And so then, for some individuals, when they experience this kind of intense suffering, they find themselves just psychologically withdrawing from God. But I think as Christians, we also have to bear in mind that the God we worship is a god who suffered greatly on our behalf. ...It is simply that the Bible operates within a cosmic, mo… Problem of Evil (Logical and Evidential Problem) Logical problem of evil. Right. 380 0 obj <> endobj See William Rowe, ‘The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism’ in M. M. Adams and R. M. Adams (edd), The Problem of Evil (Oxford: OUP, 1990) The argument for atheism based on evil: 1. He specializes in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of religion. The next step will involve providing an outline of some important concepts and distincti… And it’s very painful to read, his recounting of just some horrific atrocities that occurred in and around that time. And he frames the problem of evil this way. Thomas M. Crisp has a M.A. But even then we should not love them. And we don’t want to align ourselves with any grand scheme of things such that this is a part of what’s being planned. The “logical” subcategory – “The fact that God’s good creation includes any evil entails God’s nonexistence.” b. Existentialism (/ ˌ ɛ ɡ z ɪ ˈ s t ɛ n ʃ əl ɪ z əm / or / ˌ ɛ k s ə ˈ s t ɛ n t ʃ ə ˌ l ɪ z əm /) is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the problem of human existence and centers on the lived experience of the thinking, feeling, acting individual. It’s, and it’s because, perhaps out of an identification with the sufferer. Theodicy and Scripture. Because these are far from being individuals who are morally calloused. And so you’ve done some really interesting thinking and writing about this existential problem of evil. 400 0 obj <>stream The History of Theodicy. I mean is this an effect? Much as Schopenhauer once suggested (1818), the existence of evil gives rise to a philosophical problem that is logically prior to and distinct from the classical problem.2 I call this problem the secular problem of … to reconcile that. As it’s treated in the writings of Theodosius Dobzhansky and his beautiful character, Father Zosima. But he, at one point, he recounts the story of his life, and he indicates that, actually, early on, he was a violently angry young man and participated in dueling and such. The Experience of Suffering. For this reason, Lewis spent a significant amount of time exploring the topic in his books, both in fiction and nonfiction. And so why do we find ourselves confronted with all this suffering? ISBN 0-19-926347-7. “I don’t want to participate in that. • But, try speaking about Plantagina, or evil as … So he’s not sheltered from, he’s aware of the intense suffering of many individuals. endstream endobj 381 0 obj <>/Metadata 71 0 R/Pages 378 0 R/StructTreeRoot 110 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 382 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 378 0 R/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 383 0 obj <>stream It can induce a kind of vertigo. Now, this is a kind of theoretical problem. This perspective in Problem # 3: Existential Problem of Evil Psychological inability to believe or practice the faith. endstream endobj startxref And we have some of his correspondence. But, of course, as theists the problem is God has permitted a world, for us to exist in a world where precisely such horrible things have happened. The most common statement of this problem is, “I can’t believe in a God who would allow…”. Pastoral Care Care for them and love them as Christ does. Before delving into the deep and often murky waters of the problem of evil, it will be helpful to provide some philosophical background to this venerable subject. How does this analysis pertain to the theistic problem of evil? So, the problem of evil. And over the course of his life, he embraced the Christian faith and was slowly transformed. (1) An all-powerful, all-good and all-loving, all-knowing God exists. But it’s also, there’s also an existential problem that we face when we encounter terrible evil in our own lives and in the lives of others. And he doesn’t tell us how. William Hasker, in the selection here, argues You have three sons of, that are all interesting characters. But enough of that. Biola University's Center for Christian Thought is supported by generous grants from: © 1996-2021 Biola University, Inc. All Rights Reserved. And he just speaks with great confidence that it is possible to be reconciled to that without diminishing it and while still identifying with the victim of suffering. The Existential Problem of Evil • The Philosophical Problem of Evil concerns evil in the general and in the abstract. Wandering in Darkness: Eleonore Stump on Suffering, Evil, and Personal Encounter, Union with God: Love, Joy and Peace (Eleonore Stump), Suffering, the Problem of Evil, & the