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Hick chapter 13 - Coggle Diagram

- - - - The serpent= "the exploring experimental intelligence that is inherent in man's nature"
      - It is “the first scientist”, the temptation, is “the earliest hypothesis”, and the Fall is the most daring experiment
      - Man investigates nature, becoming immersed in it and alienated from God. The myth points to a fall inevitable because of humans' God-appointed situation
    - - Man as he emerged in the evolutionary process already existed in a state of fallennes because of being brought into being this way
      - Man can therefore come to God in complete freedom
- - - - Self-contradictions are logically meaningless so do not speak of anything which could be done or not done. This therefore does not limit God.
    - - If man is to come to God meaningfully he must be free, and have the responsibility of real moral choice. We must therefore have the option to chose to do wrong.
    - - Flew and Mackie: moral perfection was shown through Christ, why couldn't God make creatures who would always choose good freely?
      - Flew: free actions come from the nature of the agent (compatibilism)
      - Mackie: it is not logically impossible for man to choose good on several occasions, so it is not logically impossible for man to choose good on all occasions. God didn't take this option, therefore he is not good or all-powerful.
        
        Hick: it isn't just man's ethical behaviour at stake, but his relationship with God which must be formed
      - Ninian Smart's 'Utopian Thesis': there being no evil would make the concept of good redundant, and empty it of meaning
        
        Hick: this doesn't refute Flew or Mackie, as it doesn't explain why God wouldn't give us sufficient resistance to temptation in a non-utopian world