The best books on evil 1 out of eden by paul w kahn. Satan, representing evil, is not equally powerful or ultimate in relation to god, but is merely one of the creatures appearing before the throne of god 1. For millennia, philosophers, theologians, and people outside of the academy have thought about evil and its relation to religious belief. We want to turn now to examine some of the recurring and most basic kinds of objections which are raised against the christian faith by those who disagree with the biblical worldview whether its intellectual antagonists, cultured despisers, or competing religions. As the first known presentation by the greek philosopher epicurus, as attributed and made popular by david hume, puts it. This timely volume knits together the perennial problem of defining. In part one i gave an introduction to the problem of evil.
According to the logical problem of evil, it is logically impossible for god and evil to coexist. Of all the issues in the philosophy of religion, the problem of reconciling belief in god with evil in the world arguably commands more attention than any other. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The book of job does not give an answer concerning the question of the problem of evil, but it does call christians to humbly trust in the lord. For some time, however, there has been a need for a collection of readings that. The phrase problem of evil can be used to refer to a host of different dilemmas arising over the issue of god and evil. It is the bible of the thelemites, who hitler, mussolini, tito, and stalin were, and mugabwe, and too many other powerful people, are today. The atheist may choose to repeat lucifers error, but the christian need not be intimidated by it, for unbelievers appealing to the problem of evil to deny god merely validate what scripture says about sin, unbelief, and the fallen and our unwillingness to accept. Dont let its analytical tone make you forget, as many do, that its author lost his mother.
The fact that the theodicy was the only booklength treatise that leibniz published during his lifetime provides further evidence of the significance. The problem of pain is a book on the philosophical problem of evil by c. The problem of job and the problem of evil by espen dahl is a brief but thorough meditation on evil and suffering. In october 2010, atheist sam harriss book the moral landscape was released. The blackwell companion to the problem of evil wiley online books. While it is not a traditional commentary, it is highly informed by ancient near eastern studies.
The best books on evil five books expert recommendations. In this multiview book, five philosophical theologians discuss and defend different solutions to this ancient problem. God and the problem of evil offers a lucid, emotionally sensitive, and diverse set of essays on the problem of evil. The problem of evil is the problem of accounting for evil in a world. The problem of job and the problem of evil book, 2019. The problem of evil and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Apr 15, 2014 the third part in a series on the problem of evil designed for people studying philosophy of religion at asa2 level. He even reached the point of suspecting after listening to other catholics that human free will causes evil, but was left with the question of why humans can choose evil at all. Similarly, although augustine now thought of manichee dualism as an abomination, he still had no solution to the problem of evil. 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 much better world than this one. The problem of evil stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. He instead argues for gods creative presence amid suffering. William blakes illustrations of the book of job this lecture is part of the series bible and western culture, taught by.
Early modern women and the problem of evil examines the concept of theodicy the attempt to reconcile divine perfection with the existence of evil through the lens of early modern female scholars. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Nachmanides, the great thcentury jewish scholar, wrote that the problem of evil is the most difficult matter, which is at the root both of faith and of apostasy, with which scholars of all ages, people and tongues have struggled. Espen dahl this account of evil takes the book of job as its guide. The problem with epicurus riddle is that it never gets around to telling us what this evil is that god ought to be stopping, and so it seems a pretty safe bet that epicurus had in mind a bunch of things out there. My top 5 books on the problem of evil christianity today. Someday there will be a world when all these things will be nonexistent. If god were good, he would make his creatures perfectly happy, and if he were almighty he.
The bible has a number of things to say about the problem of evil. Popular problem of evil books goodreads share book. The problem of evil became a secular one, and the philosophy of evil came to focus on the moral category. Taking the book of job as his guide, dahl leads readers through centuries of thought and arguments. Aug 24, 2011 namely, that the evidence for the existence of god provides a rebutting defeater for the problem of evil. Sermon 1 discussion in semper reformanda started by abacabb3, oct 12, 2015. This is one philosophical work that i could hardly put down. Theodicy problem of evil, philosophy, religious, books.
Buy the problem of evil oxford readings in philosophy 1st ed. John ronald reuel tolkien was, of all things, a decent man. In this study of evil in the framework of theology and its practical consequences in the light of christian teaching, the author holds that the problem of evil is insoluble apart from ideas of the. About all the sorrow and afflictions in this world. The concept of evil stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. No book more effectively punctures philosophical and theological abstractions with the sharp. Critics claim that the existence of evil is proof that the omnipotent, omnibenevolent god of. Theodicy problem of evil, philosophy, religious, books barnes. The problem of job and the problem of evil reading religion.
