Problem of Evil

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  • Created by: Millys200
  • Created on: 10-05-21 19:31
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  • Problem of Evil
    • Definitions
      • Moral Evil- Evil as a result of human choices
      • Natural Evil- any that arises in nature without reference to human agency
      • Deism- the belief there is a God who created the universe but had no further interest in or connection with its affairs
      • Inconsistent Triad- God is all powerful so he could prevent evil
    • Evil & its meaning
      • Logical Problem of Evil
        • The logical form of the argument tries to show a logical impossibility in the co existence of God supported by inconsistent triad
        • If God was all-knowing, God would know about all evil. If God was all-powerful, God would be able to do something about evil. If God was all-loving he'd want to do something about evil
      • Evidential problem of evil
        • Evidence of evil such a natural disasters, illness, murder etc
      • Suffering V Evil- Brian Hebblethwaite makes the distinction between suffering (pain, illness etc) and evil (human wickedness). Natural evil is non-existent, just suffering
      • Free will defence- God maximised the goodness in the world by creating free beings. Therefore, 'freedom' means that we have the choice to do evil acts. God does not create evil, but it cannot be avoided without removing mankind's free will. This issue only addresses moral evil
    • Augustine's theodicy
      • soul deciding theodicy
        • follows a traditional view of God
        • Interpreted the Bible literally
        • Free will is given to us, we can use it to commit evil acts
        • God is ultimately responsible for evil
        • Evil is a privation not a substance. It is a lack of good
      • The Fall- the original sin disrupts peace of God and their relationship cannot be restored. The sin is sex. Humankind is therefore 'seminally present' as we continue original sin
      • 1. Original paradise/perfection    2. God gives humans free will to choose to respond to him or disobey  3. Humans knowingly make the choice to turn away from God (increasing the epistemic)  4. The Fall- disobedience/wrong choice. sexual awareness  5. original sin- passed down through generations
      • Natural Evil- Satan is the cause of natural evil. Result of the disharmony in creation when the angels fell through God's grace
      • Predestination- God decides who will be save and who will be damned
    • Augustine Strengths
      • Evil as a privation: Brian Davies "evil is a gap between what there is and what there ought to be"
      • Biblical basis: A theodicy is appealing for fundamental christians who interpret the bible as the exact work of God
      • C.S Lewis- If God intervened to stop each evil attempt, wrong actions would be impossible. Freedom of will would be void. Essentially we would not know good without evil
    • Augustine weaknesses
      • interprets Genesis literally
      • No solid evidence for the existence of angels- How could they rebel
      • Difficult to understand the concept that we are seminally present  and t is unjust to punish later humans for the sin of the first
      • Predestination undermines the idea of free will
      • soul deciding- vision for humanity is bleak. Gap between God and humanity is emphasised

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