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Evil and the Evidence for God: The Challenge of John Hick?s Theodicy

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In this book R. Douglas Geivett attempts to argue for several theses. First, the success or failure of the theodical tradition known as the "augustinian" tradition (which traces its roots to Augustine) has close ties with the success or failure of the project of natural theology. Second, John Hick's theodicy is an example of a different theodical tradition which is known as the "soul making" theodicy (which traces its roots to Irenaeus), and Hick adopts this theodicy because he feels that the augustinian theodicy is incapable of overcome crucial objections against it. Third, Geivett argues that Hick's reasons for rejecting the augustinian theodicy are not adequate. The augustinian theodicy and its related project of natural theology can be successfully defended against Hick's objections. Fourth, Hick's theodicy is fraught with its own set of difficulties from which it cannot successfully recover.

This books is based on Dr. Geivett's PhD dissertation at USC and is a good example of careful historical and philosophical research. By carefully reading this book, one will learn a great deal about both the subject matter of theodicy as well as natural theology (Geivett defends a modern version of the cosmological argument known as the kalam cosmological argument).

A unique feature of this book is that it contains a critical review of itself which is written by John Hick.

A full index makes this book easier to use.