Problem of Evil, pt. 1.
1. Classical formulation of
the problem.
2. Kushner’s restatement
of the problem.
3. Historical solutions to
the problem.
4. Kushner’s own solution.
Job and his three friends
A classical formulation of theodicy
• Is God willing to prevent evil, but not
able? Then he is impotent.
• Is God able to prevent evil, but not
willing? Then he is malevolent.
• If God is both able and willing,
whence then is evil?
Epicurus (341-271 BC)
Necessary components of theodicy
(1) God is all-powerful.
(2) God is perfectly good and just
(3) Evil exists.
Kushner’s restatement of the problem with ref. to
the story of Job, p. 37.
Kushner’s restatement of the
problem
(ALL) suffering is God’s punishment
for sin
• “No ills befall the righteous, but the wicked are
filled with trouble.” (Proverbs 12:21).
(ALL) suffering is the result of sin
“Tell the righteous it shall be well with them, for
they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the
wicked, it shall be ill with him, for what his hands
have done shall be done to him.” (Isaiah 3:1011).
Parts and the whole solution (1)
If life is considered as
a whole, misfortunes
will fall into a
meaningful pattern
Zeno (333-264 B.C)
Parts and the whole solution (2)
• Individual suffering fits into the drama of history
Hegel (1770-1831)
Thornton Wilder
(1897-1975)
Parts and the whole solution (3)
The total amount of
pleasure in the world
outweighs the total
amount of suffering
Wilhelm Leibnitz (1646-1716)
Dostoevsky’s objection
The whole harmony of
the world is not worth a
tear of even one
tormented child.
From Karamazov
Brothers
(paraphrased)
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-81)
(ALL) suffering makes us better
• Suffering is educational:
“Zeus, whoever he is,
made this eternal law: that
men must learn by
suffering.”
--Aeschylus, Agamemnon
• suffering is purifying and
healing
Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
Irenaeus of
Lyons (120202 AD)
(ALL) suffering is a test of faith
• Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac
• Book of Job
Parts and the whole solution (4)
“Heaven will make things right” (conventional piety)
Evil is not real
•
•
•
•
All reality is good
Evil is a negation of good.
Evil is a negation of reality.
Therefore, evil is not real.
Plotinus (204-270)
Summing up the results…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Suffering is a punishment for sin.
Our bad actions cause our misfortune.
If life is considered as a whole, misfortunes fall into a pattern.
Individual drama serves a higher historical purpose.
The total amount of pleasure is greater than the total amount
of suffering.
The purpose of suffering is education and purification.
Suffering is a test (of faith).
‘Heaven will make things right’.
Evil is not real.
Necessary components of theodicy
(1) God is perfectly good & just
(2) God is all-powerful
(3) Evil exists.
Which point will Kushner give up?..
Problem of Evil, pt. 2
1. Kushner’s interpretation
of the Job story.
2. Kushner’s solution.
3. Kushner’s advice how to
handle suffering.
4. Critique of Kushner’s
position.
The Job story
•
•
•
•
•
Original story pp. 32 (bottom par)-33.
Reworked story pp. 34-35.
Main dilemma, p. 37 (bottom)
What is Job’s solution? (p. 40)
Kushner’s solution and interpretation pp. 42-46
Necessary components of theodicy
(1) God is perfectly good & just
(2) God is all-powerful
(3) Evil exists.
Which of the three will Kushner give up?..
Acc. to Kushner, what is the position of the author
of Job? (pp. 42-46)
Study Questions to pp. 72-79.
• How does Kushner interpret “Let us make human
beings in our image and likeness” (Gen 1:26). pp. 7273.
• What is Kushner’s interpretation of Gen 3? How does
it differ from a traditional view? pp. 74(bottom)- 79.
• Yet another solution to the problem of evil (p. 81)
• Is it possible to lose freedom entirely? (p. 83)
Free will defense
• People suffer because they hurt each other
Study questions, chap. 6.
• What did Job need? (pp. 88-89).
• What did Job’s friends do right? (pp. 90-91)
Kushner’s advice on how to handle
suffering
• Explanations why we do not always get what we
pray for (115)
• What we should and should not pray for (p. 128).
• What we should not expect from God (129).
• What we can do about suffering (136).
A Summary of Kushner’s solution
• Modification of the view of God (pp. 42-43; 113131)
• Free will defense (81-83)
• Modification of the concept of a miracle ( 125)
Questions for consideration:
• Is Kushner’s solution sound?
• Does Christianity add anything to Kushner’s view
of suffering?
Summing up the results again
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Suffering is punishment for sin.
Our misdeeds cause our misfortune.
If life is considered as a whole, misfortunes fall into pattern
Individual drama serves a higher historical purpose.
Total amount of pleasure is greater than total amount of suffering.
Purpose of suffering is education and purification.
Suffering is a test (of faith).
‘Heaven will make things right’
Evil is not real.
People suffer because God allows them to hurt each other.
God is not all-powerful, therefore he cannot always prevent evil
(Kushner)
12. Suffering only has a meaning that we attach to it.
13. Ultimately, undeserved suffering is a mystery.
Dr. Gavrilyuk’s reading list
• C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
• Nicholas Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son
• Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov