The Problem of Evil

The Existence of Evil

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.
Augustinian Theodicy
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.

Strengths
That evil comes from free will fits with what we see around us, at least
with Moral Evil.
Criticisms
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.
Iranaean theodicy
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.
Iranaeus 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.
Strengths of the Irenaean theodicy
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.
Weaknesses of the Iranaean Theodicy
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.