THE TOUGH-LOVE PROPOSAL: A NOVEL THEODICY LE PHAM THAI A doctoral thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the DEPARTMENT OF SYSTEMATIC AND HISTORICAL THEOLOGY FACULTY OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA PROMOTER: PROFESSOR JERRY PILLAY June 2020 i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………………ii DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY……………………………………………………………x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………………………...xi SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………………...xii CHAPTER ONE: OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY………………………...1 1.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………1 1.2 The Research Problem………………………………………………………………...6 1.3 Research Objectives…………………………………………………………………...7 1.4 Research Methodology………………………………………………………………..8 1.5 Delimitations of Study……………………………………………………………….12 1.6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...12 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………………………14 2.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..14 2.2 Definitions of Terms…………………………………………………………………15 2.2.1 Definition of Evil……………………………………………………………….16 2.2.2 Definition of Moral Evil………………………………………………………..17 ii 2.2.3 Definition of Natural Evil……………………………………………………....18 2.2.4 Definition of Social Evil………………………………………………………..20 2.2.5 A Combination of Evils………………………………………………………...22 2.2.6 Definition of Suffering………………………………………………………….22 2.2.7 The Problems of Evil…………………………………………………………...24 2.3 The Logical Problem of Evil………………………………………………………....24 2.3.1 The Logical Argument………………………………………………………….24 2.3.2 The Logical Problem……………………………………………………………27 2.4 The Evidential Problem of Evil……………………………………………………...34 2.4.1 William Rowe’s Evidential Argument From Evil……………………………...35 2.4.2 Argument Against the Factual Premise………………………………...……....37 2.4.2.1 The Skeptical Theism Defense……………………………………………39 2.4.2.2 Objections to the Skeptical Theism Defense……………………………...41 2.4.3 Argument Against the Theological Premise……………………………...…….47 2.4.3.1 The Open Theism Theodicy……………………………………………….48 2.4.3.2 Objections to the Open Theism Theodicy………………………………...55 2.4.4 Other Inductive Versions of the Evidential Problem of Evil…………………...62 2.5 Some Prominent Theodicies…………………………………………………………63 2.5.1 Plantinga’s “Felix Culpa” Theodicy……………………………………………63 iii 2.5.2 Hick’s “Soul-Making” Theodicy……………………………………………….68 2.5.3 Swinburne’s Theodicy………………………………………………………….75 2.5.4 Other Theodicies………………………………………………………………..85 2.6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...86 CHAPTER THREE: THE TOUGH-LOVE PROPOSAL FOR NON-THEISTS……………….88 3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..88 3.2 Definitions of Terms………………………………………………………………....89 3.3 The Tough-love Proposal…………………………………………………………….90 3.4 Support for the First Premise………………………………………………………...94 3.5 Support for the Second Premise……………………………………………………...96 3.6 Support for the Third Premise………………………………………………………103 3.7 The Argument Conclusion………………………………………………………….106 3.8 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….110 CHAPTER FOUR: THE TOUGH-LOVE PROPOSAL AND THE EVIDENTIAL PROBLEM OF EVIL…………………………………………………….112 4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………112 4.2 The Factual Premise………………………………………………………………...113 4.3 The Theological Premise…………………………………………………………...119 iv 4.4 The Case of “Bambi” (E1)………………………………………………………….123 4.5 The Case of “Sue” (E2)……………………………………………………………..125 4.6 The Case of “The Brothers Karamazov”…………………………………………...134 4.7 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….137 CHAPTER FIVE: REQUIREMENTS FOR A THEODICY……………….............................139 5.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………139 5.2 The Requirements…………………………………………………………………..139 5.2.1 The “Logical Consistency” Requirement……………………………………..139 5.2.2 The “Relevancy to the Problem” Requirement………………………………..140 5.2.3 The “Relevancy to the Theology” Requirement………………………………142 5.2.4 The “Value Claim” Requirement ……………………………………………..143 5.2.5 The “Impossibility Claim” Requirement ……………………………………..149 5.2.6 The “Commonsensical Views About the World” Requirement………………154 5.2.7 The “Widely Accepted Scientific and Historical Views” Requirement………157 5.2.8 The “Intuitively Plausible Moral Principles” Requirement…………………...161 5.2.9 Rowe’s “Four Problems of Evil” Requirement……………………………….163 5.3 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….165 CHAPTER SIX: THE TOUGH-LOVE PROPOSAL FOR THEISTS…………………………168 v 6.