Irenaeus' Theodicy

?
View mindmap
  • Irenaeus' theodicy
    • answer to why there is evil in the world
    • Moral evil
      • Man was created imperfect
      • The purpose of life is to move from imperfection to perfection
        • This is called soul-making
      • Humans were created 'in the image of God' but not in his likeness - we have to move to his likeness by decreasing the epistemic distance between us
      • We are given free will because without it we would not be able to soul-make
      • By giving us free will God had to allow the possibility of evil and suffering
        • Humans abused their freedom and caused suffering
      • Any suffering on earth will be compensated when we reach heaven
        • This is ESCHATOLOGICAL JUSTIFICATION = John Hick
        • E.g - those in the concentration camps will have been compensated in heaven
    • Natural evil
      • Closely linked to moral evil
      • A human paradise would mean humans were not able to develop into the likeness of God
      • John Hick - a world without suffering would make it impossible for moral growth and development
      • Natural evil is in place to help characteristics in use which will reduce our epistemic distance
      • Hick - the world is the 'vale of soul-making' where things happen for our own good
    • Irenaeus interprets the fall literally, God had to save humanity, although Adam and Eve were not blameless,they had not yet developed sufficient wisdom to do what is right
    • E.g an army captures people for slaves and some of them have the captives children
      • Irenaeus suggests that it would be unjust if the rescuers only saved the children and not the parents. In the same way God saves Adam and Eve and their descendents
  • E.g an army captures people for slaves and some of them have the captives children
    • Irenaeus suggests that it would be unjust if the rescuers only saved the children and not the parents. In the same way God saves Adam and Eve and their descendents

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Religious Studies resources:

See all Religious Studies resources »See all Ethics resources »