A - the problem of evil

What is natural evil?

• A form of evil/suffering that is not the direct result of the acts of humans.

• out of our control.

• empirical evidence of natural evil.

What are examples of natural evil?

• premature deaths

• natural disasters

• animals suffering

• psychological illness

• pain resulting from disease

• pain resulting from poor design of the human body (childbirth, degeneration)

How can believers still believe in Gods omnipotence and omnibenevolence in the face of natural evil?

• That evil is the fault of humanity or the devil not God

• That God created natural evil with a good reason - omniscience, it is beyond our understanding.

What is moral evil?

• Evil caused by humanity

• people deliberately inflicting suffering on each other

• Gods omniscience means God knows people would choose to do the wrong things

• contradicts him being omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent

• why would God not intervene when he sees wrong choices.

What are examples of moral evil?

• murder

• rape

• stealing

• terrorising

• bullying

• vandalism

How can believers argue against the problem of moral evil?

• free will - these are our own choices, God lovingly gave us free will, it would be cruel for God to completely control us.