Suffering and evil in the world provide the basis for the most difficult challenge to monotheistic belief. This Element discusses how the three great monotheisms – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – respond to the problem of suffering and evil. Different versions of the problem, types of answers, and recurring themes in philosophical and religious sources are analyzed. Objections to the enterprise of theodicy are also discussed as are additional objections to the monotheistic God more broadly. This treatment culminates in a recommendation for how monotheism can best respond to the most serious formulation of the problem, the argument from gratuitous evil.
By:
Michael L. Peterson Imprint: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom Edition: New edition Dimensions:
Height: 228mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 5mm
Weight: 140g ISBN:9781108822879 ISBN 10: 1108822878 Series:Elements in Religion and Monotheism Pages: 75 Publication Date:12 May 2022 Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
1. The Problem of Evil in Monotheism; 2. The Problem in Culture and Philosophy; 3. The Problem of Gratuitous Evil; 4. A Range of Theodicies; 5. Evil in Monotheistic Scriptures, Theologies, and Practices; 6. The Way Forward.