philosophy - problem of evil (ao3)

augustine - strengths

-if evil is a ‘privation of good’, god couldn’t have created it, as its not ‘something’ but a lack of something; god and evil are not ‘co-existing’

-human free will is important in theodicy, we need free will in order to choose evil

augustine - weaknesses

-where did evil come from within a perfect world?

-relies on literal reading of the bible

-scientifically inaccurate (seminally present)

-a just, loving god would not blame all humanity for the sin of adam 

-augustine argues we are all ignorant, to be punished with evil for ignorance is unjust

-augustine’s explanation of natural evil is at odds with modern science (fall of the angels)

-’privation of good’ doesn’t explain why evil exists in the world, augustine is letting god off the hook 

ireneaus - strengths

ireneaus - weaknesses