Theodicy

The problem of evil is an atheistic argument, against the existence of God. It is a deductive argument that pits the existence of unjustified evil against the existence of any kind of divine being. Julian of Norwich presents a response to the problem of evil, but there are also some possible holes in Julian’s theory. This paper explores the problem of evil and how it is connected to human suffering, Julian’s theory in response to the problem, and a critique of Julian’s theory. One must assume…

Theodicy and Job There are many enthralling and remarkable readings in the Bible. It is rich in thought provoking text. A particular book from the Bible that is intriguing is the book of Job. It is particularly interesting because it brings up an interesting subject. It brings up a topic that many of today’s population struggle with today and have for many centuries. Theodicy is a subject that plays a role in our lives and can bring about deep and purposeful thoughts regarding God and ourselves…

Question No. 1 Answer: Notwithstanding the traditional contentions for the existence of God, one issue has taken the type of a contention against God's existence: that issue is the problem of evil. One version of the problem of evil takes a purely logical structure: that is, it tries to demonstrate that the existence of evil and suffering is conflicting with certain traditional qualities of God. These qualities are omnipotence and goodness. Since God has both the methods and the motive to avoid…

The meaning of the word evil takes on many different forms, the most common is the concept of being morally wrong -negative behaviors-, bringing harm unto others and marked by bad events-such as a natural disaster- (Simple). The Problem of Evil consists of the idea that if there is a theistic God, then evil would not exist in the world. This is due to the fact that God is thought to be Omnipotent(all-powerful), Omniscient(all-knowing), and Omnibenevolent(all-good), which would mean that God…

For generations upon generations people around the world have asked the question, “If god is good, why is there evil in the world?”. On first observation of this simple question one sees what seems to be a fundamental flaw in the Christian belief. John Hick attempts to solve this life- changing question and prove that it has no effect on the essential belief of God. He defines this “Problem of Evil” in the following dilemma: “If God is perfectly loving, he must wish to abolish evil; and if he is…

In Saint Augustine Confessions, Augustine recounts not only the story of his life, but he also discusses religious and philosophical explications, as exemplified by his cogitation of evil. Specifically throughout Book VII, Augustine contemplates the origins of evil and the reasoning behind its existence in a world fashioned by an omnipotent, virtuous God. Through the logic expressing that everything generated by God is good and thus, God did not create evil, Augustine defines evil as the…

My perspective on the existence of God and the problem of Evil breaks down to free will, therefore I believe that although God is all-knowing and all-loving, allowing humanity to process free will created a gate for Evil to rise in the form of decision making. God allowed humanity to exercise free will. This may, in a certain perspective portray God as an evil entity, but he does not command humanity to commit crimes, rape, murder, lie, cheat, or steal. A person’s own free will is the decision…

Opening Remarks: Good morning church! It is on this beautiful morning that I would like to speak to you from a rather different passage. This message stems from the book of Nahum. If you are unfamiliar with this book, it consists of three chapters and is tucked in between Micah and Habakkuk in the Old Testament. The general overview of the book of Nahum is the description of God’s wrath toward Nineveh and how He will destroy it. (Dramatic Pause) Now before you check out on me, do not be dismayed…

Why do we suffer? If God is a good, how do we explain the indescribable evil that exists in our world? This is a question that many want the answer to. For some, the answer is sin: We suffer and deserve to suffer because we are all corrupted by sin. Ivan, from The Brothers Karamazov, rejects the idea that we suffer because of sin. In a discussion with his brother, Alyosha, he describes the suffering of children in particular to make his case. Ivan details the unfairness in the fact that a…

One of the most controversial questions in the Christian world today is this: how can a world created by such a loving God have so much evil? It is a valid question, and no matter where each one of us is in our spirituality, it is one we have all asked ourselves at one point-maybe even asked God. St. Thomas Aquinas must have dealt with this as well, proving it to be a timeless inquiry. Did God cause evil? And if not, where does it come from? St. Thomas Aquinas takes an interesting angle at…