The Problem of Evil

The problem of evil :

• it is an old and permanent problem
• it is universal
• not just academic, it is personal
• we need to try to make some sense of it
• some people don't think there is a convincing argument yet
• some people think the problem of evil is more about us than about God

• the name for any attempt to solve the problem of evil is a theodicy
• evil is split into moral evil and physical/natural evil (and can be linked)
• the inconsistant triad - if God is all good and all powerful, how is there evil?

• God is perfect and made a perfect world
• wanted to express how wonderful God is
• was a Christian - took the Bible literally
• thought that evil was due to man's sin - Adam and Eve
• said that moral evil is our fault, and physical evil the punishment
• "All evil is either sin (M.E) or the punishment for sin (P.E)"
• God is innocent from evil
• At the end of time, we will be judged, and then will go to heaven or hell

Augustine's theodicy dominated until the 1800s

Augustine's theodicy, while strong, is probably wrong.

• how can a perfect world go wrong?
• if the world goes wrong it is God's fault because he made it (and did a bad job!)
• physical evil was in the world before moral evil (e.g. when the dinosaurs were around) - you can't punish someone for what they haven't done yet
• there is no physical evidence of a perfect world
• Hell - how can there be a permanent evil in the system?

• there is a 2 stage development of humans - intelligent animals --> children of God
• to develop and grow we need challenge
• it is a soul making world/character building world/moral gymnasium
• we have to be at a distance from God (epistemic distance) or else we will be overwhelmed with his love and wouldn't have a chance to grow or develop.
• if you fail in this life you always get to heaven - universal salvation
• there is no hell

God is responsible for evil in the world, but he's not to blame.

• is this world fair? It is not fair to design a world were bad things happen even if there is a good result.

• Augustine is very important but faces major philosophical difficulties. 
• Irenaeus is very important but faces major theological difficulties.

Richard Swinburne - "Evil is the logically necesary condition for greater good" (taking Irenaeus' side)