the problem of evil Essay -- essays research papers

Studies in the Philosophy of ReligionTHE PROBLEM OF EVIL god is the omnipotent and wholly good creator of all thingsThere is evil in the worlda) EXPLAIN THESE TWO STATEMENTS AND SHOW WHY THEY ARE utter TO BE CONTRADICTORY (20)The problem of evil is usually seen as the problem of how the existence of matinee idol burn be reconciled with the existence of evil in the world. Its regarded as a logical problem, because it is based on the app atomic number 18nt contradiction involved in holding onto three incompatible beliefs. This being that deity is omnipotent, that God is wholly good and that evil exists in the world. The fact that evil exists in the world constitutes the most common objection to the belief in the existence of the omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and all loving God of Classical Theism. Classical Theism is the traditional understanding of God as worshipped by Christians, Jews and Muslims. This definition is initially criticised, for being culture- bound, as other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism dont believe in one God so cant be applied to their respective religions. Therefore the problem of evil is only a problem for followers of a theistic religion.God is described as an infinite, self-existent, extraneous (without body), eternal, immutable (doesnt change), impassable (incapable of erecting), simple (one entity), perfect (God is seen as a morally perfect being i.e. wholly good), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful) being. Omnipotence means being able to bring about eachthing which it is logically possible to bring about. However non being able to bring about that which is logically impossible is not a restriction on omnipotence since the logically impossible is not a characterisation of anything. It is a non-thing. Evil is said to come from the free actions of human beings. God cant do whats logically impossible and its said to be logically impossible for God to create humans who are free but a lways choose to do whats right. This therefore takes the responsibility of evil from God.Omniscience means knowing everything that it is logically possible to know. If God knows everything it is not possible for him to think of something he does not know. This raises the question of whether God knows every little fact does he know what youre thinking or what youre going to do? If so then if hes omnipotent shouldn... ...d that finding good consequences in bad things is a horrible idea.DOES IRENAEUS APPROACH exculpate THE PROBLEM OF EVIL?There are many instances of good being brought out of evil through a persons reaction to it, still there are many other cases where the opposite has occurred. Sometimes obstacles result in ones character being strengthened but other times they can be crushing leading to ones character being diminished and left incompetent so unable to grow and develop further. So it would seem any soul making is subject to an individuals temperament and billeticul ar way of dealing with a problem. Therefore this doesnt remove the contradiction, because theres evidence of people suffering and not getting better after it. This produces more problems as shows God to be selecting people who he should know would suffer immensely because of this evil. Irenaeus approach takes the blame off God for human suffering. This is what is needed to solve the problem of evil. He places the blame on human free pass on therefore avoiding questions of Gods nature so in essence removing the contradiction. People accept that suffering is there for a reason and its part of Gods plan for soul making.