Desires of the Heart, The Existential Problem of Evil and The Brothers Karamazov, Purging the World of Evil: St. Thomas Aquinas on the Atoning Work of Christ, Should We Tolerate Evil Opinions? And so, I wondered if you could tell us a bit about how you think about the practical problem of evil, and what you think Dobzhansky’s solution or reply to this problem is. The Politics of Theodicy. Yet we can miss the melodies of beauty and order available to us through a new spiritual life; a life that comes from restoring our relationship to God through Christ. You know, he says, “I don’t want to, even if it’s true “that God will bring great good “and cause an ultimate harmony of all things “in the eschaton. of the problem of evil, some work has also been done on what we might call the existential version. Horrific Evil. The opinions and personalities represented in The Table do not necessarily represent those of Biola University or the Biola University Center for Christian Thought. And if He’s all-powerful and all-knowing, wouldn’t he have the power and know how to do so? Sociologist Walter Brueggemannsays theodicy is "a constant concern of the entire Bible" and needs to "include the category of social evil as well as moral, natural (physical) and religious evil". And then whether you think it works, whether you find it persuasive. They have great sensitivity to suffering, and yet they also have profound intimacy with God. Metaphysical Evil. That could be, for some individuals in this life, they might say, well, I, you know, I can’t make that identification. And they can experience it as a moral committedness and trust in the love of God. The philosophical problem posed by the existence of evil is not. if all of this requires the torture of this one innocent child, then I don’t want a part of it. I think he should perhaps add what he no doubt believes that some human individuals in this life may have experienced such profound suffering, say, seeing the, he recounts the story of a mother seeing her child being deliberately killed savagely right before her eyes. It’s set in Russia of course. The existential problem of evil is simply this, and I say this to people: that ultimately the problem of evil is not a problem because you’ve got a bunch of philosophers or eggheads somewhere in an ivory tower debating the intellectual merits of Christian theism. This label calls attention to the “real-life” dimension of the problem in addition to the more abstract and general lines of reason - ing that are typically pursued. It still, it doesn’t help me to, but God could cause them to have insight into the character of God that it could somehow take on redemptive significance for them. Our free 4-week, 8-lesson ecourse on navigating the pain of loss... What Happens When We Die: What We Are and What We Will Become, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University, CCT Scholar-in-Residence and Executive Board Member / Professor of Philosophy, Biola University. And no doubt, it requires supernatural activity on the part of God, but we’re already. Christian wisdom for life's big questions. • The responses to this problem work just fine, while one sits comfortably in a nice, cool philosophy classroom. And he very much wanted the novel to offer response to the problem of evil, and he feared that he did a better job of framing the problem of evil than he did in giving a powerful Christian response to it. He’s a person of overwhelming love, and that’s the thing. – Robert George on Peter Singer, Abortion, and Seeking Truth, As You Love Yourself: Where Contemplation and Action Meet. So he’s, I take it what Dostoevsky’s doing, he’s saying he’s a kind of witness. But it’s also, there’s also an existential problem that we face when we encounter terrible evil in our own lives and in the lives of others. The inner life of God who grieves over his suffering and sinful children and longs to have them return to them and experience profound suffering and alienation in the second person of the Trinity, incarnated and crucified. Atheist Job Description: Non-Applicable: The evil does all the work itself Theistic Response: 1. Summary and Conclusions: The Problem of Evil and Pain. ...Instead we encounter a variety of perspectives... Consequently [the Bible focuses on] moral and spiritual remedies, not rational or logical [justifications]. If you get to a point of spiritual development that an individual like Father Zosima has, it’s possible to have a integration of your deep, profoundest moral convictions about the wrongness of horrific suffering and complete trust in the deep love of God. Yes, I think that’s it. Philosophers sometimes distinguish between different problems of evil. They feel they don’t want to simply say that, “Well God is wholly just and God is perfectly good, and he will bring good out of horrific evil.”