Irenaeus and the Problem of Evil

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Irenaeus' theory is
Soul making
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What does soul making mean?
The presence of evil helps us to grwo and develop as we were not made perfect
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what does soul deciding mean?
Humans have the choice to turn back to God through salvation of focus, humans were created perfectly and we turned away from God because of the Fall
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What was God's aim when he created us according to Irenaeus?
So we can grow into his "likeness"
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What needs to be developed?
Our soul - developed to be like God
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We have free choice so what do we have the power to do?
We have the power to choose between good and bad decisions
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How is evil beneficial?
Helps us to develop into spiritual perfection
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If God took away human freedom what else would we lose?
Mortality - what makes us human
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What will eventually happen when evil and suffering is overcome?
We will be in spiritual happiness/perfection
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What was the purpose of Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden?
To grow and mature so they can learn from their mistakes
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According to Ireneaus, who is responsible for evil?
Humans as they are free and can choose to sin but God partly because he created us imperfectly by choice
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What distance does Hick describe we have from God?
Epistemic
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Why do we have epistemic distance from God?
So his existence would not be obvious and so we can have room to improve - allows for God to have ignorance over our free will mistakes
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Ireneaus' theodicy is unfair because...
Evil is seen as necessary but why should someone suffer more than someone else to develop into the same spiritual perfection?
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Why does Kant reject this theodicy?
The ends do not justify the means
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Why does Ireneaus' theodicy trivalise evil?
It doesn't explain why great suffering like the Holocaust has to happen
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Why is Ireneaus' theodicy good in relation to the whole of humanity and creation?
It shows that everything has to develop into the likeness of God and that we need development to do so
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Why is the non-existence of Hell a good thing for the nature of God?
It shows that God is omni-benevolent as everyone, even sinners, go to heaven.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What does soul making mean?

Back

The presence of evil helps us to grwo and develop as we were not made perfect

Card 3

Front

what does soul deciding mean?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was God's aim when he created us according to Irenaeus?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What needs to be developed?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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