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Natural evil is evil for which "no non-divine agent can be held morally responsible" and is chiefly derived from the operation of the laws of nature.[1] It is defined in contrast to moral evil, which is directly "caused by human activity".[2] In Christian theology, natural evil is often discussed as a rebuttal to the free will defense against the theological problem of evil.[3] The argument goes that the free will defense can only justify the presence of moral evil in light of an omnibenevolent god, and that natural evil remains unaccounted for. Hence, some atheists argue that the existence of natural evil challenges belief in the existence, omnibenevolence, or omnipotence of God or any deity.[4]
Some Christian theologians respond that natural evil is the indirect result of original sin just as moral evils are.[2] Other theologians even argue that natural evil is directly perpetrated by demonic agents.[5]
- ^ Trakakis, Nick. "The Evidential Problem of Evil". The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP).
- ^ a b "The Problem of Evil". princeton.edu.
- ^ Swinburne, Richard (1978). "Natural Evil". American Philosophical Quarterly. 15 (4): 295–301. ISSN 0003-0481.
- ^ Michael Martin, Atheism: A Philosophical Justification (Temple University Press, 1992), 412.
- ^ Boyd, Gregory A. (2001). Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-0830815500.