by his faith." "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Questions for reflection What different perspectives have you encountered on the topic of evil and suffering in the Theology/Philosophy Department? Is there any aspect to these approaches that can be celebrated? Is there any aspect to these approaches that do not sit with a Scriptural understanding of the origins and consequences of evil? What solutions do these views provide to explain the existence of evil and/or suffering? What hope do these approaches provide, and what is it based on? How do these solutions weigh up against the life, mission, death, resurrection, ascension and coming of Jesus? Give particular examples. Which aspect of the Gospel would be compromised if you were to believe the competing claim to knowledge? What difference would that make? How does Jesus show his love for us in overcoming sin and death? How does that shape our Christian lives? How do you usually respond when you do not understand what the Lord is doing in your life? 1 . A theodicy is a response to the evidential problem of evil. One of the most common theodicies is Augustine?s theodicy, which was later strengthened by Aquinas and reiterated and defined in Plantinga?s formulation of the free-will defense refuting the logical problem of evil. See Plantinga, A. God, Freedom and Evil (Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing, 1974) for more. Iranaeus? theodicy and the helpful moral argument [see