The problem of evil
- Created by: emilywatters
- Created on: 10-05-16 09:50
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- The Problem of Evil
- Irenaeus
- God created us in his image and likeness and he included free will in this so humans can make good or bad choices - we are not puppets
- "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" Genesis 1:26
- We grow as individuals through tackling problems, making mistakes, persevering and being patient - suffering is a part of God's original intention
- "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" Friedrich Nietzsche
- The world is deliberately created with a mixture of goodness and evil - this is so we can develop and grow as human beings into a mature and free relationship with God
- There has to be evil in order for us to appreciate the good
- How if we had no knowledge of the contrary could we have instruction in that what is good
- God created us in his image and likeness and he included free will in this so humans can make good or bad choices - we are not puppets
- Augustine - Confessions
- Evil is not a substance in its own right but is merely the absence of good known as privation
- When God created the world he created it perfectly and good
- Believes in judgement ie heaven and hell
- "All evil is either sin or punishment for sin"
- Natural evil is because human actions have destroyed the natural order and God saves some through Christ
- Everyone is guilty because they were present in Adam's loins so can be punished - original sin
- "All of humanity is therefore implicated in his sin"
- Only God is perfect as other things and beings are susceptible to change
- Angels and humans deliberately chose to turn away from God using their free will
- "The cause of evil is the defection of the will of a being who is mutually good" (mutually can change)
- Evil
- What is it?
- Natural suffering - caused by natural events e.g. earthquakes, tsunami just a result of the way the earth developed and not much can be done about it
- Moral suffering - people have free will to choose to behave in a way that hurts others so is as a result of how people act
- Does suffering have a purpose?
- Suffering is necessary to keep us alive and well as pain tells us when something is wrong
- Suffering helps us to appreciate what we've got
- Religious people may say suffering is a part of God's big plan which we can't yet understand
- Religious people may be see suffering as a test of faith
- Sometimes we suffer in order to achieve a goal making it worth it
- Suffering can make us a stronger person if we show courage to get through a difficult time
- What is it?
- J.S. Mill
- Mill first came up with the inconsistent triad
- Omni-benevolent would mean he doesn't love us enough to do anything about evil
- Omniscient would mean he doesn't know anything is wrong
- Omnipotent would mean he doesn't have the power to do anything about it
- Any evil that humans can do nature can do better (or worse)
- "Nature has no mercy or justice"
- 'Nearly all the things which mean are hanged for or imprisoned for doing to one another are natures everyday performances'
- Mill first came up with the inconsistent triad
- Irenaeus
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