1. Summary Tasks Summarise the theodicy in five points
Image of God – likeness
No coercion therefore genuine free will - freedom
Evil encourages characteristics for perfection
Heaven for all
No evil no development – placidity, stagnation, no temptation

2. Challenges to Irenaean type Theodicies
Concept of universal salvation unjust;
evil and suffering should not be used as a tool by an omnibenevolent God;
immensity of suffering
unequal distribution of evil and suffering.

3. Challenges To get you thinking...
Baby Peter was tortured and brutally murdered by his mother’s boyfriend. He died in 2008, aged 17 months.
How would the Irenaean theodicy respond to the suffering endured by Baby P?
Baby P’s mother and stepfather failed to overcome the lure of sin and as such have not progressed towards the likeness of God
Hearing about the suffering of Baby P enables others to develop essential human characteristics such as compassion and sympathy.
What problems with the Irenaean theodicy does the suffering of baby P highlight?
Discuss in pairs and prepare to feedback.

4. AO2 - Weaknesses
Can you think of any weaknesses of the Irenaean Theodicy?

5. Criticisms of Irenaean type theodicies
His theodicy allows room for the modern concept of evolution and avoids Augustine’s theory that evil appears from nowhere.
However it has in its turn attracted criticisms:
the concept of Heaven for all seems unjust.
The immensity is unacceptable
gravity of suffering is unequal.
suffering can never be an expression of God’s love - unloving
It is not compatible with some Christian teachings - unbiblical

6. The concept of Heaven for All/Universal Salvation Seems Unjust
Irenaeus and Hick’s view that everyone will go to heaven is criticised. It doesn’t seem fair – how can God therefore be ‘just’?
Religious people object to it because it contradicts religious texts including the Bible and the Qur’an, which promise punishment for the unrighteous.
It also makes moral behaviour pointless – what is the point in going out of your way to be good?
Removes free will – what if we refuse to mature?

7. Unloving Suffering can never be an expression of God’s love
Love can never be expressed by allowing any amount of suffering, no matter what the reason. D.Z. Phillips argued that it would never be justifiable to hurt somebody in order to help them. Just think about ALL of the suffering in the world today! Maybe there is a better way to this process – why was the natural environment created through a long and painful process? Why didn’t an all-powerful God do it instantly? Could greater goods be achieved with less suffering?

8. The intensity of Suffering and unequal distribution of evil and suffering is Unacceptable
We might not be automated beings BUT does our world need to contain the amount and severity of evil that is found in such events as the Holocaust? Would it not have been sufficient for 4 millions Jews to die rather than 6 million? ‘Who has inflicted this upon us? …Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up till now? It is God that has made us as we are, but it will be God, too, who will raise us up again. If we bear all this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when it is over, then Jews, instead of being doomed, will be held up as an example.’ Anne Frank

9. Unbiblical Contradicts Christian belief in Genesis
God created the world and saw that it was ____
It also contradicts the Christian idea that Jesus is the saviour and makes the idea of atoning for sins, superfluous and unnecessary

10. Conclusion
The Irenaean theodicy can’t be accepted without a few difficulties.
However as with the theodicy of Augustine its emphasis on free will has proved a popular defence.

11. Evaluation points
Decide which you think is the most convincing criticism and why
Decide which you think is the least convincing criticism and why

12. 1 Hick has removed the logical problem of evil appearing from out of the blue by accepting that God’s perfect world was not perfect. What problems does Hick now face? 2 Can evil or suffering ever be valuable? Consider some examples, perhaps where you suffered. Are there any occasions where looking back you are glad that you experienced suffering?

13. Imagine that you are free to choose good or evil, but every time you choose an evil deed, God intervenes and prevents harm resulting from it.
How would the knowledge that God will always stop harm resulting change the way you live your life? Would you like to live in such a world?
Why might Hick say that you are no longer human?

14. Think about why you are studying philosophy
Think about why you are studying philosophy. Why do your teachers not simply answer the exam questions for you, and give you a copy of the answers?
What is the difference between this situation and Hick’s argument that the omnipotent God needed to allow humans to develop for themselves?

15. Imagine that wherever you drove in your car, the Chief of Police were to accompany you.
Would you still be free to break the speed limit?
In practice, however, would you exceed it?
Why do you think that many people find Hick’s theory much more credible than Augustine’s?

16. If you had known, at school, that no matter what you did with your time you were going to gain the top grades in every exam, how would your behaviour have differed?
Why might you not have benefited yourself from guaranteed success?

17. AO2 - Strengths Evaluate the strengths Complete page 35
Can you think of any strengths of the Irenaean Theodicy?
Evaluate the strengths
Complete page 35

18. God is merciful, all humans will get to heaven
Compatible with Christian traditions – heaven
 God is merciful, all humans will get to heaven
Choice e.g. King and peasant girl
 Focuses on the value of free will
Can develop - Courage
 Evil and suffering are acknowledged and can help human beings achieve spiritual and moral perfection
Compatible with evolution
 World wasn’t created perfectly (as Augustine claimed)
Can explain natural/moral
 Part of God’s plan

19. Evaluating the Irenaean Theodicy
Weaknesses
Strengths
The idea that everyone goes to heaven is unjust
Is the magnitude of suffering really necessary for soul making? e.g. the Holocaust Unacceptable and uneven
D.Z. Phillips in ‘The Concept of Prayer’ argued that the continuation of evil and suffering is not a demonstration of love from an omnibenevolent God unloving
it is inconsistent with traditional Christianity and ‘The Fall’ of Genesis 3 – unbiblical It also demotes Jesus’ role from ‘saviour’ to ‘moral role model’
Christian tradition
Choice – king and peasant
Can develop- Courage etc.
Compatible with science and evolution
Can explain natural and moral evil