Irenaean theodicy

Irenaean theodicy

Irenaeus ideas were created into a Theodicy by Hick. This is a theory as to why the Judeo-Christian God allows suffering in the world if he is omnipotent and omnibenevolent (The problem of the Inconsistent Triad)

His theodicy as follows:

God created human beings as imperfect so that they could grow into the image of God and become moral, spiritual and intelligent, they could also grow to love God. They were created with an epistemic distance, an distance of knowledge, to God.

The epistemic distance can be closed by becoming more moral and the best way to do this is through experience of suffering. Therefore, due to this, the perfection of humanity must take time and humans must be willing to co-operate. Hence, we have free will.

God created the universe with possibility of evil and he will not intervene as that would stop human free will.

However, God is loving, so eventually humans will develop into the image of God and live forever with God. [http://www.religiousstudies.co.uk/tripod/iretheo.htm Accessed 18/03/2007]

This theodicy is seen as a popular answer to the Problem of Evil from a Christian point of view. This is because it gives a reason for pain and also, it gives hope. St Augustine also wrote a theodicy to deal with the Problem of Evil, but it is not as popular as an answer, since many people see it as giving no hope.

John Hick has also added to the Irenaean Theodicy, although it has not led to much change. He simply added a two part creation to the beginning of the theodicy, saying that, first humans developed 'social interaction, moral behaviour and reflection on their environment (alongside the capacity for awareness of the Divine)' and then, in a world of suffering, through their own will, became more like God. [http://www.faithnet.org.uk/AS%20Subjects/Philosophyofreligion/irenaeantheodicy.htm Accessed on 18/03/2007]

References

External links

* [http://christendom-awake.org/pages/anichols/shape/shapechap5.html Theodicy and the Idea of Salvation] discussion of both Augustinian and Irenaean theodicy by Aidan Nichols


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