The Problem of Evil: Augustine

Augustine's quote

"Either God cannot abolish evil, or he will not. If he *cannot* then he is *not all powerful* If he *will not* then he is not *all good*

Irenaeus quote about challenges

"For in a paradise there would be no challenges"

Quote from Confessions (Augustine) about lacking good and causing evil

"If there were no good in them then there would be nothing capable of being corrupted" "All evil is sin... or punishment for sin"

What is the analogy Augustine uses to explain the evil

'Privation of sight'

How did Augustine quote evil

'evil is not a substance' - confessions

*logical* problem of evil J. L. Mackie

*Deductive argument* attempts to prove that God's existence is logically incomparable with Evil 1). *J. L. Mackie*

*Evidential* problem of evil

*Inductive* argument Does not claim that God's existence is incompletely with the existence of evil but the existence of evil makes God's existence unlikely

Outline Augustine's theodicy

1). *God is the Creator* - all good - all powerful 2). Creation is *good* & it was harmonious Genesis: "God saw all that he had made and it was good" 3). Evil is a privation of good - as it was not created 4). The *Fall* : Humans gave into their temptations through free choices (free will choose to disobey god they create an *absence of good within themselves* 5). *Sin entered the world*

Different types of evil

1). *Natural* evil 2). *Moral* evil: - caused by human beings - not animals as they can't think *rationally*

Criticisms of Augustine's theodicy 1 - Schiermacher

1). Augustine maintains that it is a perfect world but Schiermacher argued that It is a *logical contradiction* that God created a perfect world had gone wrong Either it was not perfect to begin with or God enabled the world to go wrong

Criticisms of the Irenaeus Theology 1

1). Do the ends justify the means Is it acceptable to so something bad in order to do something good.

Augustine's Theodicy explaining evil

1). Evil is caused by creatures using their free will 2). Evil is necessary for people to develop more valuable qualities e.g. compassion 3). Developing a different understanding of the nature of God

Greek philosopher Epicurus defined the problem of evil in the quote ...

1). Is God *willing* to prevent evil but *not able* then he is not *omnipotent* 2). If God is *able* to prevent evil but *not willing* then he is *melevolent* 3). If good is *able* to prevent evil then why is there evil?

Criticisms of Augustine's theodicy 2 -

2). How could *perfect beings choose to do wrong?* - if it is a contradiction for a perfect world to go wrong, then it also seems to be a contradiction that perfectly created beings would choose to do wrong. If goodness is in our nature, why would we choose evil?

According to John Hick why does God not intervene to prevent human suffering

> It would *undermine* human freedom > Because God created us with an *epistemic distance*

What is a theist response to the argument put forward by J. L. Mackie

> what kind of choice do humans have if they cannot choose to do evil and only do good? > It is dependant on how you *define free will*

Augusitine's 'Doctrine of Original Sin'

All humans share responsibility for evil as all are guilty of sin

Why did God not create humans perfect (Irenaeus)

Although God could have created humans to be perfect, the morality that has been developed through hard work and the *use of free will* is *intricately more valuable* than a morality that has been readily made or pre-programmed. If we had a ready made morality we would have no free will as we would be programmed to do God's will

Evaluating Premise 2: God is all-loving & all powerful

Although theists, such as Jews, Christians and Muslims would agree Deism - belief in a non personal god God does not have these characteristics

Assumptions from Augustinian Quotes

An all powerful, all good God would *eliminate evil as far as possible*

*Introduction* for Augustine paragraph for a essay

Augustine was heavily influenced by the *Creation Stories* Genesis 1-3

What about the people who don't achieve moral development?

Belief in *universal salvation* - everyone makes it to Heaven

Augustine's book is called

Confessions

What does Augustine think is the reason for natural evil?

Disharmony following the Fall *meant that angels turned away* leading to natural evil Devils are sometimes described as fallen angels. Creation was perfect, bringing disharmony into the world and the actions of the devils cause natural evil.

