Problem of Evil: History and Formulation

1. Problem of Evil: History and Formulation James A. Van Slyke

2. History of Theological Answers • Augustine (354 – 430) • The Confessions • Combined Biblical Faith with Platonic Philosophy • Plato (427-347 BC) • Early Greek Philosopher • Metaphysics – World emanates from ‘the Good’ • Forms a type of hierarchy where each step down ‘loses goodness’

3. Neo-Platonic Thought • Worshiped Idea of ‘The Good’ • Evil does not exist, but is the absence of the good • Humans must posses the strength to seek “the Good” • Immorality from looking to the material rather than the nonmaterial • Percursor for Gnosticism – Material existence is evil

4. Soul Soul Body Body The Hierarchy of Being • Plato’s list • Divine Mind • Forms • Divinities • stars • planets • humans • animals • plants • inorganic material Augustine’s list God Forms Planets angels Humans Animals Plants Inorganic Material

5. Augustine and Evil • Evil as privation • Absence of good • Thus, God is not responsible for the creation of evil • Each step down the hierarchy, more possibility for evil

6. Augustine’s Free Will Defense • God wants creatures who freely give trust, obedience, adoration, etc. • Used by many apologists to deal with problem of evil • Ultimately, evil is the result of free will and sin

7. Instrumentality of Evil • More important for human’s to have freedom to choose God • Evil brings about a greater good for humankind • Sickness allows us to appreciate our health • Greater good accomplished with evil in the world than without it • Justifies evil in the world

8. Later Developments • Calvinism – Instrumentalist • Cross as a demonstration of God’s love and mercy • Predestined act to bring salvation to the elect • Armenian – Free Will • Evil allows us to freely choose to follow Christ

9. Augustine’s Reconstruction • Adam and Eve lived in a pre-history paradise • Their fall was the first step downward in the hierarchy of being • Not human beings, but super humans • Merging of Creation Story with other Greek Myths

10. Augustine and Sin • Human sin is wanting to be like God • Adam and Eve chose to sin • No predisposing factors • Ignorance • Lust • Hunger • Fatigue, etc. • Nothing could be blamed on God; created with perfect free will

11. Consequences • Sin leads to disorder in the hierarchy • When the ‘rung’ occupied by humans and/or angels is disrupted leads to disorder all the way down • This is another reason for suffering and evil in the world

12. Consequences • Concupiscence • Sin also leads to disorder within the person • The disorderly arrangement of the human soul leads to sin and suffering • When the will is in rebellion, no ability to control the self • Not able to control the body

13. Consequences • Disorder in hierarchy also leads to disorder in nature • Earthquakes, Floods, etc. • Reason for suffering of animals and nature • Disordered world causes nature to be less than it could be

14. Salvation • All have sinned and deserve punishment • Christ alone can save from sins • Restores right relationship within the disordered person • Hope for the resurrection which will re-establish an ordered cosmos

15. Summary • Augustine – 3 important concepts • Privation • Free Will – Important defense still used today • Instrumentality – Shows that Evil may be necessary in certain cases

16. Summary • Problems with Augustine’s account • Ancient Metaphysics has been replaced • Hurricanes, etc. caused by natural effects • Platonic reading of Genesis account rejected • Disorder of soul no longer accepted • Will is not most important aspect of humans • Emotions and the body also important