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13 - Genesis and the Problem of Evil: Philosophical Musings on the Bible’s First Book

from Part III - Themes and Literary Motifs of Genesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2022

By
Paul M. Gould
Edited by
Bill T. Arnold
Bill T. Arnold
Affiliation:
Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky
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Summary

In the book of Genesis, we find stories about beginnings. We read of God’s creation of the universe, the origin of man, the fall into sin, the first murder, the father of faith, the birth of Israel, and more. It is a world strangely unfamiliar to modern readers, yet familiarly strange. When it comes to the origin, nature, and explanation of evil, discussions among analytic philosophers usually focus on the relationship between propositions, found within arguments, that aim to show God’s existence is either compatible or incompatible with the reality of evil, or probable or improbable given the reality of evil. God, in the analytic mode, is understood as a personal being worthy of worship. This conception of God is common to the great monotheistic traditions found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Much progress can be – and has been – made on the problem of evil at the level of “mere theism.”1 Yet, as we shall see, there is much more that can – and should – be incorporated into a full-blown account of God and evil.

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Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Companion to Genesis , pp. 281 - 300
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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Hasker, William. The Triumph of God Over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.Google Scholar
Hick, John. Evil and the God of Love. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.Google Scholar
Hudson, Hud. The Fall and Hypertime. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.Google Scholar
Kane, Robert. A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will. Fundamentals of Philosophy Series. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Google Scholar
Lewis, C. S. The Problem of Pain. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2001 [1940].Google Scholar
Little, Bruce A. A Creation-Order Theodicy: God and Gratuitous Evil. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2005.Google Scholar
Peckham, John. Theodicy of Love: Cosmic Conflict and the Problem of Evil. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018.Google Scholar
Plantinga, Alvin. The Nature of Necessity. Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1974.Google Scholar
Stump, Eleonore. “The Problem of Evil.” Faith and Philosophy 2.4 (1985): 392–423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stump, Eleonore Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.Google Scholar
Swamidass, S. Joshua. “The Overlooked Science of Genealogical Ancestry.” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 70.1 (2018): 19–35.Google Scholar
Walls, Jerry L. “Why No Classical Theist, Let Alone Orthodox Christian, Should Ever Be a Compatibilist.” Philosophia Christi 13.1 (2011): 75–104.Google Scholar
Adams, Marilyn. “Redemptive Suffering: A Christian Approach to the Problem of Evil.” Pages 248–67 in Rationality, Religious Belief, and Moral Commitment: New Essays in the Philosophy of Religion. Edited by Audi, Robert and Wainwright, William J.. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1986.Google Scholar
Augustine. On Free Choice of the Will. Translated by Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1993.Google Scholar
Feinberg, John S. The Many Faces of Evil: Theological Systems and the Problems of Evil. Revised and expanded edition. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004.Google Scholar
Flint, Thomas P. Divine Providence: The Molinist Account. Cornell Studies in the Philosophy of Religion. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1998.Google Scholar
Hasker, William. The Triumph of God Over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.Google Scholar
Hick, John. Evil and the God of Love. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.Google Scholar
Hudson, Hud. The Fall and Hypertime. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.Google Scholar
Kane, Robert. A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will. Fundamentals of Philosophy Series. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Google Scholar
Lewis, C. S. The Problem of Pain. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2001 [1940].Google Scholar
Little, Bruce A. A Creation-Order Theodicy: God and Gratuitous Evil. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2005.Google Scholar
Peckham, John. Theodicy of Love: Cosmic Conflict and the Problem of Evil. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018.Google Scholar
Plantinga, Alvin. The Nature of Necessity. Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1974.Google Scholar
Stump, Eleonore. “The Problem of Evil.” Faith and Philosophy 2.4 (1985): 392–423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stump, Eleonore Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.Google Scholar
Swamidass, S. Joshua. “The Overlooked Science of Genealogical Ancestry.” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 70.1 (2018): 19–35.Google Scholar
Walls, Jerry L. “Why No Classical Theist, Let Alone Orthodox Christian, Should Ever Be a Compatibilist.” Philosophia Christi 13.1 (2011): 75–104.Google Scholar
Adams, Marilyn. “Redemptive Suffering: A Christian Approach to the Problem of Evil.” Pages 248–67 in Rationality, Religious Belief, and Moral Commitment: New Essays in the Philosophy of Religion. Edited by Audi, Robert and Wainwright, William J.. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1986.Google Scholar
Augustine. On Free Choice of the Will. Translated by Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1993.Google Scholar
Feinberg, John S. The Many Faces of Evil: Theological Systems and the Problems of Evil. Revised and expanded edition. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004.Google Scholar
Flint, Thomas P. Divine Providence: The Molinist Account. Cornell Studies in the Philosophy of Religion. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1998.Google Scholar
Hasker, William. The Triumph of God Over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.Google Scholar
Hick, John. Evil and the God of Love. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.Google Scholar
Hudson, Hud. The Fall and Hypertime. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.Google Scholar
Kane, Robert. A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will. Fundamentals of Philosophy Series. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Google Scholar
Lewis, C. S. The Problem of Pain. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2001 [1940].Google Scholar
Little, Bruce A. A Creation-Order Theodicy: God and Gratuitous Evil. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2005.Google Scholar
Peckham, John. Theodicy of Love: Cosmic Conflict and the Problem of Evil. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018.Google Scholar
Plantinga, Alvin. The Nature of Necessity. Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1974.Google Scholar
Stump, Eleonore. “The Problem of Evil.” Faith and Philosophy 2.4 (1985): 392–423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stump, Eleonore Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.Google Scholar
Swamidass, S. Joshua. “The Overlooked Science of Genealogical Ancestry.” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 70.1 (2018): 19–35.Google Scholar
Walls, Jerry L. “Why No Classical Theist, Let Alone Orthodox Christian, Should Ever Be a Compatibilist.” Philosophia Christi 13.1 (2011): 75–104.Google Scholar

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