Return to David's theory of evolution and theodicy;Plantinga (Evolution)

by David Turell , Friday, March 15, 2024, 15:46 (48 days ago) @ David Turell

Plantinga on theodicy:

https://salvomag.com/article/salvo68/if-god-why-evil

In his classic 1955 paper “Evil and Omnipotence,” J. L. Mackie claims that the presence of evil in the world (evil construed broadly enough to include any instance of suffering) shows that belief in God is irrational. After all, Mackie reasons, if God was all-good, he would want to stop all evil, and if he was all-powerful, he could stop it. But evil and suffering do exist, he continues; therefore, God doesn’t. To believe that both God and evil exist, then, is to believe incompatible claims.

The problem might be posed as a dilemma for the believer: either accept the existence of God and deny evil or accept the existence of evil and deny God.

***

the believer need only show that holding beliefs in both God and the reality of evil is consistent.

Christian philosopher Alvin Plantinga has done just that. In response to Mackie, Plantinga explains that a morally perfect, omnipotent being can allow evil to exist if, inhis perfect omniscience he has a morally sufficient reason for doing so —that is, a reason that would justify permitting the evil. Plantinga further suggests a possible reason: that God deemed human free will to be something of great value, even though the existence of free will makes possible the existence of evil. Thus, there is a third option: God might allow evil for good reasons. (my bold)

But why might God value free will? The Bible tells us that God is a real being who loves his human creatures and wants real relationships with them. This is why he endowed them with free will, even though free will entails the possibility that they might choose evil; relationships grounded in real love are not possible unless both parties enter into them willingly.

Plantinga’s response has taken hold, and philosophers of religion now tend to agree that it is not inconsistent to believe in both the existence of God and the existence of evil. Even Mackie conceded that Plantinga’s refutation of his argument is successful.

Comment: this article is on the point of human caused evil. it presents all of my points given in the past. What it does not cover directly is the evil in bugs, but Plantinga's answer really does. What good bacteria do far outweigh the evil side effects and they are present for good reason.