Journal for Christian Theological Research
Article Title
Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to compare how three theistic perspectives -- theological determinism, freewill theism and process theism -- do (in fact, must) approach the reality of evil in this world and then reflect on whether any of these approaches (theodicies) can be judged superior to the others. We conclude that, while a person can justifiably maintain for herself that one of these responses to evil is superior, there exists at present no objective basis for claiming justifiably that any one of the theodicies (and thus theisms) is in fact more plausible than the others. However, even if the type of comparative discussion in which we engage cannot identify a winner, this type of discussion can, we contend, clarify crucial issues (for instance, identify crucial assumptions inherent in each theodicy) and therefore is of value.
Recommended Citation
Basinger, David and Basinger, Randall
(1998)
"The Logic of Theodicy: A Comparative Analysis,"
Journal for Christian Theological Research: Vol. 3
, Article 1.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.luthersem.edu/jctr/vol3/iss1998/1