Logic Matters 2008-04-19

Philosophy of Religion 11: Which problem of evil?

So where have we got up to, reading through Michael Murray and Michael Rea's Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion? Ah, the problem of evil. But which problem of evil?To start with, there's the particular problem for those whose religion is Bible-based. Because there is the evident sheer moral nastiness of the God of the Old Testament, who is sadistically keen on the killing of those who lapse into a bit of adultery, homosexuality, or who blaspheme, or even do a bit of work on the sabbath -- and who commands the Israelites to wholesale slaughter and genocide. True, we like to think that the God of the New Testament has mellowed a bit: but even so, he still has some decidedly vicious tendencies. A violent end is still prophesied for those who haven't got round to seeing the light ...

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