Philosophy Essay on the Problem of Evil and the Irenaean and Augustinian Theodicies.
             There are two main theodicies tackling the problem of evil and they are the Augustinian and Irenaean theodicies.
             The Augustinian theodicy is so called because it originates from St. Augustine (354-438). He approaches the problem of evil from different ways, he did a number of writings on the problem of evil including The City Of God and The Confessions. The main thought that St. Augustine had was that creation is good. He says that as God is the author of everything in the created universe, it follows that evil is not real, otherwise it would mean that God would have created evil which St. Augustine refused to accept. So for Augustine evil is not existent but he believes that it ought to exist. He says that evil can not exist in its own right.
             The criticisms of Augustinians theodicies are these; that modern science rejects the picture of fall of humanity perfection. Rather it suggests an evolutionary development. A literal approach seems to contradict modern science. Hence some have taken the book of Genesis as a symbol/myth depicting the fact that all humans do sin, by choice.
             That if humans are finitely perfect, then even thought they are free to sin they don't need to do so. If they do then they were not flawless to start with and so God must share the responsibility of their fall.
             It is hard to clear God from responsibility for evil as he chose to create beings he knew could have the ability to do evil, in other words God has to take some blame for evil as he was the one who created humans and he gave them the ability to do evil so he has to take some responsibility for it.
             The existence of hell is not consistent with an all loving God. Hell seems contrary to a good God, some argue that all humans are saved whilst other suggest annihilation rather that eternal suffering.
             Next is the Irenaean theodicy which is so called...