1. By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Reinforced your understanding of the problem of evil and considered solutions to the problem.
Understand the Augustinian theodicy.
Be able to define:
Theodicy
Privation
The Fall
Original sin
Soul-deciding
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
AO2 - Evaluation

2. Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 2: Challenges to Religious Belief
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
AO2 – Issues for Analysis and Evaluation A
The problem of evil and suffering
The extent to which the classical form of the problem of evil is a problem.
The degree to which modern problem of evil arguments are effective in proving God's nonexistence.
Whether Augustinian type theodicies are relevant in the 21st Century.
The extent to which Augustine’s theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of Classical Theism.
Whether Irenaean type theodicies are credible in the 21st Century.
The extent to which Irenaeus’s theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of Classical Theism. B
Religious responses to evil (i): Augustinian type theodicy C
Religious responses to evil (ii): Irenaean type theodicy D
Religious belief as a product of the human mind – Sigmund Freud
How far religious belief can be considered a neurosis.
The adequacy of Freud’s explanation of religious belief.
The extent to which Jung was more positive than Freud about the idea of God.
The effectiveness of empirical approaches as critiques of Jungian views on religion.
The success of atheistic arguments against religious belief.
The extent to which religious responses to New Atheism have been successful. E
Religious belief as a product of the human mind – Carl Jung F
Issues relating to the rejection of religion: Atheism

3. AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 2: Arguments for the existence of God
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
AO2 –Evaluation
B: Religious responses to the problem of evil (i):
Augustinian type theodicy
Evil as a consequence of sin: evil as a privation; the fall of human beings and creation; the Cross overcomes evil, soul-deciding;
Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies: validity of accounts in Genesis, Chapters 2 and 3; scientific error - biological impossibility of human descent from a single pair (therefore invalidating the ‘inheritance of Adam’s sin); moral contradictions of omnibenevolent God and existence of Hell; contradiction of perfect order becoming chaotic - geological and biological evidence suggests the contrary.
Whether Augustinian type theodicies are relevant in the 21st century.

4. STARTER Evil Moral evil Natural evil Classical theism
Logical problem of evil
Classical logical problem of evil
Evidential problem of evil
Inconsistent triad
Intense suffering
Premature deaths
Rock of atheism

5. Solutions to The Problem of Evil
You have two minutes to come up with solutions to the problem of evil.
Read the solutions in your workbook. What problems do the solutions have?
What is a ‘theodicy’?
From the Greek ‘theos’ – God and ‘dike’ righteous.
A justification of the righteousness of God, given the existence of evil.
2:00

6. By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Reinforced your understanding of the problem of evil and considered solutions to the problem.
Understand the Augustinian theodicy.
Be able to define:
Theodicy
Privation
The Fall
Original sin
Soul-deciding
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
AO2 - Evaluation

7. St Augustine of Hippo 4th century Christian and philosopher
Bishop of Hippo Regius, the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba in Algeria.
Evil and suffering is compatible with an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God.

8. The Augustinian Theodicy
1. God is PERFECT and he created a PERFECT world
Q: In which book of the Bible is the creation story?
Q: What part of the story indicates that God did not create evil?

9. The Augustinian Theodicy
2. Evil is a PRIVATION of good
Q: If sickness/illness is a privation of health, what do you think privation means?
A: Absence of something that ought to be there.
Therefore evil is a privation (lack of good). It is not a substance that has been created.
Evil is the “malfunctioning if something which is in itself good.” (Hick)

10. The Augustinian Theodicy
3. Free will and the Fall
Q: What is ‘free will’?
Q: What is ‘sin’?
Q: What is the ‘Fall’?
Q: What, according to Augustine, is the consequence of sin?

11. The Augustinian Theodicy
4. Evil as a PUNISHMENT and a CONSEQUENCE of sin.
Evil entered the world as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin (turning away from God).
Watch the following clip to see how God punished Adam, Eve and the serpent:
Genesis 3 (play from 14.50)

12. The Augustinian Theodicy
4. Evil as a PUNISHMENT and the CONSEQUENCE of sin.
Humans are responsible for ALL evil (natural and moral) due to them freely choosing to sin.
“Men fall freely and culpably”.
“All evil is either sin or the punishment for sin.”

