THE BELIEF IN A GOOD CREATION
privatio boni ("privation of goodness") - Augustine of Hippo
There are several analogies to support this view:
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Nothing evil exists in itself, but only as an evil aspect of something else - Augustine of Hippo
One objection to privation theory is that it seems to contain the assumption that evil is the basic state of the universe. Good exists through God's constant effort and everything has a tendency to lapse back into evil and non-existence without God's input. Some religious believers are happy with this conclusion but others view it as pessimistic. However, it is reflected in a famous passage from the New Testament that describes the light of God shining in the darkness - and the darkness cannot overcome the light.
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there is no such thing as an author of a privation, even though he can be called the author of everything which is real and positive in the sinful act – Gottfried Leibniz
However, even if all of us fall short of proper goodness at times, that doesn't entirely explain the scale of human wickedness because God might have been expected to create creatures with more willpower or empathy - or else not to have bothered creating them at all if he had known how they were going to turn out.
One solution to this is to appeal to the Biblical story of the Fall of Man. Genesis 3 describes how the first humans are tempted to break God's rule. As a punishment, are expelled from Paradise. This rebellion against God and conflict between God and his creatures is called "the Fall". |
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The misuse of freewill by humans explains a lot of moral evil, but it doesn't explain natural evil so well.
A related explanation is that humans are not the only creatures in the universe that misuse their freewill. Angels are supposed to be freewilled creatures and the Bible describes a "war in heaven" in which rebel angels, led by Lucifer (later known as Satan) turn against God. Lucifer is motivated by pride - a sin that doesn't require any outside cause or temptation. In Christian tradition, the serpent who tempts Adam and Eve is really Lucifer, continuing his war against God by trying to ruin God's Creation. |
9-minute video drawing together the story of the rebel angels with Bible quotes
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God does this by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to die on behalf of sinful humans. Christians differ on exactly what Christ's death means and how it brings about reconciliation between sinful humans and a morally perfect God. They do agree that humans are reconciled with God as a result of this. Some Christians argue that humans must make a deliberate decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour - others believe this reconciliation can be accomplished by membership of the church (usually beginning with baptism as a baby).
Because of this, Christians believe they will be admitted to heaven despite their sins. |
However, there are problems with this theory. The disagreements between Christians about how exactly this reconciliation comes about lead to disagreements about what humans have to do to acquire it.
1 = Catholic and Anglican; 2 = most Protestant; 3 = evangelical Christians in Catholic and Protestant traditions
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YES
Privation theory demonstrates that the Logical Problem of Evil is invalid because God is NOT responsible for evil and suffering. Responsibility rests with people who sin and imperfect beings must, by definition, have the possibility of sinning.
God's foreknowledge does not take away human responsibility for sin. Humans choose to sin and pay the price for that. God is merciful and offers Reconciliation, but people who reject faith in Christ are responsible for their own sins and their own eternal suffering in hell.
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NO
Even if we accept that evil is privation (and there are problems with that!), this still leaves the Evidential Problem of Evil, because the amount and type of evil and suffering in the world is such that a good Creator God would have foreseen it and either created differently or not created at all.
God's foreknowledge takes away human responsibility because God is our creator. If God creates us knowing that we will damn ourselves by sinning and not having faith, then he is responsible - just like a manufacturer is responsible for making a faulty product.
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