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Canyon College

online The Problem of Evil course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: The Problem of Evil


Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:
Prerequisites:
The Problem of Evil
Theology
Gerald FitzGerald, BD, MDiv, DMin, Phd Theology CandidateE-Mail -- Vita
Preferably a theology course


PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

Theists confess that God is omnipotent and good and yet they must also confess that our world and that of animals is beset by evil. How can that be? For if God is omnipotent, then God is able to rid the world of evil. And if God is good, then God would want to rid the world of evil. How then can the persistent presence of evil be explained and/or reconciled with the existence of a good and omnipotent God? That is the question this course seeks to explore. Notice that we said explore and not answer! Although we will explore many answers in the form of theodicies, it is the position of this course that none of those answers are satisfactory. Toward the end of the course, we will set forth some possible ways of addressing the problem of evil that may give us more comfort than many of the theodicies we will explore here. However, they too may be unsatisfactory. Ultimately, we might just have to confess that God gets to be God on God's own terms and that's that!

By the conclusion of our journey through the readings and discussions of this course, students should have an understanding of the problem of evil and some of the theodicies that have been proposed to answer it.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

Students should strive to use inclusive language in their writings. By inclusive language is meant language that is not gender specific and which attempts to include as many people as possible. For instance, instead of writing that "God wills that every man obeys His will," inclusive language would suggest that we write, "God wills that everyone obeys God's will."

REQUIREMENTS
  1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Bookstore
  1. Davis, Stephen T., ed., Encountering Evil: Live Options in Theodicy. Westminster John Knox Press, 2001, soft-cover ("Davis").ISBN #: 066422251X
  2. Adams, marilyn McCord and Robert Merrihew Adams, eds. The Problem of Evil. Oxford University Press, 1990, soft-cover. ("Adams"). ISBN #: 0198248660
  3. Swinburne, Richard, Is There A God? Oxford University Press, 1996, softcover. ("Swinburne") ISBN #: 0198235453
  1. Conferences. Students may schedule up to two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. Of course, students may ask questions of the professor at any time by sending an E-mail to the address at the link above or by posting them to the bulletin board.
  1. Exams. There will be one exam which will be a mid-term examination. The exam will cover the assigned readings and will be taken at the end of the third week.
  1. Papers. There will be a short paper of no less than two single-spaced pages or 1,250 words, due at the end of each week's readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings; and, a final paper due at the end of the sixth week of study of between 10 and 15 double-spaced pages in which the student answers one of the questions below:
  1. Job says at Chapter 9:22-24 that "He destroys the blameless and the Wicked... He laughs at the plight of the innocent. ... He covers The face of its judges." Job is referring to God. Job says Essentially that God is unjust. Is God unjust? Write a paper In which you defend God against the charge of Job or in which You agree with Job.
  1. In his book, The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis argues that Satan was Thrown down to earth before God created humans and thus Humans came into a world already corrupted by Satan. Do You agree with Lewis? What are the implications for the problem Of evil if one agrees or disagrees with Lewis?
  1. In his article, Peavy proposes that the Problem of Evil should be Abandoned in favor of the Paradox of Evil. Do you agree or Disagree? Write a paper defending your position.
The final paper is due by the end of the sixth week. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Those who do not feel comfortable with e-mailing the papers can contact the professor for a mailing address. Students should include a word count with the heading of their papers and should use at least seven sources, other than textbooks, to support their arguments.
  1. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:
Papers
Final Paper
Mid-term exam 		30%
40%
30%
  1. Grading Scale.
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
59% or below 		A Excellent
B Above Average
C Average
D Below Average
F Failing Grade


A = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material and initiates thoughtful questions. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas.

B = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Is an active listener and participant in chats, message boards, e-mails and conferences. Speaks and writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality.

C = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. Accomplishes only the minimum requirements, and displays little or no initiative. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts.

D = Quality and quantity of work is below average and barely acceptable.

F = Quality and quantity of work is unacceptable.

WEEK 1

Read Swinburne in its entirety. Write a belief statement in which you set forth your idea/image of God and whether or not you believe God to be omnipotent and/or totally good (This is in lieu of the 1,250 words paper due for this week.). Your paper should include an answer to Swinburne's question, "Is there a God?" If you conclude that there is a God (How could a student of theology conclude otherwise?), then respond to what Swinburne has to say about God and discuss whether that is the same God in which you believe.

The paper should be no more than 5 pages, double spaced, and no less than 1,500 words and no more than 3,200 words.

WEEK 2

Read Adams pages 1-82.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What good is freewill if the agent is not permitted to experience the consequences of his/her actions?
  2. Would freewill really be free if the agent could not choose wrongly?
  3. Would the problem of evil arise if one concluded that God is not omnipotent?
WEEK 3

Read Adams pages 83-221.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Do an outline of this week's readings.
  2. How would you summarize each of the articles you read this week?
PLEASE TAKE THE MID-TERM EXAMINATION BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

WEEK 4

Read Davis pages 1-107.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is a theodicy?
  2. Is the article by Roth really a theodicy?
  3. Do you accept the freewill defense? Which of the arguments persuaded you to agree or disagree with it.
  4. What do you see as problems with the freewill defense?
WEEK 5

Read Davis pages 108-180.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Can there be theism without theodicy? Respond to Phillips article.
WEEK 6

Read the articles by Peavy.

Discussion Questions:
  1. Which of the authors does Peavy most agree with?
  2. Which of the proposals by Peavy, if any. Do you must agree with?
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR FINAL PAPER IS DUE BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.