Christianity Problem of evil

1 christianity

1.1 bible
1.2 judgment day
1.3 irenaean theodicy
1.4 augustinian theodicy
1.5 st. thomas aquinas
1.6 luther , calvin
1.7 liberal christianity
1.8 christian science

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