Response to the problem theists have articulated defenses, but generally cant advance theodicies complete explanations for evil. Not a difficult read but it requires a certain amount of thought and concentration as does any work dealing with the problem of evil. Oct 12, 2015 introduction to the problem of evil and book of job. Certainly liber al vel legis liber evil legis, written by aleister crowley, who had it dictated to him by aiwass, another alias of satan, is the most evil book ever written. Selected readings has been the most widely recognized and used anthology on the subject. The problem of evil by fyodor dostoevsky the inhumanity of man by the way, a bulgarian i met lately in moscow, ivan went on, seeming not to hear his brothers words, told me about the crimes committed. Using three fictional charactersdemea, cleanthes and philowho are debating the problem the evil, hume indeed seeks to show that one cannot demonstrate that god is all good and all powerful using human experience and human.
New philosophical directions ranges widely across the theoretical and historical landscape. The reasons that underlie this conviction can be formulated as a powerful argument for the nonexistence of god, thesocalled argument from evil. Phillip cary on the classic view, william lane craig on molinism, william hasker on open theism, thomas jay oord on essential kenosis, and stephen wykstra on skeptical theism. In this collection of ten essays, the contributors examine the problem of evil from various philosophical vantage points. Clarks book provides the correct solution a denial of libertarian free will and biting the bullet on gods being the ultimate cause of everything, including the raah bad stuff but goes a little too far when he denies that man can ever judge god justice, as if god is simply just by definition. The problem of evil popular writings reasonable faith. Thus peter van inwagen, throughout his book the problem of evil. Leibniz on the problem of evil stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The blackwell companion to the problem of evil presents a collection of original essays providing both overview and insight. In his eighteenthcentury book theodicy, philosopher gottfried leibniz tried to explain evil by suggesting that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A benevolent and omnipotent creator does not exist c. If we know that god exists and is good, then the problem of evil simply cannot be coherent. In his 2003 gifford lectures, peter van inwagen argues that the problem of evil i. For some time, however, there has been a need for a collection of readings that adequately represents recent and ongoing writing on the topic.
God does not give us a fullfledged theodicy in the bible. The problem, in short, is that any axiological formulation of the argument from evil, as it stands, is incomplete in a crucial respect, since it fails to make explicit how a failure to bring about good states of affairs, or a failure to prevent bad states of affairs, entails that one is acting in a morally wrong way. A theodicy is an attempt to justify the ways of god to man. The problem of evil in the western tradition redshelf. The purpose of this book, which is obvious from the title of the book, is an attempt to address two universal features of human experience, namely the problem of evil and the problem of suffering.
Introduction to the problem of evil and book of job. Dont let its analytical tone make you forget, as many do, that its author lost his mother in childhood and fought on the frontlines of the first world war. Peter van inwagens the problem of evil is a fairly short book, but only about half of it is devoted to his answer to the problem of evil. Contributions are from many of the leading theistic and atheistic commentators in the field rowe, mackie, plantinga etc. Other thinkers have said evil is necessary to make us virtuous people or to preserve the reality of free will. This book engages the problem of evil from a variety of philosophical viewpoints, traditions, methodologies, and interests. The problem of evil has produced many responses and elicited vigorous debate. Early modern women and the problem of evil examines the concept of theodicythe attempt to reconcile divine perfection with the existence of evil through the lens of early modern female scholars.
The book of job considers physical pain, social bereavement, the origin of evil, theodicy, justice, divine violence, and reward. Nov 08, 1990 the problem of evil is one of the most discussed topics in the philosophy of religion. The problem of evil is certainly the greatest obstacle to belief in the existence of god. It would serve well for pastors, students, and small groups who are looking for a place to start their journey into this issue, or for people who are wishing to go a bit deeper in their reflection on god and evil. The problem of evil the philosophical problem of evil is the challenge of reconciling belief in god with evil in the world. Gods is involved in solving the problem of evil god is directly involved in the problem of evil. The problem of evil is the question of how to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient god. But since his riddle assumes the existence of god before apparently going on to disprove him it follows that the. He died on calvarys cross to free humanity from pain and suffering, sin and death. In the first chapter he discusses various senses of the term, problem of evil. Whether in the midst of pain, suffering or agony, the lord will sustain his people through it all for his purposes and glory. Kahn, who, over his last several books, has been working to articulate what he calls a political theology of modernity, fills that void with his own compelling explanation of the existential origin of evil. The careful balance of this account eliminates certain erroneous solutions to the problem of evil. The problem of evil is one of the most discussed topics in the philosophy of religion.
