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Evil and Suffering (The Problem of Evil and Suffering Remember: Religion…

- - - - The theodicy is compatible with Christianity and its teachings as it is based on the story of creation in the book of genesis.
        
        Free will is a key strength of the theodicy; without evil, we would not be able to make real choices (no choice between good and bad). The philosopher Swinburne said ta God who intervenes to prevent large-scale horrors would be preventing human responsibility and freedom, therefore, preventing genuine human development.
        
        God is not responsible for moral evil (caused by human sin). Responsibility is down to humans and their abuse of free will.
        
        The theodicy accounts for both types of evil, both natural and moral evil i.e through the sin of the angels
        
        Modern day philosopher Brian Davies support the fact that evil is not a substance, instead, it is a gap between what there is and what there ought to be. This is in atomistic view i.e all beings have an element of goodness
    - - Schleiermacher - God is responsible for evil because is he created a perfect world, it is illogical for it to go wrong. It is his fault that he allowed it to happen.
        
        If God created a good world, surely evil would not happen and the people he created would not be able to commit evil acts. Surely an all-powerful God could have created a world where evil does not exist.
        
        Augustine’s theodicy is based on the beliefs in the book of Genesis. Hick questions it from an evolutionary perspective. Evolution of man took place millions of years after creation and the world developed from chaos. (not perfection)
        
        Augustine describes hell as a punishment in his theodicy, therefore hell seems to be a part of the design of the universe. God must have anticipated that the world would go wrong. Hell is inconsistent with an all-loving and all-powerful God and a perfect world.
        
        Augustine's view of evil as a lack of good is challenged because many would argue that evil is a real entity and it is insufficient to say there is a lack of goodness in some people’s acts. For example, this is a very definite act of evil.
- - - - Man’s destiny is based on his own actions not on the basis of an event which took place in the past (the fall). This is fairer than the Augustinian theodicy that tells us that we are still suffering because of Adam and Eve which is unfair.
        
        It’s optimistic and encouraging as perfection lies in the future. I think this is more encouraging and optimistic than the Augustinian theodicy because the Augustinian theodicy tells us we are being punished because of Adam and Eve so there is nothing we can do, however, Irenaeus tells us that it is down to us. So, it is something to strive off.
        
        The theodicy accounts for all matters of suffering in the world - both moral and natural evil are needed for ‘soul-making’. Whether it is someone who is killed because of a nature disaster or someone is being killed because they are being murdered both deaths benefit us morally.
        
        Freewill is a key strength. Better to live in a world in which people are free to choose evil, rather than a world in which they are not free at all. Richard Swinburne tells us that if God wasn’t at an epistemic distance from us he would be too controlling and would be like a father always looking over you, therefore, this distance from God gives us free will. So that we can have this free will we must deal with large-scale horrors e.g. The holocaust or the Haiti earthquake.
        
        More compatible than Augustine with modern concepts of evolution. For example, Augustine tells us that God created a perfect world, however, Irenaeus’ theodicy does not tell us this.
    - - Extreme evil is unacceptable on the basis that it is soul-making.
        
        Can the killing of innocent children really be justified because it enables the spiritual growth of others?
        
        In some examples of suffering e.g. the holocaust people were ruined and destroyed more than made perfect.
        
        Some people turn away from God in times of suffering – this isn’t soul making!
        
        If we are meant to mature as a result of temptations and troubles – Why do some have an easier time than others? -
        Wouldn’t it be fairer if we all faced the same experiences.
        Heaven for all is unfair!