Year 8 Religious Studies — Unit 8, Lesson 6 of 6 (ASSESSMENT)
Assessment Overview
In this assessment, you will consolidate and evaluate your understanding of how different religious and philosophical traditions respond to the problem of evil. You will recall key concepts, review and categorise philosophical arguments, complete a timed writing task, and reflect on your learning journey through this challenging topic.
Recall: Core Concepts & Definitions
Before moving forward, test your memory of key ideas from the unit. Click each button to reveal the answer.
1. What is the 'Problem of Evil'?
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The logical problem of evil is the apparent contradiction between the existence of a good, all-powerful God and the existence of evil and suffering in the world. If God is omnipotent (all-powerful), God should be able to prevent evil. If God is omnibenevolent (all-good), God should want to prevent evil. Yet evil exists. Therefore, it seems a good, all-powerful God does not exist.
2. What is Augustine's 'Free Will Defence'?
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Augustine argued that God gave humans free will, which is a great good. Human evil and moral suffering result from the misuse of free will—our choice to disobey God (original sin). God permits this because genuine free will must include the possibility of choosing wrongly. Natural evil (earthquakes, disease) is punitive, a consequence of sin in the world.
3. What is Irenaeus's 'Soul-Making Theodicy'?
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Irenaeus argued that suffering is necessary for spiritual growth and moral development. Humans are created immature and must develop virtues like courage, compassion, and wisdom through facing challenges and hardship. A world without suffering would be a world without opportunity for moral and spiritual development. Evil is therefore not pointless but purposeful in human development.
4. What does 'Qadr' mean in Islamic theology?
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Qadr (divine decree or predestination) is the Islamic concept that everything happens according to God's will and knowledge. All events, including suffering, are part of Allah's plan. Muslims are encouraged to accept qadr with patience (sabr) and trust that Allah's wisdom is perfect even if humans cannot understand it. Ultimate justice will be served in the afterlife (akhirah).
5. What is the Buddhist solution to suffering?
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Buddhism teaches the Four Noble Truths: suffering exists, suffering has a cause (attachment and craving), suffering can end (Nirvana), and there is a path to the end of suffering (the Noble Eightfold Path). Buddhism sidesteps the question of God entirely and offers a practical, psychological solution: eliminate the desires and attachments that cause suffering through meditation, ethical living, and wisdom.
Review: Categorise the Arguments
Sort the following statements into the correct theological or philosophical categories. Drag each claim into its proper box below.
Statements to Sort:
Evil is a consequence of Adam and Eve's disobedience to GodSuffering is necessary for spiritual growth and the development of virtueEverything that happens is part of Allah's divine decree (qadr)Without hardship and challenge, humans cannot develop courage, compassion, or wisdomGod permits suffering because humans have free willEvil disproves God's existence; reason and science are better solutionsSuffering is caused by attachment and craving; it can end through the Eightfold PathHumans must accept qadr with sabr (patience) and trust in Allah's perfect wisdomGod allows moral evil because it is the price of genuine human freedomNirvana is achieved through eliminating desire and ignoranceJustice will ultimately be served in the afterlife (akhirah)The problem of evil is logically insoluble; we must reject theism
Augustine
Irenaeus
Islamic
Buddhist
Humanist
Test: Quick Knowledge Check
Answer each multiple-choice question carefully. Think about the nuances of each position.
Question 1: Augustine and Irenaeus both defend theism against the problem of evil, but they give different reasons why God allows suffering. What is the key difference?
Question 2: How does Islamic theology use the concept of 'qadr' to address the problem of evil?
Question 3: What is the core difference between religious and secular (humanist) responses to the problem of evil?
Assessment Timer
5:00
Write: Evaluation Essay (300 words)
Task: Write a concise evaluative essay addressing this question: "Which response to the problem of evil is most convincing, and why?" You may argue for any position (Augustine, Irenaeus, Islamic, Buddhist, Humanist, or a combination). Support your judgment with evidence and reasoning. Target: 250–300 words.
0 words
Marking Guidance (for your own reflection):
L4 (Excellent): Clear thesis; sophisticated evaluation; uses specific evidence from multiple traditions; acknowledges complexity and limitations
L3 (Good): Evaluates multiple positions; uses some specific evidence; clear reasoning
L2 (Developing): Evaluates one or two positions; some evidence but may lack depth
L1 (Emerging): Description rather than evaluation; limited evidence; unclear reasoning
Evaluate Your Learning
Reflect honestly on your understanding and confidence in each topic area.
Augustine's Free Will Defence
How confident are you in your understanding?
Irenaeus's Soul-Making Theodicy
How confident are you in your understanding?
Islamic Responses (Qadr, Sabr, Akhirah)
How confident are you in your understanding?
Buddhist Response (Four Noble Truths & Eightfold Path)
How confident are you in your understanding?
Humanist Critique of Theism
How confident are you in your understanding?
Comparing & Evaluating Arguments
How confident are you in your ability to compare and evaluate these different responses?
Summary: The Big Picture
Augustine
Evil and suffering result from human free will and disobedience (original sin). God permits moral evil because genuine freedom must include the possibility of wrong choice. Natural evil is punitive.
Irenaeus
Suffering is necessary for soul-making (spiritual and moral development). Humans are created immature and must develop virtues through facing hardship. Evil is not pointless but purposeful in growth.
Islamic Theology
Qadr (divine decree) means everything is part of Allah's plan. Muslims must accept suffering with sabr (patience) and trust in Allah's wisdom. Ultimate justice will be served in the akhirah (afterlife).
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths teach that suffering exists, has a cause (attachment/craving), can end (Nirvana), and there's a path to its end (Eightfold Path). Buddhism sidesteps the God question and offers practical psychological solutions.
Humanism
A non-religious worldview emphasising reason, science, and compassion. Argues that evil disproves God and suffering must be addressed through human effort and reason.
Unit Summary & Final Insight: This unit has explored one of the deepest questions in human thought: How can evil and suffering exist in a world created by a good God? Different religious and philosophical traditions answer this question very differently, revealing different assumptions about God, human nature, and the purpose of existence. Augustine and Irenaeus defend God's existence by appeal to punishment for sin and spiritual growth through hardship. Islamic theology emphasises divine trust (qadr), patient virtue (sabr), and ultimate justice in the afterlife (akhirah). Buddhism sidesteps the entire God question by rejecting the premise and offering practical solutions to suffering through the Noble Eightfold Path. Humanism denies God altogether, using the logical problem of evil as evidence of God's non-existence, and instead advocates reason and science as solutions to suffering. No single answer satisfies everyone. The question remains genuinely open and genuinely important. Philosophers, theologians, and ordinary people continue to grapple with it. Your evaluation essay should reflect the seriousness and depth of these ideas, and your own honest, reasoned engagement with them.