For years, many have questioned G-d’s role when it comes to addressing the problem of evil. Why is it that bad things always happen to the best of people? Oftentimes, we find ourselves wondering how an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good divinity could allow for such atrocities to occur, such as the Holocaust and the enslavement of millions. G-d’s role and existence surrounding the problem of evil is most often debated by philosophers and theologians alike such as English philosopher, John Hick. Hick introduces a consoling outlook to why such atrocities exist, framing G-d’s role and reasoning for evil's existence as a way for us to learn, grow, and better our souls. Through overcoming our most grueling battles G-d has to offer, we are becoming …show more content…
It is simply impossible to truly appreciate all the good that life has to offer without recognizing and overcoming the bad. Pleasure cannot exist without pain and vice versa. If G-d were to create a world without pain and suffering, one would be unable to value and recognize what has been given to us, eternal happiness and prosperity. Hick characterizes ones coming to consciousness of the development of goodness after immense hardship as a step towards becoming virtuous and worthy of creation (Hick 323). Life is simply too precious to be hyper focused on the bad without hope of bettering oneself. Hick furthers this idea of self betterment and fulfillment through portraying one's struggles and hardships as a reason for us to grow as individuals and enjoy what life has to offer. Overcoming the evils in our world teaches us to have more empathy towards those around us, and to help those who happen to be less fortunate than us. It is not until we struggle that we begin to notice the true beauty life has to offer and all the potential we as human beings …show more content…
Hick’s perspective allows one to believe in G-d’s existence while emphasizing individuality and growth. While there are clearly some logistical and moral fallacies that need to be addressed, through employing Hick’s approach, one is accepting the importance learning from our previous mistakes has on our lives. Through overcoming our darkest times, we are coming into the light to see all that the world has to offer while also working towards bettering ourselves. Not only are we becoming stronger spiritually, but also mentally as we begin to see that we are capable of overcoming any adversity that comes our
In addition, how can humans treat each other as though another human is just a bug that needs to be exterminated? Through the shocking stories, the reader also begins to question where God is; however, there needs to be a separation of blame. Human’s evil actions are not the responsibility of God. It must be recognized that humans have freewill to choose to do good or evil. Evil is of the world, but since God is not of the world, God is not responsible for the evil in the world.
He argues that God compensates for the evil that people suffer in this life by giving them rewards in the afterlife. Beaty's argument is based on the idea that God is just and merciful, and that he would not allow his creatures to suffer without compensating them in some way. Beaty's argument is creative and thought-provoking. He provides a new way of thinking about the problem of evil, and he offers a possible solution that is both plausible and consistent with traditional Christian beliefs. However, Beaty's argument is also controversial.
“The Problem of Evil” by Peter van Inwagen, is a series of lectures that that presents van Inwagen’s various responses to problem of evil. In this essay, I will present “the local problem of evil” (from chapter 6 of the book), the solution van Inwagen proposes for this problem, and my critique of his solution. “The local problem of evil,” according to van Inwagen, is the hypothetical response an atheist would have towards van Inwagen’s solution of “the global problem of evil” which is, “If god existed, then why is there so much evil in the world?” The argument of “the local problem of evil” is “If god existed then why are there specific horrors that occur in the world, like children dying in a horrific car crash?” The argument that is drawn
In this book, Hick holds the position that God allows for certain kinds of suffering to allow for the possibility of overcoming for his creation. In other words, God allows for pain and suffering. Furthermore, the allowance of pain, according to Hick, allows for the process of “soul-making”. By the way of an indeterminate future and the possibility of pain, humans are left with the choice as to how much unnecessary suffering they are willing to restrict. By the way of making these allowances, however, Hick’s God seems to have limited Himself to not understanding the world in its entirety and, therefore, engaging with the world in a temporal way that is at least very conceptually similar to that of process
Elie Wiesel strongly answered “What is Evil?” in detail within his experienced text as he addresses about the memories of the death of his family. My whole life I have heard it said that evil is Man itself: the cruelest animal. In Elie Wiesel’s memoir, he illustrates the true definition of “What is Evil” by explaining the horrors his eyes witnessed, the death of his own innocence, and the horrific memories that scorch in the back of his mind still to this day.