13. Hick’s counter argument
Hick said that the idea of suffering being a consequence of sin is not supported in the Bible.
Old Testament
Story of Job – a faithful and righteous man.
Satan challenged God that Job would curse his name.
God said that Satan could cause Job immense suffering (but not kill him)
The story of Job
New Testament
John 9 – Jesus healed a blind man.
Disciples asked Jesus whether the man or his parents had sinned.
Jesus replied that neither had – he was born blind so that God’s works could be revealed.

14. Evil as a punishment/consequence of sin
It may be possible to support the view of suffering by saying that every sufferer is a sinner and therefore deserves a punishment.
However, the problem with this is…
The degree of suffering is often not in proportion with the sin.
This disproportion between guilt and pain does NOT undermine Augustine’s theodicy because as well as believing in the ‘actual’ sins of individuals, Augustine also believed in the ORIGINAL SIN of the human race as a whole.

15. Evil as a punishment/consequence of sin
Q: What is ‘original sin’? All humans descend from Adam and were ‘seminally present’, thus every human is born sinful – we have inherited this sin. We therefore deserve to face the same punishment.

16. The Augustinian Theodicy
5. God is merciful. The cross overcomes evil
Read the information on p16 of your work book and p66 in your text book.
Q: Why is Jesus’ crucifixion important in Augustine’s theodicy?
Q: What is meant by ‘soul-deciding’?

17. The Augustinian Theodicy
Task: Create a flow diagram using images and key words to summarise the Augustinian theodicy.

18. By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Reinforced your understanding of the problem of evil and considered solutions to the problem.
Understand the Augustinian theodicy.
Be able to define:
Theodicy
Privation
The Fall
Original sin
Soul-deciding
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
AO2 - Evaluation

19. By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Reinforced your understanding of the Augustinian theodicy.
Have explored the challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis 2 and 3:
Logical
Scientific
Moral
Have developed your AO1 essay skills
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
Essay technique

20. Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 2: Challenges to Religious Belief
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
AO2 – Issues for Analysis and Evaluation A
The problem of evil and suffering
The extent to which the classical form of the problem of evil is a problem.
The degree to which modern problem of evil arguments are effective in proving God's nonexistence.
Whether Augustinian type theodicies are relevant in the 21st Century.
The extent to which Augustine’s theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of Classical Theism.
Whether Irenaean type theodicies are credible in the 21st Century.
The extent to which Irenaeus’s theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of Classical Theism. B
Religious responses to evil (i): Augustinian type theodicy C
Religious responses to evil (ii): Irenaean type theodicy D
Religious belief as a product of the human mind – Sigmund Freud
How far religious belief can be considered a neurosis.
The adequacy of Freud’s explanation of religious belief.
The extent to which Jung was more positive than Freud about the idea of God.
The effectiveness of empirical approaches as critiques of Jungian views on religion.
The success of atheistic arguments against religious belief.
The extent to which religious responses to New Atheism have been successful. E
Religious belief as a product of the human mind – Carl Jung F
Issues relating to the rejection of religion: Atheism

21. AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 2: Arguments for the existence of God
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
AO2 –Evaluation
B: Religious responses to the problem of evil (i):
Augustinian type theodicy
Evil as a consequence of sin: evil as a privation; the fall of human beings and creation; the Cross overcomes evil, soul-deciding;
Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies: validity of accounts in Genesis, Chapters 2 and 3; scientific error - biological impossibility of human descent from a single pair (therefore invalidating the ‘inheritance of Adam’s sin); moral contradictions of omnibenevolent God and existence of Hell; contradiction of perfect order becoming chaotic - geological and biological evidence suggests the contrary.
Whether Augustinian type theodicies are relevant in the 21st century.
The extent to which Augustine’s theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of Classical Theism.

22. STARTER Augustinian Theodicy
Competition!
On the following slides you will see definitions/questions which relate to the Augustinian theodicy.
All of you must write the correct answer on your mini whiteboard.
Hold the board up when you have written the question.
The first team with all members holding up the correct answer will be given a question. If you get it right, you win 2 points!
L.O.1: To reinforce your understanding of the Augustinian theodicy.

23. A justification of the righteousness of God, given the existence of evil.
Theodicy. What problem do theodicies try to solve?

24. Complete this quote from Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was ...”
Very good. Why is this relevant to Augustine’s theodicy?

