john hick’s soul-making theodicy

This paper explores john hick’s soul-making theodicy, as detailed in his seminal work, evil and the god of love, presenting an inquiry into the reconciliation of evil’s existence with the christian concept of an omnipotent, wholly benevolent god. central to hick’s argument is the notion of evil as a necessary condition for the moral and spiritual development of human beings, thereby addressing the classical problem of evil. hick posits that human existence is characterized by an “epistemic distance” from god, a state that enables free will and the authentic development of virtues such as compassion, patience, and courage. this distance does not indicate divine absence but serves as a stage for the soul-making process, where individuals grow toward god’s likeness through their responses to life’s challenges. the paper examines hick’s dismissal of the traditional augustinian theodicy, which attributes evil to the fall of man and original sin, arguing instead for a reinterpretation of human imperfection and free will within the evolutionary process as integral to god’s plan for humanity’s development towards divine likeness. furthermore, hick’s eschatological perspective suggests that the injustices and sufferings of this life find resolution in the afterlife, positing a future-oriented understanding that aligns earthly suffering with the ultimate realization of god’s kingdom. this approach not only justifies the presence of evil as instrumental to soul-making but also underscores the significance of free will in achieving genuine moral and spiritual growth. the paper engages with hick’s exploration of human autonomy, the inherent “fallenness” of humanity not as a lapse from divine grace but as an essential starting point for the journey towards spiritual fulfillment. by integrating theodicy with anthropological insights and biblical narratives, hick’s soul-making theodicy offers a compelling framework that respects human freedom while upholding divine benevolence, challenging readers to reconceptualize the problem of evil within a broader theological and existential context.