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The Problem of Evil and Suffering

  • 4 subtopics
  • 12 things to know
  • AS Unit 2

What The Problem of Evil and Suffering covers

The Problem of Evil and Suffering is examined in AS Unit 2, An Introduction to Religion and Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion — Section B. It covers the types and the logical problem of evil, Augustinian type theodicy, Irenaean type theodicy and Debating the problem of evil.

Where it is assessed

AS Unit 2

An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion.

Check the WJEC specification ↗

The 4 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Set out Augustine's account of where evil came from and what it did to nature.

Key term

State the classical problem of evil as Epicurus poses it.

Key term

How does the Irenaean approach differ from the Augustinian at the outset?

Key term

Give the case that the classical problem is not as serious as it looks.

Key term

Distinguish moral evil from natural evil.

Key term

What is a theodicy?

Key term

Which distinction from Irenaeus underlies the Irenaean theodicy?

Evaluation

Give the case that modern arguments from evil do disprove God's existence.

Key term

Give two examples of natural evil.

Key term

Why does the privation view matter for Augustine's account of creation?

Numbers

In which work does Hick develop his Irenaean theodicy?

Evaluation

Give the case that modern arguments from evil do not disprove God's existence.

Take The Problem of Evil and Suffering further

The same content, four other ways.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Distinguish moral evil from natural evil.

    Model answer

    Moral evil is suffering caused by the deliberate acts of free agents; natural evil is suffering caused by the workings of nature.

  2. 2

    Give two examples of natural evil.

    Model answer

    Earthquakes and disease.

  3. 3

    Why is the distinction between the two kinds important for a theodicy?

    Model answer

    An appeal to human free will can account for moral evil but leaves natural evil unexplained.

  4. 4

    State the classical problem of evil as Epicurus poses it.

    Model answer

    If God is willing to prevent evil but unable, God is not omnipotent; if able but unwilling, God is not good; and if both able and willing, the existence of evil is left unexplained.

  5. 5

    Which philosopher put the Epicurean formulation into modern circulation?

    Model answer

    David Hume, who gives it to Philo in the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion.

  6. 6

    What is the logical problem of evil?

    Model answer

    The claim that the existence of evil is logically inconsistent with the existence of an omnipotent and wholly good God, so that theism is incoherent.

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The Problem of Evil and Suffering revision questions

What does The Problem of Evil and Suffering cover in WJEC A-Level Religious Studies?
4 subtopics: the types and the logical problem of evil, augustinian type theodicy, irenaean type theodicy and debating the problem of evil. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is The Problem of Evil and Suffering organised?
By the WJEC 603-0277-X specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

Every question in The Problem of Evil and Suffering, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

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