the problem of evil and pain 4. the explanation of st. irenaeus: a world of soul- making

The Problem of Evil The Problem of Evil and Painand Pain

4. The Explanation of St. 4. The Explanation of St. Irenaeus: A World of Soul-Irenaeus: A World of Soul-

MakingMaking

Opening PrayerOpening Prayer

Almighty God, whose most dear Son Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not in to glory before pain, and entered not in to glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for everGod, now and for ever

From: From: Common Prayer. Services andCommon Prayer. Services andPrayers for the Church of EnglandPrayers for the Church of England, p. 466, p. 466

Saint IrenaeusSaint Irenaeus


Born to Greek Parents in Asia Minor (modern day Born to Greek Parents in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) early in first half of the second centuryTurkey) early in first half of the second century

As a child, he heard the preaching of Polycarp, the As a child, he heard the preaching of Polycarp, the last known living connection with the Apostles (The last known living connection with the Apostles (The apostle John)apostle John)

Worked as a missionary to southern Gaul and as Worked as a missionary to southern Gaul and as peacemaker among the churches in Asia Minorpeacemaker among the churches in Asia Minor In the second century, there was a close cultural connection In the second century, there was a close cultural connection

between southern Gaul (the Rhone Valley) and Asia Minorbetween southern Gaul (the Rhone Valley) and Asia Minor


In 177 AD, Bishop Pothinus of Lyon (Lugdunum) In 177 AD, Bishop Pothinus of Lyon (Lugdunum) was martyred. Irenaeus succeeded him as Bishopwas martyred. Irenaeus succeeded him as Bishop

His principal work was the 5 volume work His principal work was the 5 volume work Against Against HeresiesHeresies Defended the validity of the Jewish Bible, God as creator, Defended the validity of the Jewish Bible, God as creator,

and the goodness of creation against the heresy of and the goodness of creation against the heresy of GnosticismGnosticism

Fiercely defended the traditions handed down by the Fiercely defended the traditions handed down by the apostles.apostles. Wrote Wrote Demonstration of the Apostolic PreachingDemonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, used for , used for

the instruction of candidates for Baptismthe instruction of candidates for Baptism


Today known as the Father of Catholic Today known as the Father of Catholic Theology and considered the most important Theology and considered the most important theologian of the second centurytheologian of the second century

Died about 200 ADDied about 200 AD Feast Day on the Episcopal Calendar: June 28Feast Day on the Episcopal Calendar: June 28

St. Irenaeus’ St. Irenaeus’ Explanation For EvilExplanation For Evil

A Vale ofA Vale ofSoul-MakingSoul-Making

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingIntroductionIntroduction

Irenaeus proposed that God made the world to Irenaeus proposed that God made the world to provide an environment for “soul-making” or provide an environment for “soul-making” or “person-making,” and the presence of evil and “person-making,” and the presence of evil and suffering was necessary for that tasksuffering was necessary for that task

In modern times, the philosopher John Hick In modern times, the philosopher John Hick has strongly advocated this explanation, has strongly advocated this explanation, developing it further in a now classic book developing it further in a now classic book Evil and the God of LoveEvil and the God of Love

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingPremisePremise

God created human beings as free, but God created human beings as free, but immature and imperfect creatures, with an immature and imperfect creatures, with an immense but undeveloped capacity for moral immense but undeveloped capacity for moral and spiritual developmentand spiritual development

God intends life on this earth to provide an God intends life on this earth to provide an environment for the moral and spiritual growth environment for the moral and spiritual growth of human beings from immature beings to true of human beings from immature beings to true “children of God”“children of God”

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingPremisePremise

In the language of St. Irenaeus:In the language of St. Irenaeus: God made human beings in the “image” of God – God made human beings in the “image” of God –

with an enormous capacity for spiritual and moral with an enormous capacity for spiritual and moral growthgrowth

God intends life on this earth to help us freely God intends life on this earth to help us freely grow and mature into the “likeness” of Godgrow and mature into the “likeness” of God

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingIrenaeus versus AugustineIrenaeus versus Augustine

Contrasts markedly with St. Augustine’s later Contrasts markedly with St. Augustine’s later doctrine. Augustine said:doctrine. Augustine said: Human begins were created in a state of pristine perfection Human begins were created in a state of pristine perfection

in a world that was paradisein a world that was paradise We lost it all and fell into our present states of imperfection We lost it all and fell into our present states of imperfection

because of the misuse of our freedom (Original Sin)because of the misuse of our freedom (Original Sin) Irenaeus said:Irenaeus said:

Human beings were created innocent, but imperfect and Human beings were created innocent, but imperfect and immature, in a world designed for soul-makingimmature, in a world designed for soul-making

We are now involved in the creative, arduous task of freely We are now involved in the creative, arduous task of freely maturing and growing towards a perfection that lies in our maturing and growing towards a perfection that lies in our futurefuture


Why would God create us as beings Why would God create us as beings who are immature and undeveloped who are immature and undeveloped

in moral and spiritual goodness?in moral and spiritual goodness?

