The soul- making theodicy is founded on the concept that many individuals have a belief in God, despite the apparent physical and moral evils prevalent in the world. It involves the development of a theory that elaborates the real world, considering that a perfect God is in existence.
The theory’s hypotheses are internally coherent, in consent with the Christianity religious tradition, and the world is revealed from the natural and moral evil facts, and scientific inquiry.
John Hick changed the manner in which theodicy was thought about in the traditional philosophical theology, by conceiving the globe as a soul- making vale. According to John, God is just and fair. Hence, He subjects suffering to His creatures. According to John, suffering enables individuals to grow morally and spiritually, which is essential for individuals to become mature.
In the absence of suffering, individuals are unable to foster personality and virtue. God is the world’s designer. Hence, He does not prevent hardships and challenges. On the contrary, He exposes His creatures to challenges.
Through this way, God’s people are able to trust and believe that He will deliver them from the challenges, and save them from temptations. Via misfortunes, challenges, and dangers, temptations are meant to promote people’s growth towards perfection. John Hick’s arguments are founded on Irenaeus Greek church priests.
John traces the Augustinian reaction to the man’s fall in the Garden of Eden. God is regarded as benevolent and all- powerful and He created an amazing world and humanity. At one moment, Satan and some angels misused the freedom they had, and descended to the earth. Consequently, they made Adam and Eve sin, through convincing them to eat the forbidden fruit. This ushered in misery and evil.
Therefore, human and angelic free will is the foundation of morals. Misuse of the free will lead to natural evil, which is prevalent in the universe. It is worth noting that God is not the creator of evil; it originated from the Satan when he misused his free will. As such, evil has no substantial existence.
At the end of the world, God will pass judgement to His creation. Evil is a parasite to God’s creation. On judging humanity, sinners will be condemned to hellfire and the righteous to eternal happiness. Through this, God will bring back justice to His creation and balance to the world. John asserts that perfection is acquired at the end, as opposed to the start. While suffering, individuals are being subjected to a unique form of creation.
Perfection comes after an individual has experienced an arduous and long process. Sometimes, God sends suffering to His people to test their faith. Moreover, God is always concerned about the welfare and well- being of His creation. He is aware that His people are not complete and mature spiritually and morally on creation. Therefore, He sends suffering because of His concern to make the people complete.
Through suffering, people are subjected to a more complete creation. God’s creations have an epistemic distance from Him. However, they have an amble opportunity for knowing and having a close relationship with God. According to the first book of the Bible, Genesis, God created people in His own image.
This implies that God’s creation have the chance of becoming His children. However, people are given the chance to realize the potential as moral and personal human beings. God has immense love for His people. In regard to this, people possess a greater level of moral awareness, cognition, and spiritual knowledge. In addition to this, they are continuously being created.
The epistemic distance between God and His creatures allows them practice their free will. On the contrary, people would be too excited and would not consider to use their free will to know and love God. God had a choice of creating people with a solid moral nature and freedom.
However, God had a reason why He did not create people with a strong moral nature. Virtues that individuals acquire as a result of making the right decisions during temptations and misery are extremely valuable compared to ready- made virtues. In this regard, the efforts that people make in the struggle to win temptations make them endure. Endurance results to a strong character and righteousness.
A true virtue is what constitutes the ability to be virtuous, which is achieved through temptations and misery. Through exposing His creatures to starvation, accidents, misfortunes, diseases, violence, and difficulties, God is demonstrating His concern for His people. God is aware that through misfortunes, people enhance their moral nature, which makes them appreciate God’s presence and ability.
In there was a perfect deity, pain and misery would be inexistent. This implies that there would be no moral preferences and, hence, the opportunity for developing and growing morally. Moreover, God knows that the heavenly fulfilment that the winners will experience is more than the worldly diseases, miseries, and starvation.