Criticisms of the Irenaeus Theology 2

Does all suffering result in moral growth? Overly optimistic view of suffering. Often leads to moral degradation. Can indiscriminate suffering lead to moral development example: does a still born or a high school shooting make the world a better place

What do Hick & Irenaeus say about the purpose of evil

Evil allows suffering in order to achieve a higher goal of moral development

Irenaeus

Genesis 1:26 "Let us make mankind in *our image* in our *likeliness*" Irenaeus interpreted this to mean that there are *two stages to the creation of human beings* 1). Firstly humans are created in the *image of god* - this does not mean a physical image (since god is not physical) but humans share characteristics 2). Humans start a process of *growing into the likeliness of God* Humans are not created perfect, but rather with the *potential to become perfect*

What is *epistemic distance*

God deliberately created us so that his existence is uncertain. If we could see God looking down on us we would act morally out of a fear of punishment rather than seeking virtue for the sake of moral growth. like constant 24 hour CCTV

God and forgiveness (Augustine)

God is forgiving - Jesus Shows forgiveness for those who repent Eternal happiness for those who repent

Inconsistent Triad

God is not omnipotent God is not omnibenevolent or evil does not exist

Importance of natural evil

Highlights the goodness of creation because of the contrast between good & evil

Why did God create a world with evil in it? (Augustine)

If evil continues and God continues to allow evil to happen, then God is keeping those people alive who are committing evil

Why is this deductive argument good?

If the *premises are true* then we have to *accept the conclusion*

Criticisms of Augustine's theodicy 4

Is it reasonable to say that suffering isn't real? By calling evil a 'privation of good' is Augustine not denying the reality of the problem. Example - grieving parent - it is not real just a privation of good??

Humans acting in an evil manner

Is just them not being up to the expectations of how a human should behave. It is the failure to be what you should do that is wrong For example, if you are mean you lack the qualities of generosity and charity

Criticisms of the Irenaeus Theology 3

Is suffering the only way to grow morally? There are other events that can lead to an improvement In someone's character, e.g. participating in team sports. Could God not have created a world without evil but with other challenges to help to create

Criticisms of the Irenaeus Theology 4

Is universal salvation fair? What is the purpose of acting morally if eventually everyone goes to Heaven? Do my actions now have consequences?

Why is this deductive argument bad?

It means that if we can show that any of the *premises is false* then we have *invalidated the argument*

Sheer amount of evil outweigh the amount of good?

Murders - Hitler Rapes Even evil within the animal kingdom

MACKIE ARGUMENT

Premise 1 Evil and suffering exist Premise 2 God is all loving and all powerful Premise 3 An all powerful, all loving God would remove suffering Conclusion: God does not exist

What is a theocracies

Rational effort to explain how evil can exist in a world if God exists

Augustine: Is God responsible for the universe?

Solves the problem of God being responsible for evil in the world by defining evil as a privation

Evaluating Premise 3: An all powerful, all loving God would remove suffering

Some argue God does not want to remove all suffering because he has legitimate reasons for it's existence - God has a *plan* Most commonly, through suffering God can bring about some *higher good* Some argue it is *logically impossible to remove evil* - it is like trying to have a world with up but not down

Evaluating Premise 1: Evil & suffering exist

Some thinkers don't think evil exists - just the absence of good - therefore doesn't exist evil and suffering are just human illusions names given to situations when our own motivations are not satisfied

Criticisms of Augustine's theodicy 3

Was the world *truly made perfect*? Augustine relies heavily on the Creation Stories but it is a *contradiction evidence of science*. *Evolution* suggests that humans have risen above their *violent animal instincts*, rather than *fallen from some state of grace* The *Doctrine of the Fall of Man* are seriously brought into question

Does Irenaeus think the world / humans are *made perfect*?

for humans to genuinely exercise their free in the persecute of moral development, then they need to live in a world where pain and suffering are real Because in a world where pain and suffering are not real, then our actions could have *no real consequences*

John Hick and 'Soul making'

the process to describe moral growth