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- Evil is something which affects everyone, and is a problem for all. It leads to pain, suffering and death in many cases. Does the existence of evil disprove the existence of the Christian Concept of a loving, caring God?
- Moral Evil is the evil which is caused by Human Beings through free will allowing them do the action in question. This applies only to acts done by humans - for example if a man stabbed someone, this would be an act of Moral Evil because he chose to do it; a lion mauling somebody would still be an evil act but it would not be one which is Moral because Lions cannot think rationally like humans.
- Natural Evil is the evil of events which have been experienced by humans. An example would be a hurricane - it causes a lot of suffering but it is not caused by free choice, it is simply caused by the way nature works.
- The problem with evil is whether an Omnipotent, Benevolent God can exist while Evil exists. Either God is Good, but is not all powerful and hence cannot stop evil, God is All Powerful, but is not Good because he allows Evil to exist or, God is Good and God is Omnipotent, and hence evil doesn't exist. Obviously evil exists so numerous Christian Philosophers have sought answers to how God can still exist with these problems.
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- Augustine's Theodicy is based around the creation stories in Genesis.
- "If god is good, Omnipotent and he created the world, why does Evil exist?"
- Augustine considers Evil not to be a substance or thing, but a privation - a lack of a quality something should have.
- Augustine rejects the idea that evil is a force or power because this would mean there was a rival to God which goes against traditional Christian views.
- Hence, Augustine says that evil caused by Humans is simply a lack of Goodness. It is a failure to be what is expected of a human which causes Moral Evil.
- Augustine then says that "Evil Comes from God." Because Evil is a privation, a lack of something, and God created everything, then God is responsible for creation, and allows humans to have Free Will.
- God allowed Humans to have free will in the Garden of Eden - A paradise in a state of harmony. All of God's creation is good. However, Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They chose, with their free will to cause evil. Augustine said that this applied not only to humans but to Angels, purely spiritual beings, and those which disobeyed God caused Natural Evil.
- Augustine argues that allowing Evil in the World is a price worth paying for free choices. If there was no free will, it would remove the Good choices which people could make, such as bringing Joy, happiness or hope. On the other hand, it allows murder, rape and theft.
- When considering the universe in its totality, the contrast between the negative things and the good things highlights the beauty of Goodness. This is known as the aesthetic principle.
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Strengths of the Augustinian Theodicy
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- That evil comes from free will fits with what we see around us, at least with Moral Evil.
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Criticisms of the Augustinian Theodicy
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- Plausibility - Augustine based his views on the Genesis story which he took literally. He also believed in Angels, for which there is no evidence, and therefore many people would feel that this theodicy is implausible to Modern People. On the other hand, some modern Philosophers such as Richard Swinburne strongly defend the idea that evil arises from the misuse of free will.
- Science - The theodicy works from a perfect world which was then spoiled by human actions. However, the findings by Geologists show the world was developed over about 4 billion years to how it is now, and Biological findings show that life also developed slowly through Natural Selection. Therefore, the idea of a perfect world then spoilt by evil cannot be taken as a literal fact.
- The concept of evil being a privation which is not part of God's Creation is illogical. God could have created more goodness to fill the privation if he was all powerful.
- This understanding of evil doesn't really give solace to people suffering.
- Evil appears from nowhere in the case of natural evil.
- Christians uncomfortable with thinking about Natural Disasters. Augustine argued for a God which is responsible for all, and that suffering is punishment for the sin of humanity. This does not fit in with a merciful and kind God.
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- Focused on Genesis 1. "Then God said, 'And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us'" (Genesis 1:26)
- Irenaeus took 'Like us,' to mean that God made humanity with intelligence, morality and personality.
- He took 'resemble us' to mean that peoples souls grow until they resembled the nature of God. Hence, since humanity needs to develop, originally the first humans were immature.
- Irenaeus believed God gave us free will because we learn about right and wrong through our own mistakes in life. Since free will is having a choice between Good and Evil, Evil must exist to allow us to exercise it.
- Free will is an essential part of humanity, and if God removed evil from the world, he would also reduce us to mere puppets.
- There is an epistemic distance between God and people so that we can choose freely to develop a relationship with God. All will grow into the likeness of God but this will not be in a physical life.
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Strengths of the Iranaean Theodicy
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- Gives an explanation for both Moral and Natural Evil
- The end justifies the means.
- The concept of humans growing progressively better fits in with that of evolution.
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Weaknesses of the Iranaean Theodicy
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- How much suffering is needed to teach a lesson? Some people would say that the amount of suffering is not needed.
- Some people suffer much worse than others. How could a loving God single these people out?
- Would a loving God use evil at all?
- Why didn't God create humans to be morally perfect.
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