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingWhy Must We Grow Into Goodness?Why Must We Grow Into Goodness?

1. It may not be possible to create outright a 1. It may not be possible to create outright a free, intelligent, morally mature being. Moral free, intelligent, morally mature being. Moral maturity may maturity may requirerequire struggling and grappling struggling and grappling with temptation over time, and even with temptation over time, and even participation in evilparticipation in evil

2. Even if it was possible, God may consider 2. Even if it was possible, God may consider beings who have grown into moral goodness a beings who have grown into moral goodness a much greater good than beings “ready-made” much greater good than beings “ready-made” with moral goodnesswith moral goodness


“…“…a human goodness that has come about a human goodness that has come about through the making of free and responsible through the making of free and responsible moral choices, in situations of real difficulty moral choices, in situations of real difficulty and temptation, is intrinsically more valuable and temptation, is intrinsically more valuable – perhaps even limitlessly more valuable – – perhaps even limitlessly more valuable – than a goodness that has been created than a goodness that has been created readymade, without the free participation of readymade, without the free participation of the human agent.”the human agent.”

- John Hick, Philosophy of Religion, p.44- John Hick, Philosophy of Religion, p.44


I suggest… that it is an ethically I suggest… that it is an ethically reasonable judgement, … that human reasonable judgement, … that human goodness slowly built up through goodness slowly built up through personal histories of moral effort has a personal histories of moral effort has a value in the eyes of the Creator which value in the eyes of the Creator which justifies even the long travail of the justifies even the long travail of the soul-making process.soul-making process.

- John Hick, - John Hick, Evil and the God of LoveEvil and the God of Love, p. 256, p. 256


Why is evil and suffering a part of a Why is evil and suffering a part of a world of Soul-Making?world of Soul-Making?

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingEvil and Suffering in Soul-MakingEvil and Suffering in Soul-Making

As immature beings, we are caught in a As immature beings, we are caught in a tension between:tension between: the natural selfishness that arises from our instinct the natural selfishness that arises from our instinct

for survivalfor survival the call of morality and religion to transcend our the call of morality and religion to transcend our

self-centerednessself-centeredness


An environment conducive for our moral and An environment conducive for our moral and spiritual growth as free, immature creatures requires:spiritual growth as free, immature creatures requires: Real challenges, opportunities for display of moral virtue, Real challenges, opportunities for display of moral virtue,

possibilities for expressing faith in Godpossibilities for expressing faith in God Interactions with a community of others and the Interactions with a community of others and the

opportunity to develop relationships with others in which opportunity to develop relationships with others in which we can transcend ourselveswe can transcend ourselves

A physical order of impersonal objects that operate A physical order of impersonal objects that operate according to predicable rules, independent of our wills: according to predicable rules, independent of our wills: quantum fields, atoms, the cells of our body, the motion of quantum fields, atoms, the cells of our body, the motion of the planets and starsthe planets and stars


Such conditions allow both:Such conditions allow both: The possibility of situations and moments that The possibility of situations and moments that

further our moral and spiritual growthfurther our moral and spiritual growth The possibility of failure, ruin, pain and suffering: The possibility of failure, ruin, pain and suffering:

that is, the possibility of evilthat is, the possibility of evil


Consider the “counterfactual hypothesis:” a Consider the “counterfactual hypothesis:” a world that is a paradise without any possibility world that is a paradise without any possibility of pain and sufferingof pain and suffering


..no one could ever injure anyone else: ..no one could ever injure anyone else: the murderer’s knife would turn to the murderer’s knife would turn to paper or the bullets to thin air; the bank paper or the bullets to thin air; the bank safe, robbed of a million dollars, would safe, robbed of a million dollars, would miraculously become filled with miraculously become filled with another million dollars; fraud, deceit, another million dollars; fraud, deceit, conspiracy, and treason would conspiracy, and treason would somehow leave the fabric of society somehow leave the fabric of society undamaged.undamaged.


