God and Evil

This concise, well-structured introductory survey examines the problem of evil in the context of the philosophy of religion. One of the core topics in the philosophy of religion, the problem of evil is an ever-present dilemma that Western philosophers have pondered for almost two thousand years. The main problem of evil consists in reconciling belief in one's theistic deity while believing in the existence of evil at the same time. Michael Peterson presents this issue through a series of questions & cites theodicy as an appropriate response to the various arguments of evil. Peterson concludes with a discussion of how the problem of evil has evolved, where it stands today, & in what direction it is headed. Contents: THE PROBLEM OF EVIL & ITS PLACE IN PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION. Evil in Human Existence. Evil & Religious Belief. The Classification of Evil. THE LOGICAL PROBLEM OF EVIL. The Structure of the Problem. Versions of the Problem. Locating the Burden of Proof. THE FUNCTION OF DEFENSE. The Free Will Defense. Reformed Epistemology. The Current State of the Debate. THE EVIDENTIAL PROBLEM OF EVIL. The Structure of the Problem. Versions of the Problem. The Argument from Gratuitous Evil. IMPORTANT THEODICIES. The Prospects for Theodicy. Augustine's Free Will Theodicy. Leibniz's Best Possible World Theodicy. Griffin's Process Theodicy. Hick's Soul-Making Theodicy. THE EXISTENTIAL PROBLEM OF EVIL. Various Kinds of Existential Problems. Key Existential Questions Related to Evil. The Relation Between Rational Argument & Religious Faith. The Ongoing Discussion.

". . . a comprehensive review and criticism of the major deductive and inductive arguments against theism [and] a morally sufficient reason for the presence of evil." -Religious Studies Review

In a world riddled with disappointment, malice, and tragedy, what rationale do we have for believing in a benevolent God? If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why is there so much evil in the world? John Stackhouse takes a historically informed approach to this dilemma, examining what philosophers and theologians have said on the subject and offering reassuring answers for thoughtful readers. Stackhouse explores how great thinkers have grappled with the problem of evil--from the Buddha, Confucius, Augustine, and David Hume to Martin Luther, C. S. Lewis, and Alvin Plantinga. Without brushing aside the serious contradictions posed by a God who allows incurable diseases, natural disasters, and senseless crimes to bring misery into our lives, Stackhouse asks if a world completely without evil is what we truly want. Would a life without suffering be a meaningful life? Could free will exist if we were able to choose only good? Stackhouse examines what the best minds have had to say on these questions and boldly affirms that the benefits of evil, in fact, outweigh the costs. Finally, he points to Christian revelation--which promises the transformation of suffering into joy--as the best guide to God's dealings with the world.

Leading scholars critically evaluate belief in God, the arguments for God's existence, the validity of mystical experience, and the importance of the God concept for the development of morality and meaning in life.

The author revisits the cast of characters of his well-known Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality in this lively and absorbing dialogue on good, evil, and the existence of God. Does evil in the world present a problem to those who believe in the perfection of God? What is the nature of human evil? Can fully rational actions be intentionally evil? Gretchen Weirob and her friends tackle these questions and more in a dialogue that exemplifies the subtleties and intricacies of philosophical reflection. Once again, Perry's ability to get to the heart of matters combines with his mastery of the dialogue form.

Why does a loving God allow humans to suffer so much? This is one of the most difficult problems of religious belief. Richard Swinburne gives a careful, clear examination of this problem, and offers an answer: it is because God wants more for us than just pleasure or freedom from suffering. Swinburne argues that God wants humans to learn and to love, to make the choices which make great differences for good and evil to each other, to form our characters in the way we choose; above all to be of great use to each other. If we are to have all this, there will inevitably be suffering for the short period of our lives on Earth. But because of the good that God gives to humans in this life, and because he makes it possible for us, through our choice, to share the life of Heaven, he does not wrong us if he allows suffering. Providence and the Problem of Evil is the final volume of Richard Swinburne's acclaimed tetralogy on Christian doctrine. It may be read on its own as a self-standing treatment of this eternal philosophical issue. Readers who are interested in a unified study of the philosophical foundations of Christian belief will find it now in the tetralogy and in his trilogy on the philosophy of theism.

Eternal God offers a powerful defence of the view that God exists in timeless eternity. This is the classical Christian view of God, but it is claimed by many theologians and philosophers of religion to be incoherent. Paul Helm rebuts the charge of incoherence, arguing that divine timelessness is grounded in the idea of God as creator, and that this alone makes possible a proper account of divine omniscience. He develops some of the consequences of divine timelessness, particularly as it affects both divine and human freedom, and considers some of the alleged problems about referring to God. The book thus constitutes a unified treatment of the main concepts of philosophical theology.