Good, Evil, and the Divine Plan

Sunday, December 20, 2015
First Aired:
Sunday, May 5, 2013

What Is It

A theodicy is an explanation by a philosopher or theologian about why a world created by a kind and all-powerful God contains so much suffering. It forces us to think about the nature of good and evil, whether the kind of knowledge an all-knowing God has leaves room for human freedom. Why do people who suffer often find their faith in God growing stronger? Is evil an illusion? Does God really need a defense attorney? John and Ken search for insight with Andrew Pinsent, Research Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at the University of Oxford.

Listening Notes

John and Ken ponder over the problem of evil: If there is an all-knowing and all-powerful god, then why is there evil in the world? John suggests St. Augustine’s solution to the problem at least makes our imperfect world consistent with the existence of a perfect god. A world with free will and some suffering is preferred to a determined world with no pain or evil, and so a perfect god might have chosen to create such a world. Additionally, the evil present in our world could be interpreted as part of a larger picture. Without the suffering, the whole might not be as beautiful, and so Augustine thinks it is plausible that God would plan for such evil.

来自牛津大学的安德鲁·平森特神父是这次展览的嘉宾。平森特神父曾经是一名粒子物理学家,但他认为更重要的问题在于神学。在约翰和肯欢迎他来到节目后不久,他批评了节目的标题:他不相信上帝有一个神圣的计划。相反,计划总是在被改写。肯提出了一个问题,为什么这些计划包括任何邪恶。平森特神父的回答与圣奥古斯丁给出的大图回答类似。邪恶是人生故事的一部分。它可以通过教导课程和使我们朝着拯救的方向努力来促进整体的美。

有人打电话问平派特神父关于亚伯拉罕的故事:为什么仁慈的上帝会让人杀死自己的儿子?平派特神父将这个故事解释为上帝问亚伯拉罕是否信靠上帝。要理解这个故事就需要理解亚伯拉罕的一生。亚伯拉罕选择暂停道德判断,以支持信仰。肯问,这个故事是否表明,信仰是与理性对立的,需要“信仰的飞跃”。平森特神父的回答是否定的:信仰不是非理性的。这是一个与上帝更亲密的过程,可以由宗教推理的理性动机。在节目的最后,肯似乎确信邪恶的问题并不表明宗教是不一致的,但仍然怀疑摆脱这种担忧的任何方法的合理性。

  • Roving Philosophical Reporter(寻求章节4:49):凯特琳·埃施讲述了一个来自萨尔瓦多的修女玛德琳的故事。玛德琳修女经历了一场内战;她目睹并经历了大量的苦难。Despite all the evil she saw, she still believes there is no evil in God’s plan.
  • 60-Second Philosopher(Seek to 49:13):伊恩考虑了各种各样的原因,为什么上帝可能会把邪恶引入世界,沉思各种各样的邪恶。

Transcript