Topic 5 - Good and Evil

* The Christian responses to the problem of evil and suffering:

- Evil from original sin, devil, free will, theodicy of Augustine (soul deciding), theodicy of Irenaeus (soul making), strength, hope from suffering of Jesus, God suffers alongside, life after death and God beyond human understanding

* How Jesus suffered, and how his suffering helps Christians:

- Christians feel they are having some kind of connection to him when they suffer

- He died to save us and suffered the most, what we suffer is not the same so shouldn't complain

* How Christians cope with suffering:

- Jesus died for us, cope

- Suffering in this life is inconsequential because heaven is perfect

- It is a way to make us stronger

- It is a way in which we connect with Jesus

- God has chosen us to suffer for a reason

- It is trying to make them a better Christian

- Should thank God for taking an interest and trying to improve them

* The right ways to behave in life, and how the Bible / example of Jesus / conscience helps:

+++ BIBLE:

* it reveals God and his will for how they should live

* need to study it and its teachings carefully to find out what to do

* pray that God through the holy spirit will help them understand the Bible and its meaning

* meet with others and study it together and then decide on moral codes for society

* translate the teachings of the Bible into modern times

* universal rules to follow (agape, ten commandments, sermon on the mount)

+++ EXAMPLE OF JESUS

* Their supreme guide

* Taught people and told them how to enter Gods kingdom (follow this)

* He showed Christians how to accept Gods will (dying on cross)

* He left behind many parables which teach others how to live

+++ CONSCIENCE

* Combination of things (upbringing, parents, God)

* Tells us the difference between right and wrong

* A part of Gods will which teaches us instinctively

* Reasons why Christians try to follow a moral code:

- They believe God has a plan for their lives

- They also believe they have been called to live a moral and holy life

- God has supervised the writing of the Bible to show Christians how to live

- He sent Jesus to teach people the right way of life

- If God wants us to live a certain way then this is the right way to live and only way to please God and determine a place in heaven

- Moral codes also help society today

* BIBLE TEACHINGS!

- Parable of prodigal son (show some moral codes of forgiveness and repentance)

- Sermon on the mount - Matthew 5-7 (Jesus' way to live)

- Genesis 3, Job, Matthew 4 (where God defeats the devil and the world remains good)