What is moral evil, and what problem does it raise for Catholics?

Moral evil is suffering caused by human choices, such as war or cruelty. Catholics must explain why a loving God allows humans to cause such harm.

What is natural evil, and why is it harder for Catholics to explain?

Natural evil is suffering that comes from the natural world, such as floods and disease. Natural evil cannot be blamed on human choices, so it seems to point to God.

What does Isaiah 45:7 say about God and calamity?

Isaiah 45:7 has God say, “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity”. Older translations such as the King James Version render calamity as “evil”.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Christianity: Living the Christian LifeAny paper

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Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

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Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Christian responses to the Big Bang and the value of the universe The sanctity of life in Christian teaching Christian responses to evolution and the origins of human life Christian attitudes to abortion Christian arguments for life after death Christian responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Christian attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Christian responses to environmental issues and animal rights

Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to justice Christian attitudes to crime and the work of Prison Fellowship and Street Pastors Christian teachings about good actions, evil actions and why people suffer Christian attitudes to punishment and Luke 12:35–48 Christian attitudes to the aims of punishment Christian teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Christian attitudes to the treatment of criminals Christian attitudes to the death penalty

Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemaker Christian peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Christian attitudes to conflict and its causes Christian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther King Christian attitudes to the Just War theory Christian attitudes to Holy War Christian attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Christian responses to violence, war and terrorism

Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Revelation as evidence for God in Christianity Visions as evidence for God in Christianity Miracles as evidence for God in Christianity Religious experience and the burning bush Answered prayer as evidence for God The design argument and Christian belief The cosmological argument and Aquinas's First Three Ways Religious upbringing and belief in God

Christianity: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Christian teaching on human rights Christian attitudes to equality Christian attitudes to religious freedom Christian attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Christian attitudes to racial harmony and the work of Desmond Tutu Christian attitudes to racial discrimination Christian attitudes to social justice Christian attitudes to wealth and poverty

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Islam: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Islam Muslim teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the family in Islam How the ummah supports Muslim families Muslim attitudes to contraception Muslim teaching on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Muslim family Muslim teaching on gender prejudice and discrimination

Islam: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Muslim teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Islam Muslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human life Muslim attitudes to abortion Muslim responses to arguments for life after death Muslim responses to arguments against life after death Muslim attitudes to euthanasia Muslim responses to issues in the natural world

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Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Buddhism Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Buddhist attitudes to abortion Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife Buddhist responses to arguments against life after death Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights

Buddhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

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Buddhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

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Buddhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Hinduism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life Hindu attitudes to abortion Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Hindu attitudes to euthanasia Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights

Hinduism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Hindu attitudes to justice Hindu attitudes to crime and its causes Hindu teachings on good, evil and suffering Hindu attitudes to punishment: danda and prayascitta Hindu attitudes to the aims of punishment Hindu teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Hindu teachings on the treatment of criminals Hindu attitudes to the death penalty

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Hinduism: EqualityPaper 3

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Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Judaism Jewish teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Jewish family How the Jewish community supports families Jewish attitudes to contraception and family planning Jewish teachings on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Jewish family Judaism and gender prejudice

Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Judaism, science and the origins of the universe The value of life in the Tenakh Jewish responses to evolution Jewish attitudes to abortion Jewish arguments for life after death Jewish responses to arguments against life after death Jewish attitudes to euthanasia Judaism and the environment

Judaism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

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Judaism: Religious ExperiencePaper 3

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Sikhism: Sikh BeliefsAny paper

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Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Sikhism Sikh teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the Sikh family How the sangat supports Sikh families Sikh attitudes to contraception Sikh attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Sikh family Sikh opposition to gender prejudice

Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Sikh responses to the origins and value of the universe Sikh teaching on the sanctity of life Sikh responses to evolution Sikh attitudes to abortion Sikh responses to arguments for life after death Sikh responses to arguments against life after death Sikh attitudes to euthanasia Sikh responses to the natural world and animal rights

Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh attitudes to justice Sikh attitudes to crime and the Five Thieves Sikh teaching on good, evil and suffering Sikh attitudes to punishment Sikh views on the aims of punishment Sikh teaching on forgiveness Sikh teaching on the treatment of criminals Sikh attitudes to the death penalty

Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh teaching on peace Sikhs and peacemaking Sikh attitudes to conflict Sikh attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Dharam Yudh: the Sikh Just War The saint-soldier and Sikh views on holy war Sikh attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Sikh responses to violence, war and terrorism

Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Gurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the river Visions and mystical experiences in Sikhism Numinous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in Sikhism Miracles and Sikh belief Sikh attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Sikh belief The cosmological argument and Sikh belief A Sikh upbringing and belief in God

Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of Religion

The problem of suffering for Catholic belief in an all-loving God

3 things to know
Paper 3

Overview

The inconsistent triad, omnibenevolence, moral and natural evil and why the second is harder, Isaiah 45:7 on calamity and 45:9 on questioning God, and how suffering can end or deepen faith.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is the problem of evil and suffering for Catholics?

Key term

What is the inconsistent triad?

Key term

What does omnibenevolent mean?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the problem of evil and suffering for Catholics?
Model answer
Catholics believe God is all-powerful and all-loving, yet evil and suffering exist. Critics argue a God with both qualities would prevent suffering.
2
What is the inconsistent triad?
Model answer
The inconsistent triad is the claim that an omnipotent God, an omnibenevolent God and evil cannot all exist together. Critics say one of the three must be false.
3
What does omnibenevolent mean?
Model answer
Omnibenevolent means all-loving and perfectly good.
4
What is moral evil, and what problem does it raise for Catholics?
Model answer
Moral evil is suffering caused by human choices, such as war or cruelty. Catholics must explain why a loving God allows humans to cause such harm.
5
What is natural evil, and why is it harder for Catholics to explain?
Model answer
Natural evil is suffering that comes from the natural world, such as floods and disease. Natural evil cannot be blamed on human choices, so it seems to point to God.
6
What does Isaiah 45:7 say about God and calamity?
Model answer
Isaiah 45:7 has God say, “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity”. Older translations such as the King James Version render calamity as “evil”.

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AOmnipotent means all-powerful.

BBenevolent means all-loving and wholly good.

CEternal means existing without beginning or end.

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