Religion and Ethics: Issues of Good and Evil

What you'll learn

This guide covers the fundamental concepts of good and evil as tested in Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies. You'll explore how different religions understand morality, suffering, sin, and forgiveness, with specific focus on Christianity and one other major world religion. These revision notes provide the precise knowledge and exam techniques needed to achieve top grades in questions about moral evil, natural evil, and religious responses to suffering.

Key terms and definitions

Morality — principles concerning right and wrong behaviour, often based on religious or philosophical beliefs

Evil — profound wickedness and immorality; actions or events that cause suffering and harm

Moral evil — suffering caused by human actions such as murder, theft, or terrorism

Natural evil — suffering caused by natural events beyond human control, such as earthquakes, floods, or disease

Sin — an immoral act considered a transgression against divine law; deliberate wrongdoing that separates humans from God

Atonement — the process of making amends for wrongdoing; in Christianity, reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus Christ's sacrifice

Free will — the power of acting without constraint; the ability to make choices independently

Omnibenevolent — all-loving and infinitely good; a characteristic attributed to God in Christianity and Islam

Core concepts

The nature of good and evil

Good and evil represent opposing moral forces that shape human behaviour and experiences. In religious contexts, good aligns with divine will and promotes human flourishing, while evil represents rebellion against God's purposes and causes harm.

Religious perspectives on good:

• Christianity teaches that goodness originates from God's nature and is revealed through Jesus Christ's teachings and example
• The Bible describes God as the source of all goodness: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31)
• Muslims believe goodness comes from following Allah's commands as revealed in the Qur'an
• Performing good actions (righteous deeds) is essential for salvation in both Christianity and Islam

Religious perspectives on evil:

Christians and Muslims hold different views on evil's origins, but both acknowledge its reality:

• Christianity attributes evil's entry into the world to the Fall in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God
• Some Christians believe in a literal Satan (the Devil) as a personal force of evil who tempts humans
• Other Christians interpret Satan symbolically as representing human tendencies toward selfishness and disobedience
• Islam teaches that Iblis (Satan) refused to bow to Adam and now tempts humans to sin, though humans retain responsibility for their choices

The problem of evil and suffering

The problem of evil presents a philosophical challenge particularly for monotheistic religions that believe in an omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnibenevolent God.

The logical problem:

If God is all-powerful, He could prevent evil. If God is all-loving, He would want to prevent evil. Yet evil exists. This apparent contradiction creates what philosophers call the "inconsistent triad":

1. God is omnipotent
2. God is omnibenevolent
3. Evil exists

Many argue these three statements cannot all be true simultaneously.

Types of suffering:

• Moral evil: War, murder, abuse, theft, terrorism — suffering caused by human choices
• Natural evil: Tsunamis, cancer, earthquakes, genetic diseases — suffering from natural events

Both types raise questions about God's nature and involvement in the world.

Christian responses to the problem of evil

Christianity offers several theodicies (defences of God's goodness despite evil's existence):

The Free Will Defence:

• God gave humans free will because genuine love requires freedom of choice
• Humans misuse free will, causing moral evil
• A world with free creatures who sometimes choose evil is better than a world of robots programmed to be good
• C.S. Lewis argued that free will makes love, goodness, and moral growth possible
• Critics argue this doesn't explain natural evil (diseases, natural disasters)

The Vale of Soul-Making (Irenaean theodicy):

• Earth is not meant to be paradise but a place for spiritual development
• Suffering provides opportunities for humans to grow morally and spiritually
• Overcoming challenges develops virtues like courage, compassion, and perseverance
• John Hick developed this view, arguing that humans were created imperfect and must develop toward God's likeness
• Natural evil serves a purpose in creating an environment for soul-making

The Augustinian theodicy:

• Evil is not a substance but a privation (absence) of good
• God created a perfect world
• Evil entered through human disobedience (the Fall)
• Suffering is a consequence of human sin
• God is justified in allowing suffering as punishment for sin

Suffering as a test of faith:

• The Book of Job illustrates how suffering can test and strengthen faith
• Job loses everything but maintains his trust in God
• God's response emphasizes human limitations in understanding divine purposes
• Suffering can deepen relationship with God

Sin, forgiveness, and redemption in Christianity

The nature of sin:

Christianity distinguishes between different aspects of sin:

• Original sin: The tendency toward sin inherited from Adam and Eve's disobedience; a corrupted human nature
• Personal sin: Individual acts of wrongdoing that separate humans from God
• The Seven Deadly Sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth) categorize common temptations
• Sin damages relationship with God, others, and oneself

Salvation and atonement:

• Christians believe Jesus Christ's death on the cross provides atonement for human sin
• Different theories explain how atonement works:
  • Substitution: Jesus took the punishment humans deserved
  • Moral influence: Jesus's sacrifice demonstrates God's love and inspires moral transformation
  • Christus Victor: Jesus's resurrection defeats sin, death, and evil
• Salvation is offered as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ

The role of forgiveness:

• God offers unlimited forgiveness to those who genuinely repent
• Jesus taught followers to forgive "seventy times seven times" (Matthew 18:22)
• The Lord's Prayer includes "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us"
• Confession, repentance, and making amends are essential for receiving forgiveness
• Christians are called to forgive others as God forgives them

Islamic perspectives on good, evil, and suffering

Islamic understanding of good and evil:

• Allah is all-good, all-powerful, and all-knowing
• Evil exists as a test of faith and obedience
• Humans have free will to choose between right (following Allah's commands) and wrong
• Shaytan (Satan/Iblis) tempts humans but cannot force them to sin
• The Day of Judgment will bring perfect justice, rewarding good and punishing evil

Suffering in Islam:

Muslims respond to suffering through several teachings:

• Suffering tests faith: "Do people think they will be left alone after saying 'We believe' without being put to the test?" (Qur'an 29:2)
• Allah never burdens a soul beyond what it can bear (Qur'an 2:286)
• Patience (sabr) during hardship brings spiritual reward
• Suffering may be punishment for sin, but also opportunity for spiritual purification
• This life is temporary; eternal justice comes in the afterlife

Sin and forgiveness in Islam:

• Muslims believe humans are born pure, not with original sin
• Sin results from human weakness and Shaytan's temptation
• Allah is merciful and forgives those who sincerely repent (tawbah)
• Major sins (kabira) include shirk (associating partners with Allah), murder, adultery
• Minor sins (saghira) can be forgiven through good deeds and daily prayers
• The Five Pillars help Muslims avoid sin and maintain closeness to Allah

Ethical theories and moral decision-making

Religious approaches to ethics:

Christian and Islamic ethics derive from sacred texts and religious authority:

• Divine Command Theory: Actions are right because God commands them; wrong because God forbids them
• Religious laws provide clear moral guidance (Ten Commandments, Shari'ah law)
• Religious leaders and scholars interpret teachings for contemporary situations
• Prayer, scripture study, and conscience guide moral decisions

Situation Ethics (Christian perspective):

• Developed by Joseph Fletcher as a Christian ethical approach
• Emphasizes love (agape) as the ultimate guiding principle
• Rules serve as guidelines but can be broken if doing so produces the most loving outcome
• Each situation requires individual moral judgment
• Critics argue this approach is too subjective and can justify harmful actions

Absolute versus relative morality:

• Absolute morality: Certain actions are always right or wrong regardless of circumstances (e.g., "murder is always wrong")
• Relative morality: Right and wrong depend on situation, culture, or consequences
• Most religious believers hold some absolutes (based on divine commands) while recognizing complexity in application
• The Ten Commandments represent absolute moral laws in Christianity and Judaism

Worked examples

Example 1: 2-mark question

Question: Give two examples of moral evil. (2 marks)

Answer: One example of moral evil is murder. (1 mark) Another example is theft. (1 mark)

Mark scheme guidance: One mark for each correct example. Moral evil must be caused by human actions, not natural events. Other acceptable answers: terrorism, abuse, torture, war crimes, assault.

Example 2: 4-mark question

Question: Explain two ways Christians might respond to suffering in their own lives. (4 marks)

Answer: One way Christians might respond to suffering is through prayer. They may pray to God for strength, comfort, and guidance during difficult times, believing that God listens and cares about their problems. (2 marks)

Another way Christians might respond is by trusting that suffering has a purpose. They may believe that God allows suffering to test their faith or to help them grow spiritually, as demonstrated in the story of Job in the Bible. (2 marks)

Mark scheme guidance: 2 marks for each developed response. Simple statements earn 1 mark; developed explanations with religious reasoning or examples earn 2 marks. Other acceptable answers: seeking support from church community, reading Bible passages for comfort, believing suffering brings them closer to Jesus's experience.

Example 3: 12-mark evaluation question

Question: "The existence of evil and suffering proves that God does not exist." Evaluate this statement considering arguments for and against. In your response you should:

• refer to Christian teachings
• reach a justified conclusion. (12 marks)

Answer:

Some people agree with this statement because the existence of evil and suffering seems incompatible with an all-powerful, all-loving God. If God were truly omnipotent, He could prevent all suffering, and if He were omnibenevolent, He would want to prevent it. The fact that terrible evils exist—such as childhood cancer or genocides—suggests either God is not all-powerful, not all-loving, or does not exist at all. This is called the problem of evil, and many atheists use it as their strongest argument against God's existence.