by Thomas Warren is a product of the final chapter of his doctoral dissertation in Philosophy entitled “God and Evil: Does Judeo-Christian Theism Involve a Logical Contradiction?” (Pg. xii). The book begins with a survey of the attacks atheists launch against Christianity on the problem of evil. He includes excerpts of quotes from prominent antagonists to Christianity including; J. L. Mackie who stated in so many words that there is no rational proof for the existence of God because evil exist, David Hume who argues that the existence of a good God and existence of evil demonstrate a logical contradiction, and others from further back like Epicurus whose belief is like that of Mackie. The existence of evil and human suffering is perhaps the strongest argument atheists have brought froth to create some doubts in the minds of Christians, specifically those who are weak in knowledge because of lack of study.
Questions of Suffering Many people tend to ask the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Perhaps the question people are actually getting at is, “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” Suffering occurs to each and every one of us, in different severities and in various ways. Think of the Jews in the Holocaust, a murder of an innocent person, people effected by natural disasters, or a child not knowing when their next meal will be.
Throughout Harper’s book and Kheiyn’s article, I found five main points that stood out to me in relating to helping me understand why bad things happen to good people. First, God did not create pain and suffering, man has through sin and defiance. Second, although suffering is not good, God uses it to achieve good. The third point tells us that the day will come where your misery will no longer exist and God will judge evil. The fourth states that our suffering does not even compare to what God has in store for his followers.
Course Paper Option 1: The problem of evil & theodicy God is gracious. To say that God is gracious means God desires good and wants humanity to flourish. God’s justice is the claim that God is fair. The problem of evil makes it hard to defend God’s graciousness and justice. The problem of evil questions if God is all-good, all-powerful, and all-knowing then why does evil exist?
In the Old Testament Book of Job tries to answer the question, why is there evil, when God exists? Job endures intolerable misery by Satan, Job eventually does not curse God and is in the course of time, awarded twice of the blessings he had in the beginning of these trials. However, the main question is still left answered: why did God grant Job to suffer if he did nothing wrong? In Night, Elie Wiesel lost his faith throughout the trials of the concentration camp, Auschwitz. Wiesel and the Jewish community was and still are perplexed on what could have they done for millions of families were separated, children murdered, and thousands of souls lost.
On the other hand, theists like Swinburne, believe that evil is necessary for important reasons such as that it helps us grow and improve. In this paper I will argue that the theist is right, because the good of the evil in this specific case on problems beyond one’s control, outweighs the bad that comes from it. I will begin by stating the objection the anti-theodicist gives for why it is wrong that there is a problem of evil. (<--fix) Regarding passive evil not caused by human action, the anti-theodicist claims that there is an issue with a creator, God, allowing a world to exist where evil things happen, which are not caused by human beings (180-181).
The problem of evil takes into account three defining features of God: all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful and questions whether such a God would permit evil and not interfere. Sinnott-Armstrong discusses his stance by countering responses he coins as the Glorious Response, the Modest Response, and the Overriding Response. Whereas, Craig counters the arguments made by Sinnott-Armstrong. The Glorious Response Thus response suggests evil is
“How could anything good come from something as evil as the holocaust?” This is the question that kept me up at night when I first read Night by Elie Wiesel. God promises us that for those who love God all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). How could the mass genocide of God’s beloved people work together for good? After reading Night in the mindset of PCA’s Portrait of a Graduate, I now realize the reason Elie became so angry towards God is because he failed to keep a “big picture perspective”.
Continuation of the Possibility of Evil Miss Strangeworth was overwhelmed with emotion. She scurried over to the window in complete and utter panic. She gasped at the sight of her naked garden. Who could have possibly done such a vile thing? still while still being in shock trying to take everything in, Miss Strangeworth tried to calm herself down and sat down at her kitchen table.
I personally think that suffering helps us to notice and appreciate true happiness. If we did not feel pain, we would not realize how great life is. Aristotle implies we are able to control our happiness in this way. Once we have experienced suffering we know it eventually passes and life carries