Theodicy

Theodicy (/[invalid input: 'icon']θiːˈɒdɪsi/ from Greek theos - "god" + dike - "justice")^[1] is a theological or philosophical study which attempts to justify God’s (largely in the Monotheistic or Abrahamic sense) intrinsic (or foundational) nature of omni-benevolence (all loving), omniscience (all knowing) and omnipotence (all powerful), despite the existence of evil which, in the view of some, would otherwise stand to refute one or more of these qualities or God's existence altogether (See the problem of evil). ^[2] Some sources use the term as meaning an explanation or justification of God's behavior in general.^[3]^[4]^[5]^{[dubious – discuss]}

The term was coined in 1710 by the German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz in a work in French entitled Essais de Théodicée sur la bonté de Dieu, la liberté de l'homme et l'origine du mal (Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil).^[6] The purpose of the essay was to show that the evil in the world does not conflict with the goodness of God and that, notwithstanding its many evils, the world is the best of all possible worlds. Leibniz wrote his Théodicée as a criticism of Pierre Bayle's Dictionnaire Historique et Critique, which had been written not long before. Bayle, a skeptical Protestant philosopher, had seen no rational solution to the problem of evil and had argued against three notable attempts at such a solution. His view was that since Scripture clearly asserts both the perfection of God and the presence of evil, we must take up an attitude of acceptance in the face of their coexistence.^[7]

The Catholic Encyclopedia (1914) gives a different definition:

Imitating the example of Leibniz other philosophers now called their treatises on the problem of evil "theodicies". As in a thorough treatment of the question the proofs both of the existence and of the attributes of God cannot be disregarded, our entire knowledge of God was gradually brought within the domain of theodicy. Thus theodicy came to be synonymous with natural theology (theologia naturalis) that is, the department of metaphysics which presents the positive proofs for the existence and attributes of God and solves the opposing difficulties. Theodicy, therefore, may be defined as the science which treats of God through the exercise of reason alone. It is a science because it systematically arranges the content of our knowledge about God and demonstrates, in the strict sense of the word, each of its propositions. But it appeals to nature as its only source of proof, whereas theology sets forth our knowledge of God as drawn from the sources of supernatural revelation.^[8]

Non-Catholic post-Holocaust Theodicy

In Judaic theological circles much of post-Holocaust theology is devoted to a rethinking of God's goodness in connection to holocaust and also child abuse. David R. Blumenthal in his book "Facing the Abusing God" (1993) has drawn on data from the field of child abuse and has proposed "worship of God through protest" (which could be characterized as misotheism) as a legitimate response of survivors of both holocaust and child abuse.^[9]

The other is John K. Roth, whose essay "A Theodicy of Protest" is included in Encountering Evil: Live Options in Theodicy (1982)^[10].

Two Jewish post-Shoah thinkers, (Emil Fackenheim and Richard Rubinstein), are cited by Zachary Braiterman who coined the term anti-theodicy, explaining that "Although it often borders on blasphemy, antitheodicy does not constitute atheism; it might even express stubborn love that human persons have for God. After all, the author of a genuine antitheodic statement must believe that an actual relationship subsists between God and evil in order to reject it; and they must love God in order to be offended by that relationship."

References

^ Oxford Dictionary definition of 'theodicy'
^ Merriam-Webster definition of 'theodicy'
^ Concise Oxford English Dictionary, entry on Theodicy
^ Otis, Brooks, Ovid as an epic poet (1970), page 132
^ Alvis, John, Divine purpose and heroic response in Homer and Virgil, page 176
^ Liebniz, Gottfried, Theodicy, Project Gutenberg
^ "Pierre Bayle", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
^ Kempf, Constantine. "Theodicy", The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 16 Mar. 2011.
^ Blumenthal, D (1993): "Facing the Abusing God" despite the term "abuse" being new in Jewish theology as shown on page 261 of the book, the arguments connected to it have a long tradition in Jewish theology.
^ Roth et al. (1982) - Extracted from a review of Roth's essay, in which the author comments that "Roth is painting a picture of God as the ultimate example of a bad and abusive parent!"

External links

Brown, Paterson. "Religious Morality", Mind, 1963.
Brown, Paterson. "Religious Morality: a Reply to Flew and Campbell", Mind, 1964.
Brown, Paterson. "God and the Good", Religious Studies, 1967.
Catholic Encyclopedia: Theodicy

[1] Oxford Dictionary definition of 'theodicy'

[2] Merriam-Webster definition of 'theodicy'

[3] Concise Oxford English Dictionary, entry on Theodicy

[4] Otis, Brooks, Ovid as an epic poet (1970), page 132

[5] Alvis, John, Divine purpose and heroic response in Homer and Virgil, page 176

[6] Liebniz, Gottfried, Theodicy, Project Gutenberg

[7] "Pierre Bayle", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

[8] Kempf, Constantine. "Theodicy", The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 16 Mar. 2011.

[9] Blumenthal, D (1993): "Facing the Abusing God" despite the term "abuse" being new in Jewish theology as shown on page 261 of the book, the arguments connected to it have a long tradition in Jewish theology.

[10] Roth et al. (1982) - Extracted from a review of Roth's essay, in which the author comments that "Roth is painting a picture of God as the ultimate example of a bad and abusive parent!"

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Non-Catholic post-Holocaust Theodicy

See also

References

External links