Monotheistic religions Problem of evil

1 monotheistic religions

1.1 christianity

1.1.1 bible
1.1.2 judgment day
1.1.3 irenaean theodicy
1.1.4 augustinian theodicy
1.1.5 st. thomas aquinas
1.1.6 luther , calvin
1.1.7 liberal christianity
1.1.8 christian science


1.2 jehovah s witnesses
1.3 church of jesus christ of latter-day saints
1.4 islam
1.5 judaism

monotheistic religions
christianity
the bible

the existence of evil creates not problem existence, belief in all-good , all-powerful god, because if god all-good , all-powerful in theory such god able prohibit such evils happening. in biblical view, evil opposed god , purposes (i.e., sin) or which, human perspective, harmful , nonproductive (i.e., suffering).

christian theologians have forwarded 2 defenses reconcile problem of evil , existence of god: greater response , free response. greater responses explain god allows evil acts in world because part of god s plan , prevent greater evil or greater good. free response, on other hand, argues if god prohibited evil, interfering free , natural laws of world.

judgment day

john joseph haldane s wittgenstinian-thomistic account of concept formation , martin heidegger s observation of temporality s thrown nature imply god s act of creation , god s act of judgment same act. god s condemnation of evil subsequently believed executed , expressed in created world; judgement unstoppable due god s powerful will; constant , eternal judgement becomes announced , communicated other people on judgment day. in explanation, god s condemnation of evil declared judgement.

irenaean theodicy

irenaean theodicy, posited irenaeus (2nd century ce–c. 202), has been reformulated john hick. holds 1 cannot achieve moral goodness or love god if there no evil , suffering in world. evil soul-making , leads 1 moral , close god. god created epistemic distance (such god not knowable) may strive know him , doing become good. evil means 3 main reasons:

augustinian theodicy

st augustine of hippo (354–430 ce) in augustinian theodicy, presented in john hick s book evil , god of love, focuses on genesis story dictates god created world , good; evil merely consequence of fall of man (the story of garden of eden adam , eve disobeyed god , caused inherent sin man). augustine stated natural evil (evil present in natural world such natural disasters etc.) caused fallen angels, whereas moral evil (evil caused of human beings) result of man having become estranged god , choosing deviate chosen path. augustine argued god not have created evil in world, created good, , notions of evil deviation or privation of goodness. evil cannot separate , unique substance. example, blindness not separate entity, merely lack or privation of sight. augustinian theodicist argue problem of evil , suffering void because god did not create evil; man chose deviate path of perfect goodness.

st. thomas aquinas

saint thomas systematized augustinian conception of evil, supplementing own musings. evil, according st. thomas, privation, or absence of belongs nature of creature. there therefore no positive source of evil, corresponding greater good, god; evil being not real rational—i.e. exists not objective fact, subjective conception; things evil not in themselves, reason of relation other things or persons. realities in good; produce bad results incidentally; , consequently ultimate cause of evil fundamentally good, objects in evil found.

luther , calvin

both luther , calvin explained evil consequence of fall of man , original sin. calvin, however, held belief in predestination , omnipotence, fall part of god s plan. luther saw evil , original sin inheritance adam , eve, passed on mankind conception , bound of man serving sin, god s nature allowed consequence distrust, though god planned mankind s redemption through jesus christ. humans may not able understand , explain plan.

liberal christianity

some modern liberal christians, including french calvinist theologian andré gounelle , pastor marc pernot of l oratoire du louvre, believe god not omnipotent, , bible describes god almighty in passages concerning end times.

christian science

christian science views evil having no ultimate reality , being due false beliefs, consciously or unconsciously held. evils such illness , death may banished correct understanding. view has been questioned, aside general criticisms of concept of evil illusion discussed earlier, since presumably correct understanding christian science members, including founder, has not prevented illness , death. however, christian scientists believe many instances of spiritual healing (as recounted e.g. in christian science periodicals , in textbook science , health key scriptures mary baker eddy) anecdotal evidence of correctness of teaching of unreality of evil. according 1 author, denial christian scientists evil exists neatly solves problem of evil; however, people cannot accept solution

jehovah s witnesses

jehovah s witnesses believe satan original cause of evil. though once perfect angel, satan developed feelings of self-importance , craved worship, , challenged god s right rule. satan caused adam , eve disobey god, , humanity subsequently became participants in challenge involving competing claims of jehovah , satan universal sovereignty. other angels sided satan became demons.

