TRST 300: Themes of Christian Faith
Seattle University
First Essay
Due: April 19, 2005, Tuesday, in class
¡§Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?¡¨ The statements by the Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711-1776) becomes the standard formulation of the problem of evil and suffering. In his book on ¡§faith and the challenge of evil,¡¨ Stackhouse also reiterated the problem in the modern context:
¡§On of the most trenchant philosophical responses of our time to the question of God and evil has been advanced by Alvin Plantinga, in the company of like-minded others. In the so-called Free Will Defense, Plantinga answers particularly a classic essay by J.L. Mackie that asserts that theists cannot simultaneously affirm three propositions: that God is good, that God is all-powerful, and that evil exists. The theists simply must compromise, or give up outright, one of these three affirmations.¡¨ (Can God be Trusted? Faith and the Challenge of Evil, p.70)
Write an essay (3 pages, double-space) to response to the following issues and questions:
The problem of evil and suffering is the strongest argument against monotheistic religions. ¡V agree, disagree, or both? Please state your view.
What are the major arguments and points of view in Ch.1-5 of Stackhouse¡¦s book?
¡§Free Will Defense¡¨ (pp.70-76): Please state your own understanding AND assessment of this argument.
¡§In your own words¡¨: What is your personal view of the problem of evil and suffering IN RELATION to the idea of God?
II. Styles and Formats of Writing
Student should type the paper by typewriter or word-processor in the following format:
Paper: Plain white bond paper. (If perforated, please remove.)
Font and Font Size: Common Font in 12pt.
Margins: 1 inch on all sides
Spacing: double-spaced
Binding: Stapled. No folder is needed.
Title: student should select a title that best represent the ideas of the paper
Cover page: No cover page is needed. Please put your name and class time on the top right side of the first page.
It is highly recommended that the student will buy and make use of the ¡§Student Guide to Editing & Style,¡¨ (or any writing manual) available at the SU bookstore.