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………168 6.2 God’s Attributes…………………………………………………………………….169 6.2.1 God’s Impeccability………………………………………………………….169 6.2.2 God’s Omnipotence………………………………………………………….169 6.2.3 God’s Sovereignty…………………………………………………………...170 6.2.4 God’s Omniscience…………………………………………………………..171 6.2.5 God’s Benevolence…………………………………………………………..171 6.2.6 God’s Providence…………………………………………………………….172 6.2.7 God’s Holiness……………………………………………………………….173 6.2.8 God’s Love…………………………………………………………………...174 6.2.9 God’s Justice…………………………………………………………………175 6.2.10 God’s Simplicity……………………………………………………………175 6.3 The Creation of Humans……………………………………………………………177 6.4 The Fall of Humans and the Origin of Evil on Earth……………………………….180 6.5 The Rescue Operation/Salvation Plan……………………………………………...186 6.5.1 The “Forgive and Forget” Approach………………………………………….186 6.5.2 The “Enabling” Approach……………………………………………………..187 6.5.3 The “Substitution” Approach………………………………………………….189 vi 6.5.4 The “Age of Evil”……………………………………………………………..191 6.5.5 The “Distribution of Evil”…………………………………………………….198 6.6 Believers and the Promises of God…………………………………………………200 6.6.1 God’s Kindness to Believers…………………………………………………..200 6.6.2 God Answers Believers’ Prayers……………………………………………...201 6.6.3 God’s Pledge to Believers……………………………………………………..204 6.6.4 God’s “Way of Escape” for Believers………………………………………...207 6.6.5 God Forgives Believers’ Sins…………………………………………………209 6.6.6 God’s Maturation of Believers Through Sufferings…………………………..211 6.7 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….215 CHAPTER SEVEN: GOD AND THE PRESENCE OF EVIL………………………………...217 7.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………217 7.2 God and Evils……………………………………………………………………….218 7.2.1 God Does Not Make Humans Commit Evil to Bring the “Ultimate Good”…..218 7.2.2 God Uses “Evil” as a Tool in this World……………………………………...220 7.2.3 God Restrains Evil in this World……………………………………………...221 7.3 The Sources of Moral Evils in Believers’ Lives……………………………………225 7.3.1 Moral Evils Coming from One’s Own Actions……………………………….225 vii 7.3.2 Moral Evils Coming from Other People’s Actions……………………………232 7.3.3 Moral “Evils” Coming from God’s Hands……………………………………238 7.3.3.1 Moral “Evil” for the Edification of Believers……………………………238 7.3.3.2 Moral “Evil” for the Discipline of Believers…………………………….241 7.3.3.3 Moral “Evil” for the Deterrence of Believers……………………………244 7.3.3.4 Moral “Evil” for the Rehabilitation of Believers………………………...245 7.4 The Sources of Natural Evils in Believers’ Lives…………………………………..248 7.4.1 Natural Evils Coming from One’s Own Actions……………………………...248 7.4.2 Natural Evils Coming from Other People’s Actions………………………….254 7.4.3 Natural “Evils” Coming from God’s Hands…………………………………..257 7.4.3.1 Natural “Evils” for the Edification of Believers…………………………257 7.4.3.2 Natural “Evils” for the Discipline of Believers………………………….260 7.4.3.3 Natural “Evils” for the Deterrence of Believers…………………………263 7.4.3.4 Natural “Evils” for the Rehabilitation of Believers……………………...265 7.5 Heaven and Hell…………………………………………………………………….268 7.5.1 Hell…………………………………………………………………………….268 7.5.2 Heaven………………………………………………………………………...271 7.5.3 Some Questions and Speculations…………………………………………….274 viii 7.5.3.1 What Would Have Happened Had Adam Chosen to Obey?.....................274 7.5.3.2. How Can Peccable Believers Attain Impeccability?................................275 7.5.3.3 Why Did God Not Create Impeccable Creatures Through Marriage?......277 7.5.3.4 What Happened to Adam and Eve When They Disobeyed God?.............278 7.5.3.5 Why Did God Create Natural Evils?.........................................................279 7.6 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….283 CHAPTER EIGHT: CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………..285 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………304 ix x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Jerry Pillay, for his valuable support and guidance in the writing of this dissertation. I would also like to thank my wife, Vickie, and my children, Daniel and Joshua for their love, patience, and encouragement during the process of completing this work. xi SUMMARY In this study, we reviewed the literature concerning the problem(s) of evil and found that, while there is a consensus that the logical problem of evil as raised by J. L. Mackie has been successfully addressed by Alvin Plantinga’s “Free Will Defense,” the evidential problem of evil as argued by William Rowe has yet to be resolved. The various solutions suggested by recognized scholars (e.g., John Hick and Richard Swinburne) have not met with broad acceptance. Most of the efforts to resolve the problem have been focused on Rowes’ factual premise (i.e., there are gratuitous evils). This approach has been fraught with difficulties and uncertainties as the determination of “gratuitousness” may be “beyond our ken.” Instead, this research aims to challenge Rowe’s theological premise (i.e., God prevents all gratuitous evils) by supplying a morally justifying reason (i.e., “tough-love) for God to exist in the presence of evil (gratuitous or otherwise). We also endeavor to stay within the bounds of Christian orthodoxy in affirming that God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and