Classically, the problem of theodicy is this: how can the existence of evils be compatible with an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent God?
Some theodicy is aimed at the philosophical task of establishing the plausibility of the existence of God in the face of evils. But there is a different task, more theological, of exploring what is the relation of a God who is confessed in Christian thought to a world that contains evils. This latter task is the one pursued in our project.
What then are these ‘evils’ in respect of evolutionary theodicy? The most obvious answer is the suffering of creatures, through predation, parasitism, etc. But it should be noted that only creatures with complex sentience can be said to suffer.
The extent of biological extinction, perhaps 99% of all the species that have ever existed, might also seem to be a charge against the goodness of God. But it might be said that every species has its time, and new life-possibilities can only arise if others disappear.
More generally, perhaps, it is the relentless struggle, competition and violence of the Darwinian world that seems to make what John Schneider calls ‘theistic seeing’ – seeing the world as the good creation of a good God – so difficult.
I agree with John Schneider. How does the fact that death seems to be essential for the cycle of life to continue relate to Jesus Christ victory over death? I’m particularly thinking of the circular economy on which the natural world seems based.
I wonder if it would be also be productive as a thought experiment to explore the implications of the converse – ‘what if suffering did not exist?’ And ‘what if species did not go extinct?’ To the latter, you’ve offered a response – without extinction, it would eventually be impossible for new species to appear.
To the former, if there was no suffering, could there even be predation? If an animal felt no pain or fear (is fear suffering?), would it bother to resist being captured and eaten? If it didn’t resist, would every creature casually consume what it pleased without effort? Would any species seek to hide, or hunt?
As for disease, what would a world without viruses look like? Are viruses necessary? Wouldn’t vastly more creatures survive to die of old age? Might that be a worse suffering?