Can God exist if this happens?

The Problem of Evil

• To define the Problem of Evil & theodicy

• To evaluate some theodicies

Watch the video.

What is the Problem of Evil ?

To 1:15/ 2:56

The Problem of Evil 1. Write out the Problem of Evil 2. Explain how it suggests that God does

not exist.*What do you think?3. What are 2 ways that the video

suggested you can explain evil?**Do you think you can still believe in an all-

loving, all-powerful God in such a world if evil exists? How?

God is omniscient- so he knows evil is happeningGod is omnipotent- so he can stop evilGod is omnibenevolent- so he cares about stopping evilBUT…evil still happens…so one of these things can’t be right – God is either not all-knowing, or not all-powerful, or not-all loving? Or maybe He just does not exist?

Explain the Problem of Evil to your partner.

To 1:15/ 2:56

1. Write out and complete the gap-fill definition of theodicy.

A Theodicy is…

An ………………… that tries to explain why there is ………. in the

……… if ……..is……………

goodevil God

argument world

What theodicies have we looked at already? Mindmap them

Choose one and argue your case why your answer to evil is the best correct answer.

Some important people in the Church suggested their own theodicies. Which ones did the video

discuss?

A. St Irenaeus: Evil makes us responsible, as we get to see that we can make choices that have good or evil consequences. Otherwise, we would just be like babies, protected from doing or suffering any evil.

B. St Augustine - Evil happens because people use free will to do evil. It’s not because God doesn’t care – He just can’t interfere with free will. The evil we suffer, is our fault for choosing evil, not God’s.

C. Job: evil can’t be explained. God’s ways are too mysterious for us to understand. We should just be silent in awe and respect of the way God made the world to be.

D. Plantigna: the existence of evil gives us the chance to choose the good freely, out of choice. So it helps us to become better people freely.

E. St. Aquinas: There really isn’t any evil – because God is love, and God made everything so everything must all be good. Evil is only the absence of good, like a cavity in a tooth. The problem should really be “why isn’t there more good?”

•Match the pictures to the theodicies on your sheet.•Order the theodicies from best to worst way of explaining why there is evil. 1. Explain the theodicy you

most agree with. 2. Explain why you agree

with it.3. Explain what you think is a

bad theodicy... Why?*Draw your own pictures for the theodicies you discussed.

What do you think?• Job’s friends had a theodicy.

– Bildad said suffering and evil were due to sin– Eliphas said suffering evil was because of

human pride– Zophar said suffering evil was only

temporary, and a test from God.

• God himself answered Job saying that human beings cannot understand why evil happens – because God is a great creator whose ways we cannot understand.

From the video, you saw that some people believe evil is there

• to make us more responsible for others.

•as a result of human free will to do evil

A. St Irenaeus: Evil makes us responsible, as we get to see that we can make choices that have good or evil consequences. Otherwise, we would just be like babies, protected from doing or suffering any evil.

B. St Augustine - Evil happens because people use free will to do evil. It’s not because God doesn’t care – He just can’t interfere with free will. The evil we suffer, is our fault for choosing evil, not God’s.

C. Job: evil can’t be explained. God’s ways are too mysterious for us to understand. We should just be silent in awe and respect of the way God made the world to be.

D. Plantigna: the existence of evil gives us the chance to choose the good freely, out of choice. So it helps us to become better people freely.

E. St. Aquinas: There really isn’t any evil – because God is love, and God made everything so everything must all be good. Evil is only the absence of good, like a cavity in a tooth. The problem should really be “why isn’t there more good?”

Is Evil a Problem?

YES - it makes it look like God doesn’t care

NO - Evil is there for a reason.

Makes us better/ because of free will

NOT RELEVANT:

There is no such thing as evil – why isn’t there more good?

Or like Job, it’s just a mystery.

Yes, a problem for faith

Evil is not a problem for faith

Not really a problem.

Homework

“The Problem of Evil proves there is no God.” Discuss.

– State what the problem of evil is– Explain how it challenges the idea of a good/ all

powerful/ all knowing God– Explain 2 answers to the problem of evil. – Evaluate (give your opinion). Explain if you agree

with the answers in part c.