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.
Treats the problem of evil, with approaches within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, such as theodicies, defenses, and practical teachings.Book InformationISBN 9781108822879
Author Michael L. PetersonFormat Paperback
Page Count 75
Imprint Cambridge University PressPublisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 140g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 152mm * 5mm