Course: THEO 201 – Introduction to Christian Theology

Assessment Task 3: Research Essay on the Problem of Evil

Due Date: Week 10, Friday by 11:59 PM

Weighting: 40% of Final Grade

Length: 2,000 words (+/- 10%)

Context of Assessment

Theodicy remains one of the most intellectually and emotionally demanding areas of study within theology and the philosophy of religion. Scholars and students alike must grapple with the apparent contradiction between an all-powerful, loving God and the reality of profound human suffering. This research essay provides an opportunity to engage deeply with classic theological responses to this challenge while considering modern critiques. You will move beyond personal opinion to examine how specific traditions have historically defended theistic belief in the face of tragedy and moral failure.

Task Instructions

Select one of the following theological frameworks for your analysis:

• The Augustinian Theodicy (The Free Will Defense and the privation of good).
• The Irenaean Theodicy (Soul-making and the necessity of spiritual growth).
• Process Theology (God’s persuasive rather than coercive power).

Write a 2,000-word research essay that addresses the following requirements:

1. Definition of terms: Articulate the logical problem of evil as presented by critics such as David Hume or J.L. Mackie. Distinguish clearly between moral evil and natural evil.
2. Critical Analysis: Explain the core arguments of your chosen framework. How does this perspective account for the existence of suffering without compromising the traditional attributes of God?
3. Theological Critique: Evaluate the limitations of your chosen theodicy. Address at least one major scholarly objection to this view. You might consider whether the “soul-making” process justifies the scale of historical atrocities or if the free will defense adequately explains natural disasters.
4. Synthesis: Conclude by summarizing the current relevance of this debate for modern faith communities.

Submission Guidelines

• Documentation: Use a minimum of eight peer-reviewed sources. These should include primary theological texts and contemporary journal articles.
• Formatting: Prepare your document using 12-point font, double spacing, and numbered pages. Ensure your name and student ID appear in the header.
• Referencing: Adhere to the Harvard referencing style for all citations and your final bibliography.
• Originality: Ensure all work is your own. Submissions will be processed through academic integrity software to check for similarity with existing publications and AI-generated content.

Grading Rubric

The Augustinian tradition asserts that evil does not possess an independent ontological status but exists as a corruption of an inherently good creation. Human agency remains the primary source of moral failing, as the misuse of free will disrupts the intended order of the cosmos. Critics often argue that an omniscient creator would have foreseen these choices, yet proponents maintain that a world with genuine freedom is superior to one populated by programmed automatons. Evaluating these claims requires a careful balance between logical consistency and the lived reality of human pain.

Learning Resources

• Hick, J. (2019) Evil and the God of Love. Reissue edition. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Larrimore, M. (2023) The Problem of Evil: A History. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
• Meister, C. and Moser, P.K. (eds.) (2020) The Cambridge Companion to the Problem of Evil. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108233262
• Trakakis, N.N. (2018) ‘Theodicy: The Solution to the Problem of Evil?’, Sophia, 57(1), pp. 135–151. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-017-0618-y