Good evil and suffering

• “ there is the holocaust so therefore, there can not be a god “
• Suffering

  Necessary for individuals to develop moral virtues such as compassion, sympathy or courage, to complete their moral souls
• God interfering with human issues to prevent evil

  Would be interfering with free will (according to St Irenaeus)
• God's creation of humans

  With potential for spiritual growth, which evil allows to make ourselves perfect
• Original sin

  Belief that sin was created by Adam and Eve, bringing sin to humanity. We are born with the ability to commit evil ("I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me")
• Life

  A test - whether people will tolerate suffering and stick to their faith, determining heaven and hell
• Christian attitudes to evil

  • suffering and evil helps us understand jesus ~ jesus chose to endure suffering for the sake of humanity
• Christian attitudes to evil

  • evil exists because good does - worls is not perfect
  • evil comes from others free will
• Fate - force that determines the future, outcome is unchangable and inevetable
• predestination - all events have been willed by god and god has chosen who will go to heaven or hell
• Holocaust - experiences so hideous that its impossible to believe in an all loving god
• nature of good

  1. kindness
  2. helpfulness
  3. caring
  4. responsible
  5. thoughtful
• Stpry of the fall shows how people can abuse their free will