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Why is suffering a problem for people who believe in God?

Why is suffering a problem for people who believe in God?. Today ’ s lesson will be successful if:. What is evil?. Brainstorm everything you know about evil. Why is suffering a problem for people who believe in God?. Today ’ s lesson will be successful if you can:

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Why is suffering a problem for people who believe in God?

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  1. Why is suffering a problem for people who believe in God? Today’s lesson will be successful if:

  2. What is evil? • Brainstorm everything you know about evil.

  3. Why is suffering a problem for people who believe in God? Today’s lesson will be successful if you can: Explain the difference between natural and moral evil Decide who is responsible for natural and moral evil.

  4. = All Omni In your groups! What are all the omni’s and what do they mean?

  5. See if you can work out what these 4 ‘omni’ words mean: Omnipotent Everywhere Omnipresent All-knowing Omniscient All loving Omnibenevolent All Powerful

  6. Omnipotent "Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Genesis18:14 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Not only does god see all, no one can hide from God.” Proverbs 15:3 Omniscient "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? said the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23:24 Omnipresent “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 Omnibenevolent

  7. What is Evil? He was: A vegetarian A non-smoker A dynamic and charismatic leader People were devoted to him It was his vision that every person in Germany would have a car He aimed to restore the German economy He encouraged German children to take outdoor activities So, was he evil?

  8. So then, who is evil? • Are you? • The Roman Catholic Church condemns birth control and sex before marriage as intrinsically evil acts. Is this evil? • So then, what is evil?

  9. Hannibal Lectar, Silence of the Lambs? Took pleasure in killing people cutting out their tongues and eating them Yet: He was thoughtful, intelligent and when Clarice Starling (who was chasing him) was in danger, he even cut off his own hand rather than hurt her. He displayed characteristics of courage, self-sacrifice and love.

  10. Twin Towers? An act of evil? • George Bush certainly thought so?

  11. So then, is evil relative? • Does it depend on your perspective? • Are they just matters of opinion?

  12. What about these scenarios… • A paedophile drives around Fordingbridge in his Rolls Royce picking up young boys, taking them back to his flat and abusing him. • Two young boys, aged 10 and 9, take a little boy aged 3 away from his mother in a shopping centre. They go to a railway line, taunt him and then throw bricks and stones at him until he first stops screaming and then stops breathing.

  13. Questions • How would you define evil? • Name two actions and two people whom you would describe as evil and why. • Is evil a matter of opinion? Or are there absolutes in matters of morality?

  14. IN WHAT WAYS DO PEOPLE SUFFER?

  15. There are two different types of evil…. NATURAL EVIL Things that cause suffering but have nothing to do with humans e.g. Earthquakes MORAL EVIL Actions done by humans that cause suffering Look back at your list: Highlight all the natural evil in one colour and all the moral evil in another. Then jot down the definitions of Natural and Manmade Evil

  16. Manmade or Natural evil?

  17. Photographer Haunted by Horror of His Work • Kevin Carter, the South African photographer whose image of a starving Sudanese toddler stalked by a vulture won him a Pulitzer Prize, was found dead.  He was 33.  • The police said Mr Carter's body and several letters to friends and family were discovered. An inquest showed that he had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. • He had committed suicide.

  18. “... I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings & corpses & anger & pain ... of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners..." Kevin Carter (1960 – 1994) His suicide note. Question: Is it possible to separate evil into two distinct categories?

  19. Why is evil and suffering a problem for those who believe in God? • In pairs come up with reasons why (hint – look back at the omnis) • If God is good, why is there so much evil? • If God is all powerful he could stop all the suffering • If God is all knowing, why does he not stop the evil?

  20. Manmade or Natural evil?

  21. The PROBLEM OF EVIL • Hume • Is [God] willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?

  22. This is known as the Inconsistent Triad In your book, copy down the inconsistent triad and explain it in your own words. Start with: If God is omnipotent…

  23. Which of the following statements of the problem of evil do you agree with and why? God has created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo) and is totally responsible for it. If he is all-powerful, then he can do anything that is logically possible. This means he could create a world free from evil and suffering. God is omniscient and knows everything in the universe. He must, therefore, know how to stop evil and suffering. He is omnibenevolent and, in his love, would wish to end all evil and suffering. No all-loving God would choose his creation to suffer for no reason.

  24. Which of the following statements of the problem of evil do you agree with and why? God is omnipotent and could therefore stop all evil and suffering. Evil an suffering do exist, so either God is not omnipotent or omnibenevolent or he does not exist.

  25. The Nature of God • God is not perfectly good • Look up the following biblical passages and explain how a supporter of protest theodicy would use them to defend his beliefs: • Genesis 22 • Exodus 12 • Isaiah 45:7 • Psalm 90:7-9

  26. The Nature of God God is not all-powerful Read the summary of the interview with Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Explain her beliefs in God and how they are compatible with a loving God.

  27. The Nature of God God is not all-loving Theists should face the full force of the conflict i.e. not avoid the problem of suffering but confront it, without allowing it to count decisively against their belief. But they should not use ‘vacuous formulae’ such as ‘it’s God’s will’, which are neither explanations nor justifications. For Discussion Why do you think an answer to the problem is required?

  28. Does Evil Have a Purpose? Evil is a Punishment The Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions often see evil as a punishment from God. How would Hinduism and Buddhism respond to the problem of evil?

  29. Does Evil Have a Purpose? Evil is a Test Read ‘Tsunami: Where Was God?’ and note how the different religions responded to the question.

  30. Does Evil Have a Purpose? Evil is inevitable God is not responsible for evil and suffering. If there was no evil there could be no good. Discussion Do you think evil is inevitable?

  31. Does Evil Have a Purpose? Evil allows God’s love to be displayed Task Find an example in the Bible of God’s love. Write down the quote and explain how it shows God’s love.

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