The Problem of Evil Assignment
APOL 500
APOL 500
Apologetics Field-Based Activity: The Problem of Evil Assignment Template
Do not change any aspect of this template; and do not delete anything except the type of defense or theodicy that you will be constructing from this template (see 1a below). Instead, just type your content in the spaces provided, below. Before typing your content, you should review the entire document to be sure you understand what is required.
Type your name here:
Instructions for this submission
The purpose of the activity is to provide you with an opportunity to construct a short defense or theodicy for the problem of evil while anticipating possible objections to that defense or theodicy and then sharing it in a conversation In the sections provided below, you will insert your construction and possible objections; you will enter the date, time, setting, and short description of the person with whom you share; and a short reflection on the sharing experience.
1. Construct a short defense or theodicy for the problem of evil while anticipating possible objections.
a. Type below the list, the type of defense or theodicy that you will be constructing; delete those you are not using in order to avoid possible confusion (limit yourself to one of the below):
The logical problem of evil
Free-will defense (Gould, p. 147-50; Sweis, p. 422-32)
Horrendous evil defense (Sweis, p. 450-57)
The evidential problem of evil (Gould, p. 150-59)
Option 2 – Defense (Gould p. 157-59)
Option 1 – theodicy/explanation (Gould, p. 153-57)
Free will theodicy (Gould, p. 154-157; Sweis, p. 419-21)
Punishment theodicy (Gould, p. 153)
Natural consequences theodicy (Gould, p. 153)
Natural law theodicy (Gould, p. 153)
Punishment theodicy (Gould, p. 153)
Higher-order goods theodicy (Gould, p. 153)
Soul-making theodicy (Sweis, p. 433-43); remember that we learned last module that Hicks is a sophisticated religious pluralist.
Christian tradition theodicy (Sweis, p. 444-49)
b. Lay out your defense or theodicy as you plan to use it in the conversation you will be having.
c. Anticipate two to three possible objections and how you would address those objections in a short conversation.
2. Sharing your defense or theodicy for the problem of evil.
a. Identify the time and place in which you had the conversation.
b. Identify the setting (coffeeshop, online, text, etc. It must, however, be a conversation and not a monologue):
c. Identify your conversation partner (no names please): unbeliever, believer; uncertain; knowledge level, attitude of partner (antagonistic, interested, doubtful, devil’s advocate).
3. Reflection in which you describe how the conversation went, the reaction of your conversation partner both during and after the presentation of the defense or theodicy, what you might have done differently, and how you feel after presentation about the strength of your defense or theodicy.
a. Describe details about how the conversation went.
b. Describe the reaction of your conversation partner both during and after the presentation of the argument.
c. Describe what you might have done differently.
d. Describe what you feel after the presentation about the strength of the argument.
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