god s subsequent tolerance of evil explained in part value of free will. jehovah s witnesses hold period of suffering 1 of non-interference god, serves demonstrate jehovah s right rule both correct , in best interests of intelligent beings, settling issue of universal sovereignty . further, gives individual humans opportunity show willingness submit god s rulership.

at future time known him, god consider right universal sovereignty have been settled time. reconciliation of faithful humankind have been accomplished through christ, , nonconforming humans , demons have been destroyed. thereafter, evil (any failure submit god s rulership) summarily executed.

the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints

the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints (lds church) introduces concept similar irenaean theodicy, experiencing evil necessary part of development of soul. specifically, laws of nature prevent individual comprehending or experiencing without experiencing opposite. in respect, latter-day saints not regard fall of adam , eve tragic, unplanned cancellation of eternal paradise; rather see essential element of god s plan. allowing opposition , temptations in mortality, god created environment people learn, develop freedom choose, , appreciate , understand light, comparison darkness

this departure mainstream christian definition of omnipotence , omniscience, mormons believe changed post-apostolic theologians in centuries after christ. writings of justin martyr, origen, augustine, , others indicate merging of christian principles greek metaphysical philosophies such neoplatonism, described divinity utterly simple, immaterial, formless substance/essence (ousia) absolute causality , creative source of existed. mormons teach through modern day revelation, god restored truth nature, eliminated speculative metaphysical elements had been incorporated after apostolic era. such, god s omniscience/omnipotence not understood metaphysically transcending limits of nature, perfect comprehension of things within nature—which gives god power bring state or condition within bounds. restoration clarified god not create ex nihilo (out of nothing), uses existing materials organize order out of chaos. because opposition inherent in nature, , god operates within nature’s bounds, god therefore not considered author of evil, nor eradicate evil mortal experience. primary purpose, however, children learn both appreciate , choose right, , achieve eternal joy , live in presence, , evil has no place.

islam

islamic scholars in medieval , modern era have tried reconcile problem of evil afterlife theodicy. according nursi, temporal world has many evils such destruction of ottoman empire , substitution secularism, , such evils impossible understand unless there afterlife. omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent god in islamic thought creates everything, including human suffering , causes (evil). evil neither bad nor needed moral justification god, rewards awaited believers in afterlife. faithful suffered in short life, judged god , enjoy heaven in never-ending afterlife.

alternate theodicies in islamic thought include 11th-century ibn sina s denial of evil in form similar privation theory theodicy. theodicy attempt ibn sina unsuccessful, according shams inati, because implicitly denies omnipotence of god.

judaism

according jon levenson, writers of hebrew bible aware of evil theological problem, not claim awareness of problem of evil. in contrast, according yair hoffman, ancient books of hebrew bible not show awareness of theological problem of evil, , later biblical scholars did not touch question of problem of evil. earliest awareness of problem of evil in judaism tradition evidenced in extra- , post-biblical sources such apocrypha (secret texts unknown authors, not considered mainstream @ time written). first systematic reflections on problem of evil jewish philosophers traceable in medieval period.

the problem of evil gained renewed interest among jewish scholars after moral evil of holocaust. all-powerful, all-compassionate, all-knowing monotheistic god presumably had power prevent holocaust, didn t. jewish thinkers have argued either god did not care torture , suffering in world created—which means not omnibenevolent, or did not know happening—which means not omniscient. persecution of jewish people not new phenomenon, , medieval jewish thinkers had in abstract attempted reconcile logical version of problem of evil. holocaust experience , other episodes of mass extermination such gulag , killing fields millions of people experienced torture , died, however, brought focus visceral nature of evidential version of problem of evil.

the 10th-century rabbi called saadia gaon presented theodicy along lines of soul-making, greater , afterlife . suffering suggested saadia, in manner similar babylonian talmud berakhot 5, should considered gift god because leads eternity of heaven in afterlife. in contrast, 12th-century moses maimonides offered different theodicy, asserting all-loving god neither produces evil nor gifts suffering, because god absolutely good, presenting privation theory explanation. both these answers, states daniel rynhold, merely rationalize , suppress problem of evil, rather solve it. easier rationalize suffering caused theft or accidental injuries, physical, mental , existential horrors of persistent events of repeated violence on long periods of time such holocaust, or innocent child suffering pain of cancer, cannot rationalized 1 sided self blame , belittling personhood. attempts theologians reconcile problem of evil, claims holocaust evil necessary, intentional , purposeful act of god have been declared obscene jewish thinkers such richard rubenstein.