No one would ever be injured by No one would ever be injured by accident: the mountain climber, accident: the mountain climber, steeplejack, or playing child falling steeplejack, or playing child falling from a height would float unharmed to from a height would float unharmed to the ground; the reckless driver would the ground; the reckless driver would never meet with disaster. There would never meet with disaster. There would be no need to work, since no harm be no need to work, since no harm could result from avoiding work; there could result from avoiding work; there would be no call to be concerned for would be no call to be concerned for others in time of need or danger…others in time of need or danger…


To make possible this continual series of To make possible this continual series of individual adjustments, nature would have to individual adjustments, nature would have to work by “special providences,” instead of work by “special providences,” instead of running according to general laws that we running according to general laws that we must learn to respect on penalty of pain or must learn to respect on penalty of pain or death… sometimes gravity would operate, death… sometimes gravity would operate, sometimes not; sometimes an object would sometimes not; sometimes an object would be hard; sometimes soft. There could be no be hard; sometimes soft. There could be no sciences, for there would be no enduring sciences, for there would be no enduring world structure to investigate.world structure to investigate.


..life would become like a dream in ..life would become like a dream in which, delightfully but aimlessly, we which, delightfully but aimlessly, we would float and drift at ease.would float and drift at ease.

- John Hick, - John Hick, Philosophy of ReligionPhilosophy of Religion, p. 46, p. 46


In such a hedonistic paradise there could be no In such a hedonistic paradise there could be no true morality, for there could be no wrong true morality, for there could be no wrong actionsactions

Courage and fortitude; honesty, generosity, Courage and fortitude; honesty, generosity, kindness, kindness, agapeagape love, unselfishness could love, unselfishness could never arisenever arise


The psychic state of “suffering” (as opposed to The psychic state of “suffering” (as opposed to physical pain)physical pain) Suffering: Suffering: “that state of mind in which we “that state of mind in which we

wish violently or obsessively that our wish violently or obsessively that our situation were otherwise”situation were otherwise”

Includes: regret, remorse, anxiety, despair, guilt, Includes: regret, remorse, anxiety, despair, guilt, shameshame

Often part of physical pain. The anguish of a Often part of physical pain. The anguish of a terminal illness, for example, includes:terminal illness, for example, includes:

Physical pain: the illness of the bodyPhysical pain: the illness of the body Psychic suffering: the anticipation of lossPsychic suffering: the anticipation of loss


The value of suffering:The value of suffering: Our own suffering moves us to search for a deeper Our own suffering moves us to search for a deeper

meaning in our existence, and hence towards Godmeaning in our existence, and hence towards God The sufferings of others calls us out of ourselves The sufferings of others calls us out of ourselves

and prepares us for mutual service to othersand prepares us for mutual service to others


The Need for a Hidden GodThe Need for a Hidden God

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingA Hidden GodA Hidden God

According to Christianity, the divine According to Christianity, the divine purpose for men is not only that they purpose for men is not only that they shall freely act rightly towards one shall freely act rightly towards one another but that they shall also freely another but that they shall also freely enter into a filial personal relationship enter into a filial personal relationship with God Himself.with God Himself.



An important part of a world designed for An important part of a world designed for “soul-making” is that there be a certain “soul-making” is that there be a certain “distance” between God and human beings, a “distance” between God and human beings, a distance in the dimension of knowledge = an distance in the dimension of knowledge = an “epistemic distance”“epistemic distance” If knowledge of God and God’s presence was too If knowledge of God and God’s presence was too

forcefully impressed on the human consciousness, forcefully impressed on the human consciousness, there could be no genuine freedom to chose Godthere could be no genuine freedom to chose God


Therefore God must partially conceal God’s Therefore God must partially conceal God’s self, to the point of making the world appear self, to the point of making the world appear nearly atheistic, with the dual effect:nearly atheistic, with the dual effect: 1. Makes possible a sincere, uncompelled 1. Makes possible a sincere, uncompelled

acceptance of God’s invitation to a life of faithacceptance of God’s invitation to a life of faith 2. Allows some human beings to chose to live 2. Allows some human beings to chose to live

apart from God, in self-centered competition with apart from God, in self-centered competition with their fellow human-beingstheir fellow human-beings


Could Not the Task of Soul-Making Could Not the Task of Soul-Making Be Accomplished by a World with Be Accomplished by a World with

Less Evil and Suffering?Less Evil and Suffering?

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingHorrendous Evil and Soul-MakingHorrendous Evil and Soul-Making

Need the world contain the more extreme and Need the world contain the more extreme and crushing evils which it in fact contains? Are crushing evils which it in fact contains? Are not life’s challenges often so severe to be not life’s challenges often so severe to be self-defeating when considered as soul-self-defeating when considered as soul-making influences? Man must (let us making influences? Man must (let us suppose) cultivate the soil so as to win his suppose) cultivate the soil so as to win his bread by the sweat of his brow; but need bread by the sweat of his brow; but need there be the gigantic famines, for example in there be the gigantic famines, for example in China, from which millions have so miserably China, from which millions have so miserably perished?perished?

