Physics and Cosmology: Scientific Perspectives on the Problem of Natural Evil

by Nancey Murphy (Editor), Robert John Russell (Editor), William R. Stoeger, S.J. (Editor)

Overview

The essays in Physics and Cosmology: Scientific Perspectives on the Problem of Natural Evil resulted from the seventh international research conference co-sponsored by the Vatican Observatory Foundation and the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. It is the first in a new series on the problem of natural evil—on reconciling suffering caused by natural processes with God's goodness.

The editors have divided this volume into four sections. The first includes history of the issue and a critical analysis of how the history has often been understood, followed by two chapters that provide typologies: one of types of suffering, the other of the various “shapes” of defenses. The second section comprises chapters that address the problem of suffering head-on, with resources from science, theology, and philosophy. The third section contains essays that address the issue by offering reformulations of typical understandings of the relation between God and the world. Finally, essays in the fourth section claim, in one way or another, that the question of the volume needs to be reframed.

Contributors: Niels Christian Hvidt, Terrence W. Tilley, Wesley J. Wildman, Christopher Southgate, Andrew Robinson, William R. Stoeger, S.J., Robert John Russell, Nancey Murphy, Thomas F. Tracy, Philip Clayton, Steven Knapp, Kirk Wegter-McNelly, Denis Edwards, Brad J. Kallenberg, and Don Howard.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788820979591
Publisher:	University of Notre Dame Press
Publication date:	02/15/2008
Series:	Scientific Perspectives on Divine Action/Vatican Observatory , #1
Edition description:	1st Edition
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.82(d)

About the Author

William R. Stoeger, S.J., is a staff astrophysicist with the Vatican Observatory Research Group at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and adjunct associate professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona.

Robert John Russell is founder and director of the Center for Theology and Natural Sciences, Berkeley, California.

Nancey Murphy is professor of Christian philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations ix

Introduction Nancey Murphy xi

I History, Definitions, Typologies

The Historical Development of the Problem of Evil Niels Christian Huidt 1

The Problems of Theodicy: A Background Essay Terrence W. Tilley 35

The Use and Meaning of the Word "Suffering" in Relation to Nature Wesley J. Wildman 53

Varieties of Theodicy: An Exploration of Responses to the Problem of Evil Based on a Typology of Good-Harm Analyses Christopher Southgate Andrew Robinson 67

II Scientific And Philosophical Responses

Entropy, Emergence, and the Physical Roots of Natural Evil William R. Stoeger, SJ 93

Physics, Cosmology, and the Challenge to Consequentialist Natural Theodicy Robert John Russell 109

Science and the Problem of Evil: Suffering as a By-product of a Finely Tuned Cosmos Nancey Murphy 131

The Lawfulness of Nature and the Problem of Evil Thomas F. Tracy 153

Divine Action and the "Argument from Neglect" Philip Clayton Steven Knapp 179

Towards a Creativity Defense of Belief in God in the Face of Evil Terrence W. Tilley 195

III Responses: The God-World Relation

Natural Evil in a Divinely Entangled World Kirk Wegter-McNelly 219

Why is God Doing This? Suffering, the Universe, and Christian Eschatology Denis Edwards 247

Incongruous Goodness, Perilous Beauty, Disconcerting Truth: Ultimate Reality and Suffering in Nature Wesley J. Wildman 267

IV Changing The Terms Of The Debate

The Descriptive Problem of Evil Brad J. Kallenberg 297

Physics as Theodicy Don Howard 323

List of Resources 333

Contributors 355

Index 357