The Problem of Evil

Sunday, June 8, 2008

What Is It

Many religions tell us that God is perfect: all-knowing, all-powerful, and beneficent. Why then do bad things happen? John and Ken discuss the problem of evil with their guest, Michael Tooley from the University of Colorado at Boulder, co-author ofKnowledge of God.

Listening Notes

约翰和肯首先阐明为什么邪恶不仅是我们的问题，也是上帝的问题。有没有可能存在一个全能全能的上帝?如果上帝能做他想做的事，而且上帝想做的是做好事，那为什么会有邪恶呢?

迈克尔，约翰和肯首先区分了邪恶的逻辑问题和证据问题。约翰认为逻辑上不可能存在一个善良而全能的上帝如果有邪恶存在，肯认为如果有邪恶存在，一个善良而全能的上帝也不可能存在。肯、约翰和迈克尔接着讨论了对邪恶存在论的标准回答:自由意志的存在。如果上帝给了我们自由意志，上帝是否必须允许邪恶让这种自由意志成为真实的?当他们研究对邪恶问题的反应时，他们探索了性格塑造，对动物和动物之间的邪恶，以及极端情况下的神的干预。

John, Ken, and Michael extend their earlier discussion about conceptions of God and entertain a possibility raised by a caller: if God is not a personal God, is the problem of evil a problem? Ken then points John and Michael to issues raised by rejecting belief in God altogether: is belief in God necessary for coherent hope for a morally better future? They conclude by discussing the reasons for and against hoping for – and being proactive to achieve – an end to evil.

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  • 60-Second Philosopher(Seek to 50:30): Ian Shoales reports on moral relativism, Anton Lavay, satanism, and Sammy Davis Junior.

Transcript