The problem of evil

The problem of evil

1. Why does the existence of evil challenge that of God?

   • Inconsistent triad (Epicurus and Mackie) See 'Goodness of God' mind map
     • The goodness of God
   • Mackie: burden of proof - theists must prove their belief makes sense
   • Two types of evil: moral and natural (and moral evil which leads to natural evil)
     • Surely only God can cause natural evil - humans can't?
       • Dawkins: there is suffering in the animal kingdom - not a beautiful, perfect world!
         • Nature is 'indifferent'
     • Is free will worth the trouble it causes?
     • Couldn't God have made all humans moral so we'd always choose the moral action?
       • Why are bad people allowed to profit from the suffering of innocents?
     • Do we all share in original sin? This seems unfair?

2. Theodicies

   • Explanations for evil in the world using reason
   • Augustine's theodicy
     • Evil is a privation of good
       • Absence is not an evil - eg the lack of wings isn't an evil because we don't need them
     • Evil is not an opponent of God, or God would not be omnipotent
     • You are only evil if you choose to be - eg if you rob someone, your lack of respect for them is what makes it wrong.
   • All beings liable to corruption have some goodness in them or there would be nothing to corrupt
   • God created beings with free will - humans and angels
     • Some angels turned against God and 'fell.'
       • So there was evil to tempt Adam and Eve via the snake
         • Original sin disrupted harmony in the world
           • This is how humans are responsible for natural evil
             • Original sin is seminally present in us all
               • So our moral choices lead to evil
                 • Jesus was sent to reverse the fall
                   • If we repent we go to heaven, or hell if we don't

3. Augustine's theory - issues

   • Most people don't believe in angels
   • Many don't take the creation story literally
   • We know the Earth was not made perfect - it developed slowly
   • How can sin be inherited?
     • Unscientific
     • Unfair
   • How do angels sin?
   • We have to accept the existence of hell
   • Didn't God know we'd abuse free will?

4. Irenaean Theodicy (based on Irenaeus's ideas, but made by John Hick)

   • We are made in God's image, but we have to grow into his likeness
     • Irenaeus himself interpreted the Fall literally - Adam and Eve had not learned enough to realise what they did was wrong so they were punished so they could learn
       • But Hick's theodicy says you do not need to take the story literally
     • We are not created in God's presence or we'd be overwhelmed and would not have free will
       • There is an epistemic difference between God and people
       • The world is an environment for soul-making
         • Charity and compassion require suffering
         • We grow towards goodness
         • If only evil people suffered, we'd never learn
         • There is heaven; you go to purgatory if you don't learn enough to be good in life
           • Eventually we all go to heaven
   • Issues with this theory
     • Most don't believe in purgatory
     • Is universal salvation just? Christians teach that God only rewards goodness.
     • What about stillborn children?
     • Why do some groups seem to suffer more than others?
     • Why is there so much suffering?
     • It means that God is responsible for evil - an unattractive theory?
     • It means we have to accept God - if we have free will, can't we reject him?
     • It makes Jesus a moral example rather than a saviour

5. Benefits of theodicies

   • Augustine
     • Explains evil
     • Humans, not God, are responsible for evil
     • Seems fair - evil is punished, good rewarded
   • Irenaeus
     • Humans aren't to blame - an attractive idea
     • Could be accepted by non-Christians and evolutionists
     • Heaven for everyone - a nice idea!
   • Do we need theodicies?
     • Can we understand God well enough to explain his reasoning?
     • Are we putting God 'on trial'?
     • Z Philips: We cannot know God's reasoning:
       • That's why we have faith