Furthermore, natural evil is particularly difficult to explain. While Christians might argue that moral evil results from human free will, natural disasters and diseases cannot be blamed on human choices. An earthquake that kills thousands of innocent people seems purposeless and cruel, which contradicts the idea of a loving God who cares for creation.

However, many Christians would disagree with this statement and argue that evil and suffering do not disprove God's existence. The Free Will Defence argues that God gave humans free will because genuine love and moral goodness require the freedom to choose. A world where humans can freely choose to love God and others is more valuable than a world of programmed robots, even though free will enables moral evil. This explains why God permits evil without being responsible for it.

Additionally, Christians believe that suffering can serve purposes that humans may not fully understand. The Irenaean theodicy suggests that Earth is a "vale of soul-making" where challenges help humans develop spiritually and morally. Suffering builds virtues like compassion, courage, and faith. The Bible teaches this in Romans 5:3-4: "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Christians also point to Jesus's own suffering on the cross as evidence that God understands and shares in human pain rather than being distant from it.

In conclusion, while evil and suffering present serious questions for believers, I don't believe they definitively prove God does not exist. The Free Will Defence provides a logical explanation for moral evil, and the soul-making theodicy offers purpose for suffering. Moreover, the Christian belief in an afterlife where justice is served and suffering is ended addresses concerns that evil goes unpunished. However, I acknowledge that natural evil remains philosophically challenging and that faith requires trusting God's purposes even when suffering seems meaningless.

Mark scheme guidance (simplified AO2 descriptors):

• Level 4 (10-12 marks): Sustained evaluation with developed arguments for different viewpoints; Christian teachings well-integrated; justified conclusion clearly supported by reasoning
• Level 3 (7-9 marks): Evaluation with arguments for different viewpoints; some use of Christian teachings; conclusion offered
• Level 2 (4-6 marks): Evaluation with limited development; simple reference to Christian teachings; conclusion may be unsupported
• Level 1 (1-3 marks): Simple evaluation; minimal religious content; no clear conclusion

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing moral and natural evil: Remember moral evil is caused by human actions (murder, theft) while natural evil comes from natural events (earthquakes, disease). Don't describe a tsunami as moral evil.

• Providing only one viewpoint in evaluation questions: 12-mark questions require you to explore different perspectives before reaching a conclusion. Always include "Some people believe..." and "Others would argue..." structures.

• Making vague references to "the Bible" or "Christians": Be specific. Say "In Genesis 3, the Bible describes how..." or "Some Christians believe... while others interpret..." to show depth of knowledge.

• Forgetting to include religious teachings: Simply giving your personal opinion won't earn high marks. Support arguments with scripture quotes, religious concepts, or examples from religious traditions.

• Writing too much for low-mark questions: A 2-mark question needs two brief points, not paragraphs. Save detailed explanations for 4-mark and 12-mark questions.

• Not defining technical terms: When using words like "omnibenevolent," "theodicy," or "atonement," briefly explain what they mean to demonstrate understanding and earn marks for religious knowledge.

Exam technique for Religion and Ethics: Issues of Good and Evil

• Command words matter: "Give" requires simple statements (1 mark each). "Explain" requires developed points showing how or why (2 marks for development). "Evaluate" requires weighing different viewpoints before reaching a justified conclusion (12 marks total).

• Structure 12-mark answers carefully: Write 3-4 paragraphs exploring different viewpoints, 1 paragraph for conclusion. Aim for roughly 250-300 words. Begin paragraphs with signposts like "Some Christians believe..." or "However, others would argue..."

• Use PEEL for 4-mark questions: Point (state your answer), Evidence (religious teaching or example), Explain (show how this answers the question), Link (connect back to the question). This ensures full development.

• Manage exam time effectively: Spend approximately 2 minutes on 2-mark questions, 5 minutes on 4-mark questions, and 15 minutes on 12-mark questions. This leaves time for checking answers.

Quick revision summary

Good and evil are opposing moral forces examined through religious and philosophical lenses. Moral evil stems from human choices; natural evil from natural events. The problem of evil challenges belief in an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God. Christians respond through the Free Will Defence, soul-making theodicy, and Augustinian theodicy. Sin separates humans from God, but Christianity offers atonement through Jesus Christ's sacrifice and forgiveness through repentance. Islam teaches suffering tests faith, with Allah providing justice in the afterlife. Religious ethics derive from divine commands, with debates between absolute and relative morality shaping moral decision-making.