Subject Knowledge - Good & Evil

Why do we have evil and suffering? (Catholic)

Catholics answer this question by looking at the concept of free will: the gift from God of the human ability to make choices over goodness or evil. We divide this further into 2 areas: moral evil and natural evil

SOW: Genesis 3

Original Sin

• (Catholics believe this story is a description of a real, prehistoric event, told through figurative language.)- The story demonstrates the human ability to turn away from God and the tendency to sin and the shared responsibility for evil and suffering in the world today.

• Other Christians will believe it to be literally true.

SOW: St Augustine

thought much about the existence of evil and suffering and produced 3 main ideas:

1. Evil helps us appreciate good - The existence of evil helps people to appreciate the good in the world they otherwise might not notice: ‘for we enjoy and value the good more when we compare it with the evil.'

2. Evil is not a thing - God doesn't want us to be deprived of good things, but either our choices have led to these privations, or God allows them for some greater good. 'For what is that we call evil but the absence of good? Disease and wounds are... the absence of health.."

3. Evil makes us better - God allows evil because in his goodness and power he is always to bring about a greater good. Sometimes, therefore, suffering is good for us! 'For the Almighty God... can bring good even out of evil.'

SOW: St. Irenaeus

evil could be traced back to human Free Will. However, he differed from Augustine by saying that God did not make a perfect world and that evil has a valuable part to play in God’s plan for humanity. He thought that God created humans imperfectly in order that they could develop into perfection over time. He thought that evil allows us to develop virtues such as compassion and mercy, which are needed for perfection.

SOW: John Hick

supported the Irenaean Theodicy - God didn't make us into robots! If God had made humanity perfectly, then we would have the goodness of robots, which means that we would automatically love God without thought or question. Such love would be valueless and if God wanted humans to be genuinely loving, then he had to let us have the freedom to develop this love for ourselves. It is only through such suffering that human beings can 'grow in God's likeness' leads to a healthier soul

Other idea related to origin of evil

Goodness and perfection had to be developed by humans themselves, through willing cooperation with God. This meant that God had to give them free will and such freedom requires the possibility of choosing evil over good. To achieve this, God had to create humans at an epistemic distance, by which God is not so close that humans would be overwhelmed by him and have no choice but to believe and obey. By keeping a distance, God allows humans to freely choose.

Jewish view on nature and origin of evil

• Do not believe in original sin or that humans inherit the guilt or moral weakness of Adam & Eve

• The struggle shown in the Torah is important in showing obedience to God.

• Believe humans have 2 inclinations: to do good or to do evil.

• You cannot hide evil actions from God

• All humans must face temptation or make moral choices

Catholic view on nature and origin of evil

• Believe in original sin and the inherited guilt/moral weakness of Adam and Eve

• You cannot hide evil actions from God

• All humans must face temptation or make moral choices

SOW: David Hume

put forward the idea of the Inconsistent Triad. It finishes with the premise that either God is not good, or is not all powerful; or God does not exist. Hume was Atheist.

SOW: John Mackie

took Hume’s ideas further:

1. Evil is necessary as an opposite to good - He argues that there is far more and far worse suffering than is needed to contrast with the good in world.

2. Evil helps us to become better people - Why should God need to make su better through suffering? Why not just make us perfect to start with? If this is true, then why does suffering often make people worse, not better?

3. Evil is a consequence of free will - Why couldn’t an omnipotent God simply make free human beings who always good instead of evil? He also feels that evil suffering is too high a price to pay for having free will.

SOW: Isaiah 53

‘Suffering servant ‘ - When Christians suffer, it is a way to bring them closer to an understanding of Jesus’ suffering, death and salvation of humanity. Catholics will understand that suffering can never be ‘good’, but a mystery from God that can bring about good. During Mass, a Catholic will remember those who are suffering and ask God’s help for all those in need. Some will become doctors, nurses and aid workers to help those in need.

Trinity

God exists as 3 persons: Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Each of the 3 persons is distinct from the other two. Each of the 3 persons is fully God, but there are not 3 gods. This is the doctrine of the Trinity. Even though the word ‘Trinity’ does not appear in the bible, the doctrine developed over hundreds of years. It is a mystery of faith and helps us understand some of the identity of God.

Trinity (SOW)

• The doctrine of the Trinity is set out in the Nicene Creed, where the 3 persons have their distinct roles explained:

  • Father: Creator of heaven and earth.

  • Son: saviour of the world.

  • Spirit: invisible & spiritual power who guides, helps and inspires humans.

