God's Goodness and God's Evil

James Kellenberger

Religious thinkers in the Christian theistic tradition have tried to resolve the problem of evil—how a wholly good and omnipotent God could allow there to be evil—by offering a theodicy. This book considers three traditional theodicies and the objections they have elicited: Leibniz’s best of all possible worlds theodicy, the free will theodicy, and an Irenaean type of theodicy. It also considers metatheodicies and limited theodicies.
However, this book departs from traditional religious thinking by presenting and treating religious approaches to evil that do not confront evil through the religious problem of evil. Primary among the three religious approaches to evil that are presented is the approach of Job-like belief. Such an approach embodies Job’s acceptance of evil as what God has given, expressed in his rhetorical “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2.10). The various elements of Job-like belief that are internally required for its approach to evil are critically examined, and it is seen how a Job-like approach to evil neither seeks nor requires a resolution to the problem of evil. The other two religious approaches to evil, as opposed to the problem of evil, are the effort to lessen evil in the world and the practice of forgiveness, both of which are compatible with each other and with a Job-like acceptance of evil, with which they can be combined.
Also treated in this book are mystery and God’s goodness. Accompanying every theodicy is mystery (in its religious sense as that which is beyond human understanding), and the experience of the mystery of God’s goodness shining through the world and through evil is embodied in Job-like belief.

Lexington Books

Pages: 166 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9½

978-1-4985-4751-2 • Hardback • June 2017 • $117.00 • (£90.00)

978-1-4985-4752-9 • eBook • June 2017 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Good & Evil, Philosophy / Religious, Religion / Christian Theology / General, Religion / Ethics, Religion / Philosophy

God's Goodness and God's Evil

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Religious thinkers in the Christian theistic tradition have tried to resolve the problem of evil—how a wholly good and omnipotent God could allow there to be evil—by offering a theodicy. This book considers three traditional theodicies and the objections they have elicited: Leibniz’s best of all possible worlds theodicy, the free will theodicy, and an Irenaean type of theodicy. It also considers metatheodicies and limited theodicies.
However, this book departs from traditional religious thinking by presenting and treating religious approaches to evil that do not confront evil through the religious problem of evil. Primary among the three religious approaches to evil that are presented is the approach of Job-like belief. Such an approach embodies Job’s acceptance of evil as what God has given, expressed in his rhetorical “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2.10). The various elements of Job-like belief that are internally required for its approach to evil are critically examined, and it is seen how a Job-like approach to evil neither seeks nor requires a resolution to the problem of evil. The other two religious approaches to evil, as opposed to the problem of evil, are the effort to lessen evil in the world and the practice of forgiveness, both of which are compatible with each other and with a Job-like acceptance of evil, with which they can be combined.
Also treated in this book are mystery and God’s goodness. Accompanying every theodicy is mystery (in its religious sense as that which is beyond human understanding), and the experience of the mystery of God’s goodness shining through the world and through evil is embodied in Job-like belief.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 166 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9½

978-1-4985-4751-2 • Hardback • June 2017 • $117.00 • (£90.00)

978-1-4985-4752-9 • eBook • June 2017 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Good & Evil, Philosophy / Religious, Religion / Christian Theology / General, Religion / Ethics, Religion / Philosophy

Author

James Kellenberger is emeritus professor of philosophy at California State University, Northridge.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part I
1. The Recognition of Evil and the Religious Problem of Evil
2. Natural and Moral Evil and Religions Without the Problem of Evil
3. The Uses of the Problem of Evil and its Religious Role
4. Two Arguments Against the Existence of God that Do Not Rely on the Problem of Evil
5. Approaches to the Problem of Evil: Leibniz’s Theodicy
6. Approaches to the Problem of Evil: the Free Will Theodicy
7. Approaches to the Problem of Evil: the Irenaean Type of Theodicy
8. Approaches to the Problem of Evil: Issues and Criteria for Theodicies
9. Approaches to the Problem of Evil: Metatheodicies and Limited Theodicies
10. Approaches to the Problem of Evil: Aesthetic Goodness
Part II
1. Approaches to Evil: Job-Like Belief
2. Approaches to Evil: Lessening Evil
3. Approaches to Evil: Forgiveness
4. Sources of Evil, the Subtlety of Evil, and Evil and Relativism
5. Mystery
6. God’s Goodness
Conclusion

Reviews

What if, as many people hold, evil as well as good comes from God? "God's evil" then invites a question: What should we say now about God's own moral character, including divine goodness? Kellenberger offers an engaging, informed response, bearing on theodicy, forgiveness, mystery, lessening evil, Job's notorious situation, and related topics. All readers will benefit from his probing and forthright examination of God, evil, and goodness.
— Paul K. Moser, Loyola University Chicago

God's Goodness and God's Evil is a bold contribution to both scholarly and religious approaches to the problem of evil in light of a robust affirmation of a vision of God rooted, especially, in the Book of Job. This is a novel, important, even brilliant contribution that will engage scholars and readers who struggle with the reality of evil and God.
— Charles Taliaferro, St. Olaf College

God's Goodness and God's Evil

James Kellenberger

God's Goodness and God's Evil

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