Key term
WJEC AS-Level Religious Studies 603-0277-X
Christianity: Religious Figures and Sacred TextsChristianity
Christianity: Key Religious ConceptsChristianity
Christianity: Religious Life and Moral PrinciplesChristianity
Christianity: Practices and Religious IdentityChristianity
Islam: Religious Figures and Sacred TextsIslam
Islam: Key Religious ConceptsIslam
Islam: Religious Life and Moral PrinciplesIslam
Islam: Practices and Religious IdentityIslam
Judaism: Religious Figures and Sacred TextsJudaism
Judaism: Key Religious ConceptsJudaism
Judaism: Religious Life and Moral PrinciplesJudaism
Judaism: Practices and Religious IdentityJudaism
Buddhism: Religious Figures and Sacred TextsBuddhism
Buddhism: Key Religious ConceptsBuddhism
Buddhism: Religious Life and Moral PrinciplesBuddhism
Buddhism: Practices and Religious IdentityBuddhism
Hinduism: Religious Figures and Sacred TextsHinduism
Hinduism: Key Religious ConceptsHinduism
Hinduism: Religious Life and Moral PrinciplesHinduism
Hinduism: Practices and Religious IdentityHinduism
Sikhism: Religious Figures and Sacred TextsSikhism
Sikhism: Key Religious ConceptsSikhism
Sikhism: Religious Life and Moral PrinciplesSikhism
Sikhism: Practices and Religious IdentitySikhism
Ethical Thought: Divine Command, Virtue and Egoism
Aquinas and Natural Law
Fletcher and Situation Ethics
Utilitarianism
Inductive Arguments for the Existence of God
Deductive Arguments for the Existence of God
The Problem of Evil and Suffering
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. WJEC AS Religious Studies students sit this topic in the first year.
- The types and the logical problem of evilNatural evil, classical problem of evil as Epicurus poses it and logical problem of evil.Open →
- Augustinian type theodicyOriginal state of creation in Augustine's account and aesthetic argument in this theodicy.Open →
- Irenaean type theodicyEpistemic distance and hick's eschatological justification.Open →
- Debating the problem of evilRecall questions on the classical and modern formulations, the relevance of Augustinian theodicy, the credibility of the Irenaean account, both as defences of theism, and their handling of natural evil.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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Key term
State the classical problem of evil as Epicurus poses it.
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How does the Irenaean approach differ from the Augustinian at the outset?
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Give the case that the classical problem is not as serious as it looks.
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Distinguish moral evil from natural evil.
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What is a theodicy?
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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
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
Give two examples of natural evil.
Model answer
Earthquakes and disease.
- 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
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
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
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.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
The Problem of Evil and Suffering revision questions
- Is The Problem of Evil and Suffering examined at AS in WJEC Religious Studies?
- Yes. It sits in AS Unit 2, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.
- What does The Problem of Evil and Suffering cover in WJEC AS-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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