Evil and Suffering

Choose any number of questions and press ‘Write Answers’. We will mark your work and respond with written feedback within three working days. Alternatively, after sending us your answers, book a verbal feedback session so we can talk you through how to improve.

The Concepts of Natural and Moral Evil

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine how faith in God may be challenged by natural evil and moral evil.
Examine how the existence of natural evil might challenge faith in God.
Examine how the existence of moral evil might challenge faith in God.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'The existence of natural evil and moral evil prove that God does not exist.'

Evaluate this claim.

'God has good reasons for allowing the existence of natural evil and moral evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

'There is no good response to the problems posed by natural evil and moral evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Natural evil is a greater challenge to faith than moral evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

⇦ Go Back

The Logical and Evidential Problems of Evil

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine the logical problem of evil and how it influences people’s belief in God.
Examine the evidential problem of evil and how it challenges people's belief in God.
Examine how the following challenge people's belief in God:
* the logical problem of evil
* the evidential problem of evil
You must refer to both in your answer

Fifteen-Mark Questions

‘The problem of evil cannot be solved.’

Evaluate this claim.

'The logical problem of evil is the best reason not to believe in God.'

Evaluate this statement.

'There is no convincing response to the evidential problem of evil.'

Evaluate this statement.

'The evidential problem of evil poses a greater problem to people of faith than the logical problem of evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

⇦ Go Back

Reponses to the Problem of Evil and Suffering

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine the strengths and weaknesses of religious responses to the problem of evil and suffering.'
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of religious responses to the existence of moral evil and natural evil.
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of religious responses to the logical problem of evil.
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of religious responses to the evidential problem of evil.
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of religious responses to the following:
* the logical problem of evil
* the evidential problemof evil
You must refer to both in your answer

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'Religious responses to the problem of evil and suffering are inadequate.'

Evaluate this statement.

'Religious thinkers have successfully responded to the challenge posed by natural evil and moral evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Religious thinkers have successfuly responded to the challenge posed by the logical and evidential problems of evil.

Evaluate this claim.

⇦ Go Back

John Hick's Soul Making Theodicy

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine Hick’s soul making theodicy and how it influences attitudes to evil and suffering.
Examine how Hick's soul making theodicy explains the existence of natural evil and moral evil.
Examine how Hick's soul making theodicy responds to the logical and evidential problems of evil.
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of Hick's soul making theodicy.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'Hick's soul making theodicy resolves the challenge posed by the problem of evil and suffering.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Hick's sould making theodicy successfully explains the existence of natural evil and moral evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Hick's soul making theodicy successfully responds to the challenge posed by the logical and evidential problems of evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

⇦ Go Back

The Free Will Defence

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine how the free will defence responds to the problem of evil and suffering.
Examine how the free will defence responds to the existence of natural evil and moral evil.
Examine how the free will defence responds to the logical and evidential problems of evil.
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of the free will defence.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

‘The freewill defence is inadequate as a theodicy.’

Evaluate this claim.

'The free will defence successfully responds to the problem of evil and suffering.'

Evaluate this claim.

'The free will defence is a good explanation for the existence of moral evil and natural evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

⇦ Go Back

Process Theodicy as Presented by David Ray Griffin

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine how Process Theodicy influences responses to the problem of evil and suffering.
Examine how Process Theodicy explains the existence of moral evil and natural evil.
Examine how Process Theodicy responds to the logical and evidential problems of evil.
Examine the strengths and weaknesses of Process Theodicy.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

‘Process theodicy solves the problem of evil.’

Evaluate this claim.

'Process Theodicy offers a good explanation for the existence of moral evil and natural evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

'Process Theodicy successfully responds to the logical and evidential problems of evil.'

Evaluate this claim.

⇦ Go Back

Comparative Responses

Ten-Mark Questions

Examine how the following respond to the problem of evil and suffering:
* the Free Will Defence
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the problem of evil and suffering:
* Process Theodicy
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the problem of evil and suffering:
* the Free Will Defence
* Process Theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the existence of moral evil and natural evil:
* the Free Will Defence
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the existence of moral evil and natural evil:
* Process Theodicy
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the existence of moral evil and natural evil:
* the Free Will Defence
* Process Theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the logical problem of evil:
* the Free Will Defence
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the logical problem of evil:
* Process Theodicy
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the logical problem of evil:
* the Free Will Defence
* Process Theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the evidential problem of evil:
* the Free Will Defence
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the evidential problem of evil:
* Process Theodicy
* Hick's soul making theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.
Examine how the following respond to the evidential problem of evil:
* the Free Will Defence
* Process Theodicy
You must refer to both in your answer.

Fifteen-Mark Questions

'The Free Will Defence is a better response to the problem of evil and suffering than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim

'Process Theodicy is a better response to the problem of evil and suffering than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

'The Free Will Defence is a better response to the problem of evil and suffering than Process Theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

The Free Will Defence is a better response to the the existence of moral evil and natural evil than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim

'Process Theodicy is a better response to the existence of moral evil and natual evil than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

'The Free Will Defence is a better response to the existence of moral evil and natural evil than Process Theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

'The Free Will Defence is a better response to the logical problem of evil than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim

'Process Theodicy is a better response to the logical problem of evil than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

'The Free Will Defence is a better response to the logical problem of evil than Process Theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

The Free Will Defence is a better response to the evidential problem of evil than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim

'Process Theodicy is a better response to the evidential problem of evil than John Hick's soul making theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

'The Free Will Defence is a better response to the evidential problem of evil than Process Theodicy.'

Evaluate this claim.

⇦ Go Back