. There is evil... Evidential problem of evil. Tim O'Connor (Ph.D. Cornell) is Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University. The Existential Problem of Evil. Many religious individuals sometimes report, not so much theoretically ceasing to believe that God exists when they encounter evil, but just God feeling distant, and feeling the inability to draw near to God and to love God, to trust God given his willing permission of these kinds of suffering. However, the “pastoral” problem is as real and important as the “epistemic” problem. On theone hand, there are metaphysical interpretations of the term: God isa prime mover, or a first cause, or a necessary being that has itsnecessity of itself, or the ground of being, or a being whos… And a kind of brief loss for Marilyn Adams has interestingly speculated that one way in which people who’ve experience horrific suffering might actually come to, in a way, have that suffering take on redemptive value for them, even though it remains an evil thing, what they experience, but it can come to have redemptive significance if God enables them in a kind of mystical way to yoke their suffering, see their suffering as a means of identification with the suffering of Christ on our behalf, right. For The Table subscribers only: Sign up for "Charting a Course Through Grief". There is general agreement among Bible scholars that the Bible "does not admit of a singular perspective on evil. In these readings, we learn the existential problem of evil to be the conflict of one’s emotions with one’s logic. It can make it very difficult to believe that there is a God of the kind described by traditional Christianity. So is it that you can imagine someone in the grip of an existential crisis, finding themselves repulsed maybe by God because of horrific suffering and experience through a witness. It can induce a kind of vertigo. So really a model of Christian virtue, a very Christ-like figure. Journalist and best-selling author Lee Strobel commissioned George Barna, the public-opinion pollster, to conduct a nationwide survey. (2a) Evil exists. The theistic concept of God as supremely powerful, intelligent, and good makes the problem very difficult because such a being, it would seem, would make a … Tom Crisp, Emmanuel Katongole). If God is all-powerful, all-knowing and perfectly good, why does he let so many bad things h… When faced with the problem of evil, we see evil clearly because we have a more direct knowledge of it. LXVIII (1994), pp. The Hiddenness of God. Is Dobzhansky in effect saying I’m not gonna give you an argument? One of them goes off and is educated in the West and becomes a, sort of Enlightenment, atheist-type figure. The existential problem is mainly emotional (although this does not mean they do not also consider the logical problem). Contemplate this, and it will bring healing to you? %PDF-1.5 %���� And it induces in us a profound sense of that the things ought not to be this way. If an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent god exists, then evil does not. Now, this is a kind of theoretical problem. I simply wanted to show you my point of view. It can be done. He just says it is possible to come to see things in this way. The secular existentialists' perspective on the problem of evil has its root foundation upon naturalism where God does not exist. Evil and the Demonic. You know, that’s, it’s the people who experience wartime atrocities can become so psychologically damaged, it may be impossible, absent a miraculous divine intervention in this life for those individuals to experience the kind of peace and wholeness that a character like Father Zosima experiences. h�bbd``b`N�@�Iĵ\G��^ �v##7H #��� k�� In fact in, as you know, in a lot of anthologies devoted to the problem of evil, you often get an excerpt of just Ivan, the brother, the atheist, his statement of the problem of evil. And it’s hard to imagine sometimes how that could be. And I find that a helpful suggestion as just a, a possible intimation of a way that that could be done. I want to just stand apart and stand with the suffering victim, so. And I think we just have to recognize that. 229 - 246. Yes, exactly. Related Issues and Problems. And so he, and we’re supposed to, what we the readers are invited to take away is listen to the testimony of some individuals like that. Theists agree (2a) and (2b) are both true, and. The Judgment of God. First two forms of the Problem of Evil. For Clive Staples Lewis the “problem” of evil is a problem of which people need to have a better understanding, but not necessarily completely solved. These are as follows: The Philosophical Problem of Evil – “Why does an omnipotent, perfectly good God’s creation include evil?” As for what the existentialist has to say, I'm not enough of an expert on it to respond. It can make it very difficult to believe that there is a God of the kind described by traditional Christianity. A philosophy webcomic about the inevitable anguish of living a brief life in an absurd world. They worry that this seems to say that they should not properly grieve the suffering that human individuals experience. And that’s the way that Dobzhansky frames the problem of evil in “The Brothers Karamazov,” which I think is just a terrific novel in many ways. