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Do theodicies explain why God allows evil in the world? Do theodicies explain why God allows evil in the world?
Yes, theodicies explain the existence of an all-powerful, benevolent God Yes, theodicies explain the existence of an all-powerful, benevolent God
Yes, theodicies explain that God allows people the free will to commit evil Yes, theodicies explain that God allows people the free will to commit evil
Yes, evil occurs as the absence of good and God is testing us. Yes, evil occurs as the absence of good and God is testing us.
No, a good God would not allow evil No, a good God would not allow evil
No, the opposite: the existence of evil disproves the existence of God No, the opposite: the existence of evil disproves the existence of God
We don't know God’s plan - evil might have a higher purpose We don't know God’s plan - evil might have a higher purpose
God the Creator is the only perfect being in all of existence God the Creator is the only perfect being in all of existence
Theodicies explain a loving, all powerful, benevolent God Theodicies explain a loving, all powerful, benevolent God
The free will defence claims that evil is caused by human beings The free will defence claims that evil is caused by human beings
Humans have free will Humans have free will
God needs evil for an authentic relationship with humanity God needs evil for an authentic relationship with humanity
God didn’t create evil but we need evil to see God’s love God didn’t create evil but we need evil to see God’s love
Theodicies explain suffering as evil allowing personal growth Theodicies explain suffering as evil allowing personal growth
Evil acts as a litmus test checking mankind's loyalty to God Evil acts as a litmus test checking mankind's loyalty to God
Evil proves the existence of Satan as a nemesis to an omnibenevolent God Evil proves the existence of Satan as a nemesis to an omnibenevolent God
God is not benevolent God is not benevolent
The only explanation for evil is that there is no God The only explanation for evil is that there is no God
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Do theodicies explain why God allows evil in the world?
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Yes, theodicies explain the existence of an all-powerful, benevolent God

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Theodicies explain a loving, all powerful, benevolent God

The theological approach of theodicy justifies the holiness and divine attributes of God. It affirms God’s ability to exist as omnipotent and benevolent while permitting moral and physical evil.
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Context

Religious philosophers have debated ‘the problem of evil’ for millennia. Evil is understood to encompass both moral evil (caused by free human actions) and natural evil (caused by natural phenomena such as disease, earthquakes, and floods).[1]

The Argument

Religious philosophers believe in an all powerful and benevolent God.[2] Theodicies vindicate the divine attributes of God, particularly holiness and justice, while acknowledging the true existence of physical and moral evil.[2]

Counter arguments

The fact that God does not eliminate evil in this life, despite being all powerful and benevolent means that either God is not benevolent, = is not omnipotent or not omniscient. Any one of these means God as we understand him, does not exist.

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.britannica.com/topic/problem-of-evil
  2. https://www.compellingtruth.org/what-is-theodicy.html
This page was last edited on Thursday, 4 Jun 2020 at 01:05 UTC

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