• The Nicene Creed is also said at Mass by everyone as a public declaration of faith. This binds them together as a faith community.

Value of Trinity (Catholics)

Catholics value the concept of the Trinity as it declares Jesus as God. Catholics also show this in their prayer: the sign of the cross is Trinitarian, and the Eucharistic prayer finishes with reference to the Trinity: ‘Through him, and with him and in him…’

SOW : St Augustine

developed the concept of Trinity when he used the words from John’s Gospel: ‘God is Love’. These are his words: ‘There are three things in love, as it were a trace of the Trinity… love is of someone that loves, and with love something is loved. Behold, then, there are three things: he that loves, and that which is loved, and love.’ In this way, Augustine is saying the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is love, lover and beloved (or: the person doing the loving (Father), the person who is being loved (the Son) & the love itself (the Holy Spirit).

Incarnation SOW

• ‘In the beginning was the Word’. John calls Jesus ‘the Word’, and he is God’s creative power. The Incarnation is visible in the conclusion to that passage ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us’.

• ‘Kenosis Hymn’ of St Paul, where Jesus ‘emptied himself’ to share in our humanity: ‘and being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.’ (Phil2:8).

Value of Incarnation

The belief in the incarnation helps Christians understand that God became human and suffered. Jesus suffered and was willing to take on that suffering, so everything we suffer, he has also suffered and when we suffer, he is with us in our suffering.

SOW: Consistent Triad

The Son - human suffering; God is omnibenevolent - the Spirit; God is omnipotent - the Father

Pope St John Paul II - Salvifici Doloris

explained further the power of suffering - ‘the saving power of suffering’

• Christians can willingly ‘offer up’ their suffering in prayer for the sake of others, and hence share in the saving suffering of Jesus. God can use our suffering offered up in this way for the sake of others: ‘’Those who share in Christ’s suffering have before their eyes the Paschal Mystery of the Cross and Resurrection..’

Jesus and Moral Authority (Catholics)

Catholics try to model themselves on Jesus. Jesus gave us the Golden Rule, told his disciples to love one another and lived this out in his healings and treatment of outcasts and sinners. He showed forgiveness on the cross and in the Sermon on the Mount (Mtt 5-7) showed his followers how to behave.

Jesus’ teachings here challenge, further and deepen the Law of Moses. Moses’ law said murder was unacceptable, but Jesus continues ‘But I say to you…’ that anger is unacceptable. Being a follower of Jesus is more demanding: ‘turn the other cheek, love your enemies, give in secret, pray and fast in secret’

another means of discerning moral authority: St Thomas Aquinas

proposed the concept: at a basic level, humans should do good and avoid evil. Catholics would say this shows a universe created by God, and God is good. The fact that humans can tell good actions from evil ones shows we have a God-given ability to distinguish good from evil.

Conscience + Virtues

Catholics must make sure their conscience is informed by the bible and tradition. This would result in less evil in the world.

A conscience is:

1. Given to us by God

2. Part of our human nature as designed by God.

3. Active – together with human reason (recta ratio) it enables us to discern the good.

4. The moral principles it discerns are together called the NATURAL LAW.

Living a good life and following your conscience takes practice, and following these moral habits is called ‘virtues’, and enable us to become good people. Virtues challenge us to live less selfishly and think of others.

Statues

common features in Catholic churches. Crucifixes remind us of the incarnation. Often candles are lit in front of statues, asking for intercession from the saints for their prayer intention.

Statues (other views)

Other Christian traditions, such as Protestants, do not have statues as it goes against the 2nd commandment. They would use a simple cross instead. Jews, also, do not use statues as a focus for prayer for the same reason. They would not represent God, who is beyond all human understanding, in any way.

Why are pilgrimages important for Catholics?

• Reflect on life’s journey

• Focus on journey to God away from life’s distractions

• Journey of self-discovery in sickness

• Enables the sick to accept their suffering

• Value the role of God in their lives

• Some are cured (but very few)

The rosary

The rosary beads enable a Catholic to concentrate on their prayers. Catholics pray the mysteries of the rosary, which are some of the events of Jesus’ & Mary’s lives. They meditate on these. We focused on the sorrowful mysteries.

The 5 sorrowful mysteries

1. The agony in the garden

2. the scourging at the pillar

3. the crowning with thorns

4. Jesus is made to carry his cross

5. Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross.

other mysteries are:

• the joyful mysteries

• the luminous

• the glorious mysteries.