Question 1

The response to the problem of evil that claims suffering isn't real is an example of which kind of argument?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reductio ad absurdum 
B)  Abduction 
C)  Bait-and-switch 
D)  Apodeictic syllogism 
A)  Reductio ad absurdum 
B)  Abduction 
C)  Bait-and-switch 
D)  Apodeictic syllogism C

Question 2

Free will theodicy seems unable to explain

Accepted Answer

A)  suffering owing to human evils. 
B)  suffering owing to natural evils (e.g., earthquakes or hurricanes). 
C)  how free will can even be possible. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  suffering owing to human evils. 
B)  suffering owing to natural evils (e.g., earthquakes or hurricanes). 
C)  how free will can even be possible. 
D)  All of the above B

Question 3

One of the criticisms of skeptical theism is that it leads to

Accepted Answer

A)  moral nihilism. 
B)  moral paralysis. 
C)  moral fanaticism. 
D)  no longer believing in God. 
A)  moral nihilism. 
B)  moral paralysis. 
C)  moral fanaticism. 
D)  no longer believing in God. B

Question 4

Which of the following best articulates the problem of evil?

Accepted Answer

A)  Theism implies that ours is the best possible universe. But ours is not the best possible universe. Therefore, theism is false. 
B)  Atheism implies that ours is the worst possible universe. But ours is not the worst possible universe. Therefore, atheism is false. 
C)  Theism implies that ours is the best possible universe. Ours is the best possible universe. Therefore, theism is true. 
D)  Atheism implies that ours is the worst possible universe. Ours is the worst possible universe. Therefore, atheism is true. 
A)  Theism implies that ours is the best possible universe. But ours is not the best possible universe. Therefore, theism is false. 
B)  Atheism implies that ours is the worst possible universe. But ours is not the worst possible universe. Therefore, atheism is false. 
C)  Theism implies that ours is the best possible universe. Ours is the best possible universe. Therefore, theism is true. 
D)  Atheism implies that ours is the worst possible universe. Ours is the worst possible universe. Therefore, atheism is true.

Question 5

It has been claimed that some people benefit from believing that God exists and that this justifies their theism. Similarly, one might argue that some people benefit from believing that God doesn't exist? Discuss these ideas.

Accepted Answer

The idea that some people benefit from b

Question 6

Skeptical theism claims that human beings should be skeptical

Accepted Answer

A)  of God's existence. 
B)  of trying to understand God's reasons for permitting suffering. 
C)  that suffering exists at all. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  of God's existence. 
B)  of trying to understand God's reasons for permitting suffering. 
C)  that suffering exists at all. 
D)  All of the above

Question 7

Bait-and-switch responses

Accepted Answer

A)  mislead by using words in nonstandard ways. 
B)  mislead by switching to another argument. 
C)  beg the question. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  mislead by using words in nonstandard ways. 
B)  mislead by switching to another argument. 
C)  beg the question. 
D)  All of the above

Question 8

Natural evil is when a bad state of affairs arises from

Accepted Answer

A)  human causes. 
B)  nonhuman causes. 
C)  innate human evil. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  human causes. 
B)  nonhuman causes. 
C)  innate human evil. 
D)  All of the above

Question 9

Which of the following is not a premise in the theodicy argument of Leibniz?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because God is omniscient, He knew how to create the world as good as possible. 
B)  Because God is omnipotent, He was able to create the best possible universe. 
C)  Because God is omnipresent, He is everywhere at all times. 
D)  Because God is perfectly good, He wouldn't choose to make a suboptimal universe. 
A)  Because God is omniscient, He knew how to create the world as good as possible. 
B)  Because God is omnipotent, He was able to create the best possible universe. 
C)  Because God is omnipresent, He is everywhere at all times. 
D)  Because God is perfectly good, He wouldn't choose to make a suboptimal universe.

Question 10

Which of the following exemplifies natural evil?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Holocaust 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Bad government 
D)  Losing one's job 
A)  The Holocaust 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Bad government 
D)  Losing one's job

Question 11

What is moral paralysis, and how does it relate to theology? Could this problem relate to ways of thinking outside of theology?

Accepted Answer

Moral paralysis refers to the state of b

Question 12

Moral evil is when a bad state of affairs arises from

Accepted Answer

A)  human causes. 
B)  nonhuman causes. 
C)  innate human evil. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  human causes. 
B)  nonhuman causes. 
C)  innate human evil. 
D)  All of the above

Question 13

According to Leibniz, the world we live in is

Accepted Answer

A)  a meaningless, godless world. 
B)  a world with equal amounts of good and evil. 
C)  the best possible universe. 
D)  the worst possible universe. 
A)  a meaningless, godless world. 
B)  a world with equal amounts of good and evil. 
C)  the best possible universe. 
D)  the worst possible universe.

Question 14

The problem of evil must address various different forms of evil. What are these, and how do they relate to a possible resolution of this problem?