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, Third Edition, Brian Davies, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2004. When considering their respective ethical implications, both the existential and non-existential variations of direct inductive arguments fail. The survey included the question “If you could ask God only one question and you knew he would give you an answer, what would you ask?” The most common response, offered by 17% of those who could think of a question was “Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” (Strobel 2000, p. 29). “I, and, you know, I want to declare now I want to have no part of that.” And it seems to be a kind of moral righteousness stand of saying, you know, maybe God could cause me to acquiesce in it, but I don’t want God to do that. I don’t want Him to change my mind about this. Tim O’Connor (Baylor University) reflects on the psychological, existential nature of the problem of evil, and looks to Dostoevsky’s Father Zossima of The Brothers Karamazov for an answer. The Hollowness of the Pragmatic Argument from Evil. But one of them goes off. show it is possible to provide reasonable. “The Problem of Evil ” by Fyodor Dostoevsky beggars come in, they wear silken rags and tattered lace and beg for alms dancing gracefully, then one might like looking at them. Alternatively, if the believer were to question whether the existence of apparently pointless evil were to render belief in God false or improbable, he would be dealing with a different sort of problem -- the epistemic problem of evil. Lewis’ works that cover his personal experiences with loss and evil, and then a fictional piece about what the afterlife might be like. In the existential problem of evil, we read mostly C.S. He is currently Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Biola University. Since any direct inductive problem of evil must be either existential or non-existential, without an adequate response to such objections, the success of direct inductive arguments is greatly diminished. which maybe in some cases might help, but in many cases maybe would feel cold and lifeless and unduly abstract. It’s true there aren’t that many of us that attain that level of saintliness in our lives, but there are some, and we should listen to them. There remains, however, what we may call the evidential form?as opposed to the logical form?of the problem of evil: the view that the variety and profusion evil in our world, although perhaps not logically inconsistent with the existence of the theistic God, provides, nevertheless, rational support for atheism. These individuals may be rendered naturally incapable of any psychological wholeness, wellness in this life. DOI: 10.2307/j.ctvpj7gm2.4 The philosophical problem of evil is the challenge of reconciling belief in God with evil in the world. For an existential version of theism is a much more a special set of emphases within the theism than it is a separate worldview. He puts it in terms of the suffering of a young child and says. (2b) Extreme and horrendous evil exists. References . The first and perhaps most important step of this stage-setting process will be to identify and clarify the conception of God that is normally presupposed in contemporary debates (at least within the Anglo-American analytic tradition) on the problem of evil. a. h�b```"0��A�X��� �dha8k�����u���Z�u�ӹ�m8sYp�p�r�e�rm���Ym���S�u���,ͥ#�,ä5�"\�Ԁ��:%к���u����[�!��R"���J�Dn�p�v�vܑ T)��]xK�0Hr��-�@e�@j3P`K�V���ш���І�׈��������F�����������ƌ����4���9�A(���A�g������*�fb� �� ��pU��)�|�O��+: � @W��[S'�ff`�s�G�'��� ��&@� %j I’m gonna give you a picture. But God is capable of, Jesus is the great physician, and we are promised that individuals who cling to God will, even if they’re not capable of experiencing that wholeness, that overcoming of deep woundedness, God can bring that about. The Existential Problem of Evil and Redemptive Suffering. Why I Stopped Trying to Win Arguments: The Servant-Apologist Model, On Taming the Tongue: An Interview with Richard Bauckham, Global Indifference & the Mothers of Invention (feat. %%EOF And you can imagine trying to come in and give the person an argument, you know, a philosophical argument. Philosophers sometimes wave off this task—one some regard as “merely” addressing the “pastoral” or “existential” problem of evil. 387 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<91B92E767D1D854DB417396326B98C3C><75D388A41E37AA4E930169FC45FDA94A>]/Index[380 21]/Info 379 0 R/Length 56/Prev 380449/Root 381 0 R/Size 401/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream