Welcome to the Philosophy of Religion!
In this chapter, we are going to explore one of the biggest challenges to religious belief: The Problem of Evil and Suffering. If you’ve ever looked at the news and wondered, "If there is a good God, why do bad things happen?", you are already thinking like a philosopher! Don't worry if this seems heavy at first; we will break it down into simple steps and use plenty of examples to help you master the material.
1. Defining the Problem
To understand the debate, we first need to know exactly what "evil" is in a philosophical sense. Philosophers generally split evil into two categories:
Types of Evil
- Moral Evil: This is suffering caused by the deliberate actions or cruel choices of human beings. Example: Theft, murder, or bullying.
- Natural Evil (Non-moral): This is suffering caused by the natural world, where no human is at fault. Example: Earthquakes, tsunamis, or diseases like cancer.
Quick Review: Think of it this way—if a person hits you, it’s Moral Evil. If a tree falls on you during a storm, it’s Natural Evil.
The Challenge to God's Nature
In most religious traditions (like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism), God is described as having three "Omni" qualities:
- Omnipotence: God is all-powerful.
- Omnibenevolence: God is all-loving.
- Omniscience: God is all-knowing.
The problem is simple but devastating: If God knows about suffering (Omniscient), wants to stop it (Omnibenevolent), and is powerful enough to stop it (Omnipotent), then why does evil still exist?
Key Thinkers: David Hume and J.L. Mackie
David Hume called this the "rock of atheism." He argued that the existence of evil is logically incompatible with an all-powerful, all-loving God. He famously asked: "Is he [God] willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent."
J.L. Mackie took this further with the Inconsistent Triad. Imagine a triangle where the three points are:
1. God is perfectly good.
2. God is all-powerful.
3. Evil exists.
Mackie argued that you can only have two of these at once. If you have all three, you have a logical contradiction!
Key Takeaway: The "Logical Problem of Evil" suggests that the existence of God and the existence of evil cannot both be true at the same time.
2. St. Augustine’s Solution: The "Privation" Argument
St. Augustine (354–430 AD) wanted to defend God. He developed what we call a Theodicy (a fancy word for an "explanation of why God allows evil").
Evil as a "Privation" (Privatio Boni)
Augustine argued that God is perfect and everything He created was good. Therefore, God did not create evil. So, what is it? Augustine said evil is just a privation—a lack of something that should be there.
Analogy: Darkness isn't a "thing"; it’s just what happens when there is no light. Blindness isn't a "thing"; it's just the absence of sight. Evil is just the absence of good.
The Fall and Free Will
Augustine blamed evil on Free Will. He said that some angels and the first humans (Adam and Eve) chose to turn away from God. This is known as "The Fall."
Because we chose to sin, we broke the natural harmony of the world, leading to Moral Evil. Even Natural Evil (like floods) is seen by Augustine as a "punishment" or a result of this broken harmony.
Soul-Deciding
Augustine’s view is "soul-deciding." This means that the existence of evil is a test. We have the choice to follow God or turn away. Our future in the afterlife depends on our decision.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't say Augustine thinks God "made" evil to test us. Augustine insists God only made good things, and we messed them up!
Key Takeaway: For Augustine, evil is our fault, not God’s, because we misused our Free Will.
3. Irenaeus and John Hick: The "Soul-Making" Argument
Irenaeus (130–202 AD) and modern philosopher John Hick had a very different view. They didn't think the world started perfect and "fell." Instead, they believed we were created imperfect so we could grow.
The "Vale of Soul-Making"
Hick argued that the world is a "vale of soul-making" (a valley where souls are forged). If the world were a "toy-store" paradise with no danger, we would never learn courage, patience, or kindness.
Analogy: You can't learn to be a great athlete in a world where there is no gravity or resistance. You need the "struggle" to grow.
Key Concepts to Remember:
- Epistemic Distance: God stays "hidden" or at a distance from us. If God’s presence were obvious (like a giant face in the sky), we would be forced to obey Him. To have true free will, we need the distance to choose Him for ourselves.
- Eschatological Justification: This is the idea that all the suffering on Earth will be made right in the end (heaven). Hick believed that eventually, everyone would be "perfected" and reach God.
Did you know? This theodicy is much more popular with people who believe in Evolution, as it views humans as evolving from "animals" into "children of God."
Key Takeaway: For Irenaeus and Hick, evil is a necessary tool that God uses to help us grow into better people.
4. Process Theodicy
This is a more modern "solution." It suggests that we have the wrong idea about God's power.
God as a Co-Sufferer
Process theologians argue that God is not all-powerful (omnipotent) in the way we think. He didn't "snap His fingers" and make the world from nothing (ex nihilo). Instead, He is part of the universe and works with it.
- God cannot force humans to be good; He can only "lure" or "persuade" us.
- When we suffer, God suffers with us. He is a "co-sufferer."
- This removes the problem of "Why doesn't God stop it?"—the answer is He can't, but He is doing His best to help us through it.
Key Takeaway: Process theodicy solves the problem by limiting God’s power, making Him a fellow traveler in a world of suffering.
5. Evaluating the Solutions (Strengths and Weaknesses)
In your exam, you will need to weigh these up. Here is a quick guide:
Critiques of Augustine
- Scientific Challenge: Evolution suggests the world started in chaos and got better, not that it started perfect and "fell."
- Logical Challenge: If God made a "perfect" world, where did the idea of choosing evil even come from?
- Innocent Suffering: Is it fair to say a baby suffering from a disease is a "punishment" for Adam and Eve?
Critiques of Irenaeus/Hick
- The "Price" of Soul-Making: Is the growth of a few people worth the Holocaust or the death of millions in a tsunami? Some say the "price" of soul-making is too high.
- Distribution of Suffering: If suffering is for our "growth," why do some people suffer so much more than others?
Critiques of Process Theodicy
- Is it still "God"?: Many religious believers find this God too weak. If He can't save us or stop evil, is He worth worshipping?
Memory Aid: The 3 "F"s of Theodicies
To remember the different approaches, try this:
1. Fail: Augustine says we Failed (The Fall) and broke a perfect world.
2. Forge: Irenaeus says we are being Forged (Soul-making) in a difficult world.
3. Fellow: Process Theory says God is our Fellow-sufferer who can't stop the pain.
Final Quick Review Box
The Problem: How can an all-powerful/all-loving God allow evil?
Hume/Mackie: It's logically impossible (Inconsistent Triad).
Augustine: It's a "privation" (lack of good) caused by our free will.
Irenaeus/Hick: It's a necessary "gym" for our souls to grow.
Process: God isn't all-powerful and suffers alongside us.