Accepted Answer

The problem of evil is a philosophical a

Question 15

Which of the following exemplifies moral evil?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Holocaust 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Bad government 
D)  Losing one's job 
A)  The Holocaust 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Bad government 
D)  Losing one's job

Question 16

If one were to claim that disbelief in God was beneficial, this would be an example of which kind of argument?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evidential 
B)  Reductio ad absurdum 
C)  Pragmatic 
D)  Inductive 
A)  Evidential 
B)  Reductio ad absurdum 
C)  Pragmatic 
D)  Inductive

Question 17

J. L. Mackie argued against free will theodicy by claiming

Accepted Answer

A)  a perfect God could create people who have free will, but have such good characters that they never, or almost never, do wrong. 
B)  a perfect God could not create people who have free will and always act morally. 
C)  free will is an illusion. 
D)  human suffering is an illusion. 
A)  a perfect God could create people who have free will, but have such good characters that they never, or almost never, do wrong. 
B)  a perfect God could not create people who have free will and always act morally. 
C)  free will is an illusion. 
D)  human suffering is an illusion.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a defense of theodicy?

Accepted Answer

A)  In some cases God permits suffering because the people involved deserve to suffer. 
B)  Suffering is good for a person in the long term because it builds one's character. 
C)  Because human beings are free, we are capable of making bad decisions that lead to suffering. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  In some cases God permits suffering because the people involved deserve to suffer. 
B)  Suffering is good for a person in the long term because it builds one's character. 
C)  Because human beings are free, we are capable of making bad decisions that lead to suffering. 
D)  All of the above

Question 19

Theodicies argue

Accepted Answer

A)  God is incapable of preventing suffering, so should not be expected to do so. 
B)  God is capable of preventing suffering but justifiably chooses not to do so. 
C)  there is no suffering in the world. 
D)  all human suffering is an illusion. 
A)  God is incapable of preventing suffering, so should not be expected to do so. 
B)  God is capable of preventing suffering but justifiably chooses not to do so. 
C)  there is no suffering in the world. 
D)  all human suffering is an illusion.

Question 20

According to Aquinas, God's omnipotence is

Accepted Answer

A)  able to bring about any outcome. 
B)  only able to bring about possible outcomes. 
C)  an unknowable mystery. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  able to bring about any outcome. 
B)  only able to bring about possible outcomes. 
C)  an unknowable mystery. 
D)  All of the above

The response to the problem of evil that claims suffering isn't real is an example of which kind of argument?

Free will theodicy seems unable to explain

One of the criticisms of skeptical theism is that it leads to

Which of the following best articulates the problem of evil?

It has been claimed that some people benefit from believing that God exists and that this justifies their theism. Similarly, one might argue that some people benefit from believing that God doesn't exist? Discuss these ideas.

Skeptical theism claims that human beings should be skeptical

Bait-and-switch responses

Natural evil is when a bad state of affairs arises from

Which of the following is not a premise in the theodicy argument of Leibniz?

Which of the following exemplifies natural evil?

What is moral paralysis, and how does it relate to theology? Could this problem relate to ways of thinking outside of theology?

Moral evil is when a bad state of affairs arises from

According to Leibniz, the world we live in is

The problem of evil must address various different forms of evil. What are these, and how do they relate to a possible resolution of this problem?

Which of the following exemplifies moral evil?

If one were to claim that disbelief in God was beneficial, this would be an example of which kind of argument?

J. L. Mackie argued against free will theodicy by claiming

Which of the following is not a defense of theodicy?

Theodicies argue

According to Aquinas, God's omnipotence is

What Is Philosophy?

What Are Arguments, and How Should We Evaluate Them?

Does God Exist?

Can We Be Completely Certain of Anything?

Can We Trust Our Senses?

Will the Sun Rise Tomorrow?

What Is Knowledge?

Do We Have Free Will?

How Is Your Mind Related to Your Body?

Will You Be the Same Person in Ten Years? Could You Survive Death?

Are There Objective Truths About Right and Wrong?

What Really Matters?

What Should We Do Part I?

What Should We Do part II?

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Exam 4: Why Does God Leave Us to Suffer?

The response to the problem of evil that claims suffering isn't real is an example of which kind of argument?

Free will theodicy seems unable to explain

One of the criticisms of skeptical theism is that it leads to

Which of the following best articulates the problem of evil?

It has been claimed that some people benefit from believing that God exists and that this justifies their theism. Similarly, one might argue that some people benefit from believing that God doesn't exist? Discuss these ideas.

Skeptical theism claims that human beings should be skeptical

Bait-and-switch responses

Natural evil is when a bad state of affairs arises from

Which of the following is not a premise in the theodicy argument of Leibniz?

Which of the following exemplifies natural evil?

What is moral paralysis, and how does it relate to theology? Could this problem relate to ways of thinking outside of theology?

Moral evil is when a bad state of affairs arises from

According to Leibniz, the world we live in is

The problem of evil must address various different forms of evil. What are these, and how do they relate to a possible resolution of this problem?

Which of the following exemplifies moral evil?

If one were to claim that disbelief in God was beneficial, this would be an example of which kind of argument?

J. L. Mackie argued against free will theodicy by claiming

Which of the following is not a defense of theodicy?

Theodicies argue

According to Aquinas, God's omnipotence is

What Is Philosophy?

What Are Arguments, and How Should We Evaluate Them?

Does God Exist?

Can We Be Completely Certain of Anything?

Can We Trust Our Senses?

Will the Sun Rise Tomorrow?

What Is Knowledge?

Do We Have Free Will?

How Is Your Mind Related to Your Body?

Will You Be the Same Person in Ten Years? Could You Survive Death?

Are There Objective Truths About Right and Wrong?

What Really Matters?

What Should We Do Part I?

What Should We Do part II?

Filters