- John Hick, - John Hick, Evil and the Love of GodEvil and the Love of God, p. 329-330, p. 329-330

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingHorrendous Evil and Soul-MakingHorrendous Evil and Soul-Making

Ultimately, the excessive and random character of Ultimately, the excessive and random character of some evil must remain mysterious to ussome evil must remain mysterious to us

Yet even such horrendous evil can play a role in soul-Yet even such horrendous evil can play a role in soul-making:making: Human misery calls forth in us deeply personal sympathy Human misery calls forth in us deeply personal sympathy

and a passionate desire to helpand a passionate desire to help Unless the suffering is truly undeserved and truly bad for Unless the suffering is truly undeserved and truly bad for

the sufferer, we would not have such a powerful reactionthe sufferer, we would not have such a powerful reaction If suffering and good-fortune were exactly proportional to If suffering and good-fortune were exactly proportional to

what each person deserved, the sufferings of others would what each person deserved, the sufferings of others would lose its power to draw us out of ourselveslose its power to draw us out of ourselves


Implications for Life After DeathImplications for Life After Death

A Vale of Soul-MakingA Vale of Soul-MakingLife After DeathLife After Death

The premise that God’s purpose in creation is The premise that God’s purpose in creation is to allow free but immature beings to grow to allow free but immature beings to grow towards a moral and spiritual perfection has towards a moral and spiritual perfection has necessary implications for life after deathnecessary implications for life after death

The precarious conditions of this world may The precarious conditions of this world may indeed provide ground for some to mature, but indeed provide ground for some to mature, but for others it may lead to:for others it may lead to: Resentment, fear or disintegration of characterResentment, fear or disintegration of character A life snuffed out before they have any fair chance A life snuffed out before they have any fair chance

to grow morally or spirituallyto grow morally or spiritually


Therefore Therefore “any divine purpose of soul making “any divine purpose of soul making that is at work in earthly history must that is at work in earthly history must continue beyond this life if it is ever to continue beyond this life if it is ever to achieve more than a partial and fragmentary achieve more than a partial and fragmentary success”success”

Our growth and maturation towards the “full Our growth and maturation towards the “full humanity” intended by God, towards becoming true humanity” intended by God, towards becoming true “children of God,” towards becoming the “likeness of “children of God,” towards becoming the “likeness of God,” will continue after death through continued God,” will continue after death through continued opportunities to exercise love and trustopportunities to exercise love and trust


In addition, there must be an ultimate greater In addition, there must be an ultimate greater good to justify the toil and sorrow and travail good to justify the toil and sorrow and travail of the soul-making process: a fullness of life of the soul-making process: a fullness of life and joy beyond our present imaginationsand joy beyond our present imaginations

Hick suggests God’s persistence and patience Hick suggests God’s persistence and patience to persuade and guide us towards moral and to persuade and guide us towards moral and spiritual perfection knows no bounds, and will spiritual perfection knows no bounds, and will ultimately lead to the free acceptance by all of ultimately lead to the free acceptance by all of God’s love: to universal salvationGod’s love: to universal salvation


In the end:In the end:

““The Kingdom of God will be an infinite The Kingdom of God will be an infinite because eternal, good, outweighing all because eternal, good, outweighing all temporal and therefore finite evils”temporal and therefore finite evils”


ReferencesReferences Evil and the God of Love, Second Edition, Evil and the God of Love, Second Edition, John John

Hick, MacMillan, London, 1977. ISBN 0-333-39483-Hick, MacMillan, London, 1977. ISBN 0-333-39483-66

God and Evil: An Introduction to the IssuesGod and Evil: An Introduction to the Issues, , Michael L. Peterson, Westview Press, Boulder, Michael L. Peterson, Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, 1998. ISBN 0-8133-2849-7Colorado, 1998. ISBN 0-8133-2849-7

Philosophy of Religion, fourth editionPhilosophy of Religion, fourth edition, John H. , John H. Hick, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1990. Hick, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1990. ISBN 0-13-662628-9ISBN 0-13-662628-9

Philosophy of ReligionPhilosophy of Religion, Louis P. Pojman, McGraw , Louis P. Pojman, McGraw Hill, New York, 1988. ISBN 0-7674-0819-5Hill, New York, 1988. ISBN 0-7674-0819-5

the problem of evil and pain 4. the explanation of st. irenaeus: a world of soul- making

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