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Problem of Evil- Notes

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Problem of Evil- Notes
John Hick defined evil as “physical pain, mental suffering and moral wickedness” For Hick, the consequence of evil is suffering
NATURAL EVIL
The apparent malfunctioning of the natural world e.g. diseases and natural disasters
MORAL EVIL
The result of human immorality e.g. genocide
THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
The monotheistic God of Christianity, Judaism and Islam assumes the divine qualities of omnipotence, omniscience and omni benevolence. However, the existence of evil and suffering in the world provides a challenge to the loving God of classical theism.
AUGUSTINE
Augustine, in his book ‘Confessions,’ recognised this problem:
“Either God is not able to abolish evil or not willing; if he is not able then he is not all-powerful, if he is not willing then he is not all-good.”
INCONSISTENT TRIAD
The problem of evil can be viewed as an inconsistent triad:
[insert pic]
The three are logically inconsistent. If God is omnipotent, he is aware of the existing evil and suffering and knows how to put a stop to it. If God is omni benevolent he will want to put a stop to it. Yet evil and suffering does exist.
DAVID HUME
The atheist David Hume argued that only three possibilities exist:
I. God is not omnipotent
II. God is not omni benevolent
III. Evil does not exist
Since we have sufficient direct experience to support the existence of evil, if God exists he is either an impotent God or a malicious God; not the God of classical theism. Hume concluded that God therefore does not exist.
ANTONY FLEW
Antony Flew wrote that the biggest challenge to the believer is accepting that the existence of evil and suffering is a major problem that demands an adequate response. The problem faced by monotheists demands a solution, not of qualification; in which the nature of God is arbitrarily changed to suit different circumstances – this concept of God ‘dies the death of a thousand qualifications,’ but by the rational justification of God’s right to allow evil and suffering to
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