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C Evil : Religious responses to the problem of evil: Irenaean theodicy

Explore Irenaean theodicy's approach to evil, free will, and spiritual growth. Compare religious viewpoints and criticisms to evaluate their effectiveness. Consider challenges to Irenaean theodicies in the modern context.

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C Evil : Religious responses to the problem of evil: Irenaean theodicy

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  1. C Evil : Religious responses to the problem of evil: Irenaean theodicy

  2. Irenaean Theodicy Irenaeus, the presence of evil was a deliberate action of an omnibenevolent God who wanted his creation to develop qualities that would make them spiritually perfect.

  3. Religious responses - The role of freewill • The concept of freewill is implicit in both the Augustinian type theodicy and the Irenaean type theodicy. • Click on the religious response to the problem of evil and suffering and then click on the criticism and evaluate both viewpoints. • Consider what responses could be made to the criticisms. • Then use the slider to decide which argument you think is most successful

  4. Vale of Soul-making: human beings created imperfect Human beings develop their potential and grow from the image to the likeness of God, through trails and tribulations they face and decisions they make, this develops a spiritual maturity. Moral qualities are intrinsic but courage, forgiveness and compassion develops in response to suffering. This was essential to move from image to the likeness of God

  5. God as a craftsman Humans are his material, suggests humans should allow God to mould them into perfection, those who resist who will be punished by God in the next life. Unlike Augustine, Irenaeus allows for God’s mercy to continue into the next life. ESCHATALOGICAL JUSTIFICATION for evil allowed God to be just and good

  6. John Hick: Evil and Book of Love • Soul- Making: the world is a proving ground to earn salvation, not just to believe in a saviour figure but working through trials and tribulations. Humans have been made at an EPISTEMIC DISTANCE from God. Goodness developed through free-choice, humanity constantly aware being watched.

  7. Religious responses - The Irenaean theodicy • Click on the religious response to the problem of evil and suffering and then click on the criticism and evaluate both viewpoints. • Consider what responses could be made to the criticisms. • Then use the slider to decide which argument you think is most successful

  8. A02 Challenges to Irenaean type theodicies • Concept of universal salvation is unjust: If humans will eventually achieve perfection then : Does it matter what they have done in the past? Does it encourage good behaviour now? What is the point of pilgrimage? Do humans have free-will to refuse spiritual perfection?

  9. A02 Challenges to Irenaean type theodicies • Evil and Suffering should not be used as a tool by an omnibenevolent God: Why did evolution go through a painful process? If we mature spiritually why is our earthly spans so short? Could moral spirituality be gained without suffering? Therefore Jesus saviour atonement seen as unnecessary.

  10. A02 Challenges to Irenaean type theodicies • Immensity and Suffering and unequal distribution of evil and suffering : The immense suffering of one does not make up for the reward of spiritual perfection. Does the end justify the means? For example the Holocaust. This is soul-breaking rather than soul-making.

  11. A02: Whether Irenaean type theodicies are credible in the 21st century. • Let us make man in our image: potential develop sort of characteristics of God himself. Fit sin with Natural and Selection and Evolution, we adapt to our natural environment. • Immense suffering Genocides such as Rwanda undermine that we develop to become spiritually mature, What type of God would allow this? • Those who follow Liberation theory , one day suffering will overcome and God will restore us to him in the original relationship- Eden • Universal Salvation: Will all be treated the same such as Ghandi and Stalin? Why should we bother?

  12. A02: The extent to which Irenaeus theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of classical theism • Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. We have the potential to be like God. Irenaeus evil exists as God’s plan. Addresses the inconsistent triad , help humans achieve spiritual and moral perfection. • Hick’s continues Irenaeus- God’s makes extends beyond life. Individual's will achieve the end that God has set out. • The extent of suffering is not evenly spread for example Domestic Violence. • Universal Salvation seems to undermine any reason to choosing to do the right thing.

  13. Check your Evil Key Words

  14. Irenaean type theodicies weaken the concept of God’s omnipotence

  15. Irenaean type theodicies are incompatible with a loving God

  16. Irenaean type theodicies suggest that God is arbitrary in distributing evil and suffering, incompatible with the God of Classical Theism.

  17. Irenaean type theodicies do not explain why an all-knowing God would allow such a complex plan.

  18. Irenaean type theodicies are successful because they are the only way of explaining free-will

  19. Revision

  20. Evaluating the answerPen ToolRead the following exam answer and then discuss the prompts to help you start thinking about evaluative answers.

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