Your search for: god AND evil

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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.