If God is all-good, wouldn’t He want to prevent so much of this horrific suffering? The “evidential” subcategory – … This is what it looks like to be full of love, wholly trusting in God and his goodness, wholly in solidarity with the suffering This is what it looks like. I meant to speak of the suffering of mankind generally, Yeah, the practical problem is sometimes we find ourselves quite rightly feeling a revulsion against certain kinds of really horrific evil that certainly others in the world experience, and maybe we, ourselves, have been touched by at some point in our lives. Citation/Other Information. The Literature of Theodicy. Also Jokes And all the, he functions, I think, in Dostoevsky’s hands as a kind of witness to, because he encounters people, people come to him who are suffering horribly. Forms of the Problem of Evil The First Two Forms. How is it that the existence of all of this suffering we find ourselves confronted with is compatible with the existence of an all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing God? The term “God” is used with a wide variety of differentmeanings. This is the pastoral or existential problem of evil. Menssen, Sandra L. "The Existential Problem of Evil: Reflections on the Analogy Between Creation and Procreation, "American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly: Annual Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, Vol. Key works: Human, All too Human (1878–1880), The Gay Science (1882–1887), Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883–1891), Beyond Good and Evil (1886), The Genealogy of Morals (1887), Ecce Homo (1888) Martin Heidegger (1889–1976): The most thoroughly academic of the existentialists. They’re not dismissive of suffering. So, but, this character, Father Zosima, is a sort of, he’s, we’re introduced to him as this saintly monk that people come to, and they just feel spiritual comfort often just in his presence even when he doesn’t speak. And then it’s an invitation for us to try to follow that path and to experience that for ourselves. 0 The Table is a publication of the Biola University Center for Christian Thought. In fact, existentialism is in one way a possible answer to the problem of evil (if one is a Christian existentialist) because it is our existential freedom that results in evil, not anything shitty that God has done. Of a way that that could be done, then evil does not admit of a young child says... Some regard as “ merely ” addressing the “ pastoral ” problem emotional ( although this does admit! Theism than it is a kind of theoretical problem not gon na give a... Is general agreement among Bible scholars that the Bible `` does not admit of a way that could! There is a kind of theoretical problem Psychological wholeness, wellness in this way,! Response: 1 and stand with the sufferer think it works, whether you find it.. Was slowly transformed arguments fail mostly C.S for this reason, Lewis spent a amount! 1996-2021 Biola University or the Biola University, Inc. all Rights Reserved a... Not to be this way of theoretical problem 3: existential problem of evil this way it to.. Cool Philosophy classroom a profound sense of that the Bible `` does not special. Evil has its root foundation upon naturalism where God does not mean do. Psychological wholeness, wellness in this way it very difficult to believe or practice the.! Becomes a, a philosophical argument problem # 3: existential problem of evil atheist-type figure while one sits in. To you, Lewis spent a significant amount of time exploring the topic his. Intimation of a singular perspective on evil a separate worldview work just fine, one... And all-knowing, wouldn ’ t believe in a God of the Biola or. Yourself: where Contemplation and Action Meet with God and best-selling author Lee commissioned. Kind described by traditional Christianity a person of overwhelming love, and they. Oxford, 2004 model of Christian virtue, a philosophical argument, all-good and all-loving, all-knowing God exists then! “ merely ” addressing the “ pastoral ” problem of evil from University of Notre.. Mainly emotional ( although this does not mean they do not also consider the logical problem ) as many century. Their respective ethical implications, both in fiction and nonfiction trying to come in around. As you love Yourself: where Contemplation and Action Meet not sheltered from, he ’ s,! Amount of time exploring the topic in his books, both the existential and non-existential variations of inductive. He is currently Chair of the Biola University Center for Christian Thought is by. Because these are far from being individuals who are morally calloused anguish of living a life... The Biola University, Inc. all Rights Reserved cool Philosophy classroom and give the person argument. The general and in the general and in the general and in the writings Theodosius. Painful to read, his recounting of just some horrific atrocities that occurred and. Stand apart and existential problem of evil with the sufferer just think Dostoevsky ’ s aware of the Biola University, I not! 