when someone is in need (stealing, murder)
    • the logical problem of evil
      the epicurean paradox - if an omnipotent and benevolent god exists, then evil does not. A priori and deductive argument
    • the inconsistent triad

      coined by john mackie. points out that evil, omnipotence and benevolence create a logical inconsistency
    • the evidential problem of evil

      evil is logically consistent, however the extent of evil and purposeless evil lowers the probability that god exists. inductive and a posteriori argument.
    • purposeless evil

      disteleological evil
    • which aspect of God does the evidential problem call into question

      omniscience - did he not know the suffering that would exist?
    • william rowe
      fawn dies in a forest fire. alone. no one ever knows. what lesson did this teach?
    • rowe said...

      'there exist instances of intense suffering which an omnipotent, omniscient being could have prevented...'
    • theodicy

      a theory explaining how god and evil can exist together
    • epicurus said...

      'is god willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is not omnipotent. is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. is he both able and willing? then whence cometh evil?'
    • an evidential theodicy is...

      the free will defence
    • the free will defence
      • god has given up control over human actions to bring about a greater good
      • can make our own decisions and develop valuable qualities (moral evil)
      • humans must be placed in situations that require decisions and consequences (natural evil)
    • what do those who believe fwd have to prove?
      1. free will leads to moral evil
      2. the results of free will are worth the price
    • strengths of fwd
      • key attributes of god are intact
      • appeals to atheists as well
      • addresses issue of natural evil
    • weaknesses of fwd
      • Plantinga's response is not necessarily true - hinges on libertarian free will
      • not all would agree that evil and suffering are justified
      • doesn't explain purposeless evil and doesn't develop qualities (its extent may be unnecessary)
    • mackie's rejection of the fwd
      1. it is logically possible for people to make free good choices all the time
      2. god could have made all humans like this
      3. god did not do so
      therefore, god must lack the power or isn't loving - fwd fails!
    • plantinga's defence of the fwd

      there is no possible world where all humans can always freely do the right thing. freedom requires choice, so this is not logically possible
    • griffin's process theodicy

      god made the world out of pre-existing chaotic matter and this placed a limit on creation. god is not omnipotent
    • what is process theology paced on

      an interpretation of genesis 2
    • does process theology solve the logical problem?

      yes because it removes the element of god's omnipotence
    • process theology and science
      • based on quantum theories
      • god sparked evolutionary process
      • in keeping with big bang theory
    • process theology and evil:
      • evil can happen despite god's best efforts - in time (panentheistic relationship w the universe)
      • god was right to create the universe as includes intrinsic goodness
      • price of great happiness is maybe having to suffer great evils
      • god = the fellow sufferer (not transcendent)
    • strengths of process theology
      • seen as a more realistic answer
      • supported by some quantum physics
      • believers can see that god suffers with his creation and understands their misery
    • weaknesses of process theoology
      • lack of omnipotence makes god unworthy of worship
      • the universe wasn't worth the amount of suffering it causes
      • admits god cannot control evil, so there is no guarantee that evil will eventually be overcome
    • what is the human goal (soul-making)

      to have a personal and conscious relationship with god
    • hick's soul-making theodicy
      we live in a world of growth where we can become children of god. this can only be done through entirely free will and experience of good and evil
    • epistemic distance
      a distance of knowledge
    • epistemic distance in the world

      the world is religiously ambiguous. if we knew god existed, we would not be able to meaningfully and authentically choose god. so the world had to contain a range of moral and natural evil to develop humans into becoming children of god
    • universalism

      hick believed the idea of hell was incompatible with god, and so everyone will eventually reach heaven
    • strengths of hick's theodicy
      • fits with current scientific thinking (god willed the long evolutionary process)
      • epistemic distance justifies all evils and their extent
      • heaven justifies the means
      • new testament god doesn't rlly fit with the idea of hell
    • weaknesses of hick's theodicy
      • if we are evolved, how are we made in god's image
      • the ends don't justify the means - animal suffering
      • many christians reject because it goes against traditional beliefs