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Thank you to all the church attendees and Christian leaders that have taken the time to assist me with the problem of evil questionnaire. I am nearing my goal of 200+ questionnaires completed, and am still looking for assistance. I really appreciate those that take the time in person to complete a survey, and those through email that take the time to scan my letter and questionnaire and then decide to assist me. Some are even nice enough to pass my questionnaire on to others, which is much appreciated! I have emailed hundreds of Christian churches concerning my problem of evil questionnaire and the purpose of the project is explained in the email letter and in the body of the questionnaire. Some leaders who represent churches culturally known as Christian, whether on the left or right theologically, have assumed that I somehow have a hidden agenda that is not primarily the problem of evil and theodicy. Besides in the email and questionnaire sent out, on this blog I have spelled out what my basic theological views are and what the purpose of my questionnaire is within my PhD project, and provide a link to my blog in the email letter. I can understand how a Christian leader may be annoyed by my email and perhaps view it as spam, but regardless, those who are publicly and culturally Christian leaders should scan my blog before rushing to false conclusions about my work and me personally which they then put in writing. Some ministers have simply stated that they are not interested in helping me and do not have the time, and that is a reasonable way to handle my email to them. One could of course simply delete my email and offer no reply.
There is no feminist agenda with my questionnaire or dissertation. Within the last three months a couple of ministers have mentioned by email that there may be a feminist agenda behind my work. As well, a good friend explained to me that a pastor and friend of his that issued the questionnaire on my behalf stated that some women who completed the questionnaire assumed that a woman must have written the document since it contained questions concerning women. I do not hold to feminist theology, personally. Feminism in the context of theology and Biblical studies is in a broad sense wanting to show both God’s feminine characteristics and, at the same time, present a case for what is interpreted to be male theological bias. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 51). Within my dissertation, and on my two theology related blogs, I am coming from a Reformed, conservative, Christian perspective. I am very much in favour of women as creatures made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), but I do not hold to feminist theology!
My University department is not Reformed. It is secular and has required me to add some women related questions, as they originally wanted me to review a feminist theodicy. I informed them that as far as I could tell there was no such thing. I am required to meet certain academic standards, including presenting viewpoints that are not from my particular theological tradition. I am required to review three basic theoretical approaches to the problem of evil. These approaches are also known as theodicy. Robert M. Adams notes that the word theodicy is from the Greek, as theos is God and dike is justice. Theodicy is a defence of the justice of God in the face of objections arising from the problem of evil in the world. Adams (1996: 794). A good definition of theodicy is the explanation of how the infinite, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God accomplishes his plans within his creation where the problem of evil exists. I hold to one of these views, sovereignty theodicy, and present two views that are contrary to my own, although there is not complete disagreement on every point. I then present questions from these different theodicy and place them in questionnaire form. I was also asked to place some women related questions in my questionnaire. When I compile my questionnaire results I will have an original form of empirical theology. Professor Leslie J. Francis and the Practical Theology Team of the University of Wales, Bangor, explain that an element of practical theology is the use of empirical data. Francis (2005: 1). I can examine the results to questions relating to each theodicy approach and the women related questions and then produce some original and unique empirical theology that relates to the philosophical theology already written. God willing, I will produce an original, very academic PhD dissertation, which presents some women related issues. But women's issues and feminism are not a primary or even major focus of my work.
ADAMS, ROBERT. M (1996) ‘Theodicy’, in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
FRANCIS, LESLIE J. and Practical Theology Team (2005) ‘Practical and Empirical Theology’, University of Wales, Bangor website, University of Wales, Bangor.
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/rs/pt/ptunit/definition.php.
GRENZ, STANLEY J. DAVID GURETZKI and CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.
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