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Philosophy of Religion (Paper 1)
Quick questions on The problem of evil and religious experience - Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies Paper 1
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the Augustinian theodicy?Show answer
The Augustinian view is criticised for relying on a literal Fall, for the implausibility of an originally perfect creation, and (Schleiermacher) for the contradiction of a perfect world going wrong of its own accord.
What is the Irenaean (soul-making) theodicy?Show answer
The Irenaean theodicy, developed by John Hick as "soul-making", argues that humans were created immature and must grow into the likeness of God through freely meeting challenges. Suffering is necessary for developing virtues such as courage and compassion, and God maintains an epistemic distance so that goodness is freely chosen rather than compelled. Hick adds universal salvation: the process is completed for all in the end, justifying the suffering on the way.
What is the free will defence?Show answer
Alvin Plantinga's free will defence argues that God could not create a world with genuine moral good without the possibility of moral evil, because free creatures must be able to choose wrongly. This answers the logical problem (the triad is not contradictory) but struggles with natural evil, unless that is attributed to non-human free agents or to the conditions necessary for free action.
What is q1?Show answer
Evaluate the Irenaean theodicy as a response to the problem of suffering. [20 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain Swinburne's principle of credulity. [8 marks]
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