Problem of Evil

• The Problem (Inconsistent Triad)
• Augustine’s Theodicy (Soul Deciding)
• Irenaeus’ Theodicy (Hick) (Soul Making)

• God of classical theism:
  • Omniscience
  • Omnipotent
  • Omnipresent
  • Omni benevolent
• BUT evil exists
• Logical contradiction
• Inconsistent triad
• Moral evil= evil caused by humans (eg murder)
• Natural Evil= evil caused by nature (eg earthquake)
• Solutions include:
  • God is not omni benevolent (Mill)
  • God is not omnipotent
  • God does not exist (atheist)
  • Theodicy (attempts to maintain the classic theistic God and explain evil)

• Soul deciding theodicy (choose to turn- decision)          
• Free will defence
• God created the world good
• All creatures ordered in a hierarchy, given their place by God
• Turning from there place leads to evil
• The act of turning is evil= Pride (may not have bad motive)
• Pride= rather lie with oneself than with God
• Evil is a privation of good (privation boni)
• Evil is not an entity in itself therefore evil is not God’s fault
• Evil comes about due to free will
• Humans choose to misuse free will
• Satan and his cohorts exercise free will causing natural evil
• Saw genesis 3 (the fall) as first example of turning and misuse of free will- catastrophe, major event

• Strengths:
  • Relatable- everyone has experienced some form of evil
  • Biblical basis
  • Other examples of privation (eg dark is a lack of light)
  • Includes classical theistic God
  • Most Christians support
• Weaknesses:
  • How can we excuse god from evident flaws in the world
  • Human ability to turn away- are we really created good?
  • A hierarchy can foster problems between beings
  • How can hell and Satan exist?- did God know we’d mess up?
  • Logical problems
  • Is free will right?
  • Where does our ability to do evil come from?

• Soul making theodicy
• Man was not made good from the beginning they are made in the image of God but not yet possess the likeness of God
• Humans are created in an infantile state, state of immaturity
• Hick’s development…
• Trials and difficulties= testing grounds for us to develop
• A world that is only good does not allow growth (God’s relationship with humans more like parent to child than owner to animal)
• Humans have free will allowing them to develop, mans free choices lead to growth in power, freedom and wealth, so their souls become closer to God
• God keeps himself hidden (epistemic distance) he does exist but we have to make our own choices and rely on each other
• Dysteleological suffering= problem (Hick says we cannot here and now understand its purpose)
• Eschatological: If all souls are to be perfected soul making will continue after death

• Strengths:
  • Values freewill as means by which man can develop- God not cause  for evil
  • Includes classical theistic God
  • Evil is teleological (has a purpose)
  • Relatable- everyone has experienced some form of evil
  • Evolutionary rather than biblical
  • Answers question why God does not intervene
• Weaknesses
  • Does the end justify the means?
  • Is the answer that there is a reward in the afterlife really satisfactory
  •  Suggests God is letting us purposefully suffer- omni benevolent?
  • God’s creation is imperfect- omnipotent?
  • Where is the incentive if everyone is rewarded with heaven?
  • Mans free choices don't always lead to growth in power, freedom and wealth
  • Why suffer in this life if we are to suffer in the afterlife (eschatological)

END