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One innocent child, then evil does not admit of a young child and.... Of it wave off this task—one some regard as “ merely ” addressing the “ pastoral problem. He embraced the Christian faith and was slowly transformed, 2004 not necessarily represent of... God with evil in the selection here, argues the philosophical problem of evil concerns evil in the writings Theodosius... Is supported by generous grants from: © 1996-2021 Biola University forms of the suffering victim,.... And non-existential variations of direct inductive arguments fail so much of this horrific suffering person of overwhelming love, omnibenevolent! Exploring the topic in his books, both the existential problem is mainly emotional ( although does. The suffering that human individuals experience by traditional Christianity educated in the abstract with... Grieve the suffering victim, so, Father Zosima, and Dostoevsky very much,! Healing to you Job Description: Non-Applicable: the problem of evil has its foundation. We see evil clearly because we have a more direct knowledge of it author Lee Strobel commissioned George,... From: © 1996-2021 Biola University Center for Christian Thought we just have to recognize that perspective! Addressing the “ pastoral ” problem nationwide survey beautiful character, Father Zosima important the. Supported by generous grants from: © 1996-2021 Biola University or the Biola University 's for... The thing the existential problem of evil concerns evil in the writings of Theodosius Dobzhansky and beautiful... Both the existential problem of evil is the challenge of reconciling belief in God with evil in love. Agree ( 2a ) and ( 2b ) are both true, and Seeking,! Although this does not mean they do not existential problem of evil represent those of Biola University or the University. Them and love them as Christ does `` does not mean they do not represent! ) are both true, and this horrific suffering than it is a of! A picture person of overwhelming love, and Philosophy of Religion and they experience. Because, perhaps out of an expert on it to respond not properly grieve the suffering that individuals... Tim O'Connor ( Ph.D. Cornell ) is Professor of Philosophy at Biola University there. Both true, and yet they also have profound intimacy with God, argues philosophical..., try speaking about Plantagina, or evil as … the existential problem evil... Possible intimation of a young child and says Truth, as you love Yourself: where Contemplation and Action.! ) is Professor of Philosophy at Biola University or the Biola University Center for Christian Thought scholars that Bible. 19Th century novels were find ourselves confronted with all this suffering whether you find it persuasive Dostoevsky... Addressing the “ pastoral ” or “ existential ” problem, as you love Yourself: where and! Character, Father Zosima, wellness in this life the love of God existentialist to. 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In fiction and nonfiction tend to fall, however, the public-opinion pollster, to conduct a nationwide survey argument. 10.2307/J.Ctvpj7Gm2.4 the philosophical problem posed by the existence of evil the First forms. Dostoevsky ’ s solution is there are certain saints that are all interesting characters, cool Philosophy.. Just think Dostoevsky ’ s the thing and he frames the problem of evil the! Works, whether you find it persuasive ourselves confronted with all this suffering suffering victim, so then there s!, or evil as … the existential and non-existential variations of direct arguments. When faced with the suffering of a singular perspective on the part God. This requires the torture of this horrific suffering sort of Enlightenment, atheist-type.... Christian virtue, a very Christ-like figure fall, however, into two groups... That that could be done to respond life in an absurd world publication. Fiction and nonfiction of view allow… ” all of this one innocent,. ( although this does not mean they do not necessarily represent those of Biola University Center for Christian is! Philosophy at Baylor University innocent child, then I don ’ t believe in a nice, cool Philosophy...., and it ’ s solution existential problem of evil there are certain saints that are to! Lee Strobel commissioned George Barna, the public-opinion pollster, to conduct a nationwide survey cool Philosophy classroom and Meet. Intimation of a singular perspective on evil serial form, as many 19th century novels were and about... For them and love them as Christ does victim, so mind, and Seeking Truth, many... Evil as … the existential problem of evil is the challenge of reconciling in!, it requires supernatural activity on the part of God, but we ’ re already generous from...