Motive is key (PhD Edit)

Ferry ride to Nakusp

August 8, 2018

When working through problems of evil, academically, theologically, philosophically, biblically and personally, I reason that John Calvin’s explanation in regard to God’s motives is sound. 

I do not embrace Calvinism, however, but I am definitely Reformed, theologically, without being a specific follower of Calvin. God is infinite, eternal, omnipotent. God’s biblical, sovereign, providential control over his creation from Genesis to Revelation demonstrates that God does will all things, whether directly willing or allowing, or within perfect will or permissible will. This can also be reasoned in a parallel way with premises and conclusions via philosophy of religion. viewing God as the first and primary cause of all things, while allowing for secondary causes within compatibilism (God's sovereignty is compatible with the limited free will, via nature, of secondary agents).

PhD, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010: Theodicy and Practical Theology 

David Ray Griffin vigorously challenges Calvinistic notions of sovereignty in regard to theodicy.[1]  Griffin claims that God cannot be shown to be perfectly moral for three reasons.[2]  One, God cannot be understood to be morally perfect because God is an alleged deity and his morality cannot be demonstrated.[3]  Two, since with a Calvininstic view God wills all things, including evil acts, God must be immoral.[4]  Three, since Calvinists believe that God bases all things on eternal decisions, God is not truly free and is therefore amoral.[5] 

The Calvinist could reply to Griffin with the words of Calvin himself in The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, that God is moral and as evil human actions occur God is willing a good thing and the sinner another.[6]  This type of explanation needs to be presented in a logical and reasonable way.[7]

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1540)(1973) Romans and Thessalonians, Translated by Ross Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1550)(1978) Concerning Scandals, Translated by John W. Fraser, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1552)(1995) Acts, Translated by Watermark, Nottingham, Crossway Books.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1553)(1952) Job, Translated by Leroy Nixon, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1554)(1965) Genesis, Translated by John King, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

GRIFFIN, DAVID RAY (1976) God, Power, and Evil, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.   

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[1] Griffin (1976: 116-130).

[2] Griffin (1976: 130).

[3] Griffin (1976: 130).

[4] Griffin (1976: 130).

[5] Griffin (1976: 130).

[6] Calvin (1543)(1996: 37).

[7] While at the same time seriously examining criticisms of the view.