For example, someone who raises the problem of evil may be referring to the religiousemotional problem of evil, the logical problem of evil, the evidential problem of evil, moral evil, or natural evil, just to name a few. In chapter ten of his book dialogues concerning natural religion, david hume discusses the problem of evil. What is the biblical solution to the problem of evil. Having rejected manichee dualism, augustine was finally trying. Phillips argues that the problem of evil is inextricably linked to our conception of god and that the concept of god in recent philosophy of religion is itself problematic, even harmful. For some time, however, there has been a need for a collection of readings. On van inwagens view, however, there are very few, if any, arguments for significant philosophical theses which evade a diagnosis of failure, and so, his conclusion is somewhat unsurprising cf. His books include recovering the real jesus in an age of revisionist replies, letters from a skeptic, god of the possible, repenting of religion, seeing is believing, escaping the matrix, the jesus legend, myth of a christian nation, is god to blame, god at war, and satan and the problem of evil.
From the question of the possibility of pure evil to the problematic nature of discourse about the problem of evil, the problem of evil. Perhaps the most difficult issue concerning the relation between morality and. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy and the problem of evil. Lewis, in which lewis argues that human pain, animal pain, and hell are not sufficient reasons to reject belief in a good and powerful god. In his book, harris argues against grounding morality in god and says that science is the only vehicle that humanity can use in determining the concepts of good and evil. Broadly stated, the problem of evil is the seeming contradiction between an allpowerful, allloving god and the human experience of suffering and evil in the world. Lewiss classic is still the most wideranging, accessible, and cogent response to the problem of evil. The bible says that god is able to overrule evil for good. If such a creator exists, then there can be no evil p3. Lewis here tackles the strongest objection to god there is. Problem of evil, problem in theology and the philosophy of religion that arises for any view that affirms the following three propositions.
For some time, however, there has been a need for a collection of readings that adequately represents recent. The problem of evil is often formulated in two forms. This volume fills that need, offering the most uptodate collection of recent scholarship on the problem of evil. Lewis, god, freedom, and evil by alvin plantinga, evil and the justice of god by n. Towards a scriptural answer to the problem of evil. Mar 12, 2007 peter van inwagens the problem of evil is a fairly short book, but only about half of it is devoted to his answer to the problem of evil. William lane craig on the problem of evil and suffering. The problem of evil oxford readings in philosophy 1st.
On april 4, 2009 william lane craig and christopher hitchens participated in a debate about the exis. Sep 15, 2010 lewiss classic is still the most wideranging, accessible, and cogent response to the problem of evil. Edited by marilyn and robert adams and published in 1991 by oxford university press the problem of evil is a compilation of essays on the problem of evil. Dec 24, 2015 this book engages the problem of evil from a variety of philosophical viewpoints, traditions, methodologies, and interests. Here is a series of posts on the famous problem of evil. God does not exist as a consequence of this it follows that either god is not. Job was humbled by the lord when he revealed himself to job in chapter 42. When i ponder both the extent and depth of suffering in the world, whether due to mans inhumanity to man or to natural disasters, then i must confess that i find it hard to believe that god exists. The logical form of the argument tries to show a logical impossibility in the coexistence of god and evil, 1 4 while the evidential form tries to show that given the evil in the world, it is improbable that there is an. In either case, the job answer provides a powerful, biblical, answer to the problem of evil. Lets look at some scriptures that deal with the problem of evil. Dualism as an easy explanation for evil is eliminated.
God is love incarnate 1, and despite the high amount of choice that he allows, he also is bursting to lavish his love not merely on the perfect, which existed solely in christ, but on the imperfect who could never deserve it by virtue of their imperfection 2. Epicurus and the problem of evil the american vision. You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose the same condition on any acquirer british library cataloguing in publication data data available library of congress cataloging in publication data van inwagen, peter. In the posttheodicy years that followed lisbon, neiman writes.