Doug to Speak at the “Always Be Ready” Conference July 31
July 29, 2010 3 Comments
Doug will be speaking at the “Always Be Ready” conference at Calvary Chapel, Downey, CA—July 31, 2010—2:00-2:55 pm. Topic: “If God, Why Evil?”
For registration information and other details:
“Always Be Ready” Conference—Calvary Chapel Downey
This conference is sponsored by the Veritas Evangelical Seminary.
Update (1 August 2010):
Keynote slides for this presentation can be viewed here.
Pingback: “If God, Why Evil?” Presentation Slides « Doug Geivett’s Blog
Dear Anon,
I do think an adequate answer to the question can be given. There’s always the question, what is to count as adequate? By “adequate,” I mean an answer that rebuts the objection that theism is incompatible with the existence of God. Christianity is a version of theism. I believe that resources within Christianity turn up the most satisfying answers to the perennial question, “Why evil?” (This age-old question matters to every worldview; it is not merely a threat to theism.)
The doctrine of the Incarnation is essential to Christianity. This doctrine, understood fully, is one important resource available within Christianity to deal with the problem of evil and suffering. It is an indication of God’s radical love for humanity. This point has been developed in various ways by Christian philosophers, past and present. A recent example is Alvin Plantinga, who has addressed your question about supralapsarianism directly in his essay “Supralapsarianism, or ‘O Felx Culpa.'” The essay was first published as chapter 1 in the book Christian Faith and the Problem of Evil, edited by Peter van Inwagen.
What is your view about this?
-Doug
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“If God, why Evil?” Do you think an adequate answer is possible without reference to the Incarnation? If you think not, then do you think an adequate response requires a rejection of anything smelling of supralapsarianism?
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