The ancient philosopher Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is also known as Saint Augustine. He lived in North Africa (modern Algeria) during the period when the Western Roman Empire collapsed and barbarians invaded. Augustine led a reckless youth then had a spiritual journey through other religions until converting to Christianity (under the influence of his Christian mother). His life experiences gave him a psychological insight into unbelief, conversion and temptation. His major works were the Confessions (describing his own journey to Christian faith) and City of God. Augustine was moved to write by criticisms that the Roman Empire had been successful when it was pagan and had become weak now that it was Christian - Augustine set out a rich theodicy to explain the sad times he lived in.
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God saw all that he had made and saw that it was very good - Genesis 1: 31
privatio boni ("privation of goodness") - Augustine of Hippo
Nothing evil exists in itself, but only as an evil aspect of something else - Augustine of Hippo
all evil is sin or consequences of sin - AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
Why would God create an empty Hell for a world of sinless creatures? Augustine seems to think that God creates a world that expresses his power and goodness as fully as possible and so Hell expresses God's justice and anger against wickedness.
If humans and angels had not Fallen, Hell would just be a sort of reminder or symbol of God's justice, rather like the statue on top of the Old Bailey courthouse in London that shows Justice carrying a sword. |
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him - John 3: 16-17
YES
Augustine links evil to the misuse of freewill and this fits in with the world we see around us. The word we live in would be a better place (a nearly-perfect place) if humans didn't choose to be selfish, cruel, uncaring, violent and greedy. Even a lot of natural evil like famines would be reduced if humans were more generous - or didn't add to the problems with wars.
Augustine's theodicy links closely with the Bible: it makes sense of the opening chapters of Genesis with God creating a good world followed by the Fall of Man; it gives a central importance to the atoning death of Jesus Christ as an expression of God's love and mercy towards human beings.
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NO
How did Adam & Eve choose to sin in the first place if they were created to be perfect? Friedrich Schleiermacher argues that the fact the the Fall could take place proves that God did not create humans perfectly - a perfect creation does not go wrong. J.L. Mackie asks why God did not create freewilled creatures that never sin.
The theodicy flies in the face of science, because their is no evidence for a pre-lapsarian ('before the Fall') world without death, disease or suffering. Evolution presents a picture of history with species developing BECAUSE of death and suffering, leading to natural selection and adaptation.
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