25. The absence of something that ought to be there.
Privation. What, according to Augustine is evil the absence of?

26. The theological term for humanity losing God’s grace as a consequence of freely choosing to disobey God (as seen in Genesis 3).
The Fall. What tree did Adam and Eve eat fruit from?

27. A direct consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin (according to Augustine).
Evil and suffering entered the world. Why is it important, in Augustine’s theodicy, that humans are responsible for evil/suffering in the world?

28. Theological term for the sin of Adam that humans inherit/are born with.
Original sin. How is this sin passed on?

29. This, according to Augustine, overcomes evil.
The cross/Jesus crucifixion. How?

30. Learning check … By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Reinforced your understanding of the Augustinian theodicy.
Have explored the challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis 2 and 3:
Logical
Scientific
Moral
Have developed your AO1 essay skills
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
Essay technique

31. Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies
How would a literalist and a non-literalist interpret biblical text?
Is the Augustinian theodicy successful if the accounts of creation and the Fall in Genesis are interpreted from a literalist perspective?
Is the Augustinian theodicy successful if the accounts of creation and the Fall in Genesis are interpreted from a non-literalist perspective?
L.O.2: To explore challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis

32. Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies
Augustine’s theodicy becomes problematic if the accounts in Genesis are interpreted from a non-literal perspective.
A non-literal interpretation of Genesis leads to logical, scientific and moral problems with Augustine’s theodicy …
L.O.2: To explore challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis

33. Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies Logical Problems
Friedrich Schleiermacher argued that it is a logical contradiction for God to have created a PERFECT world and for EVIL to exist in it.
Why is this a logical contradiction?
John Hick agrees with this view:
“… the very idea of a perfect creation going wrong spontaneously and without cause is a self-contradiction. It amounts to the self-creation of evil out of nothing.”
Seeing as evil does exist in the world, what conclusion might one draw and how does this invalidate the creation story in Genesis?
L.O.2: To explore challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis

34. Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies Logical Problems
Some argue that Augustine’s appeal to the free will defence also poses a logical problem within the framework of his theodicy.
Why? (Clue: think about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil)
See page Eduqas (1st paragraph under the moral contradictions section) for answer.
L.O.2: To explore challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis

35. Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies Scientific Problems
Science asserts that the universe has continually been developing from an earlier state of chaos and not perfection.
Geologists, for example, say how unpredictable earthquakes are.
Advancement in scientific understanding of genetics shows that it is biologically impossible for the sins of Adam to be inherited by all humanity.
Why does this pose a problem for Augustine’s theodicy?
L.O.2: To explore challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis

36. Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies Moral Problems
In Augustine’s theodicy, hell seems to be a part of God’s plan.
Why does this pose a problem?
Some argue that a ‘soul-deciding’ theodicy shows God’s omnibenevolence.
How might one argue against this?
L.O.2: To explore challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis

37. Challenges to Augustinian type theodicies
Consolidation Task
Group 1: Scientific error (p67)
Group 2: Contradiction of perfect order (p68)
Group 3: Moral contradictions (p68)
Each group must write 2 questions (and answers) based on their text.
Once you have done this, read the other two sections. Anticipate what questions the other groups may ask. Make sure you understand what you’ve read.
Quiz!
L.O.2: To explore challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis

38. Learning check … By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Reinforced your understanding of the Augustinian theodicy.
Have explored the challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis 2 and 3:
Logical
Scientific
Moral
Have developed your AO1 essay skills
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
Essay technique

39. AO1 (Part a) – Knowledge and Understanding
Explain the challenges to Augustinian type theodicies. [20 marks]
PEEL
Point – make a point
Explain – explain that point
Evidence – provide evidence / examples to support the point.
Link – connect the paragraph to the question and that which will follow.
AO1 Level 5 criteria
Thorough, accurate and relevant
Extensive depth and/or breadth.
Excellent use of evidence and examples.
Thorough and accurate reference made to sacred texts and sources of wisdom.
Insightful connections are made between the various approaches studied.
Views of scholars/schools of thought used accurately and effectively.
Thorough and accurate use of specialist language and vocabulary.
          
Use pages of your text book to help
L.O.3: To develop your AO1 essay skills

40. Learning check … By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Reinforced your understanding of the Augustinian theodicy.
Have explored the challenges to the Augustinian theodicy based on the validity of Genesis 2 and 3:
Logical
Scientific
Moral
Have developed your AO1 essay skills
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
Essay technique